FloodNet
The FloodNet project is a multiyear partnership between New York University, the City University of New York and various agencies within the City of New York to develop and install a flood sensor network across the city. The existing pilot network has been collecting hyper-local data on the frequency, amplitude and location of floods in high risk areas since 2020. It will be expanded over the next five years into a city wide network to build resilience and inform flood response across the boroughs of New York.
To learn more about FloodNet see:
- The FloodNet Website
- The FloodNet Data Dashboard.
- This recorded talk on the project given in 2021 at CUSP NYU.
- FloodNet covered in Spectrum News and in NewsWise
Background
Access to real-time information on flooding can improve resiliency and efficiency by allowing residents to identify navigable transportation routes and make informed decisions to avoid exposure to floodwater contaminants. While there exist commercially available sensors that detect the presence of water inside homes, there is an unmet need for hyperlocal information on the presence and depth of street-level floodwater. The Flood Sense project sees the development of an open source flood sensor that can be used to detect flooding across New York City.
These sensors have been developed to support the FloodNet sensor network project, a publicly-accessible platform that provides real-time flood information. The goals are to develop a flood sensor that overcomes common sensor challenges, as well as the digital infrastructure necessary to log, process, and present the data in combination with other publicly available information, such as rainfall data, 311 flooding complaints, and social media feeds. There are many potential applications of this proposal, including incorporation with the PIs’ ongoing research into potential exposure to sewage- associated pathogens following urban flood events.
Partners
This project is supported by the NYC Department of Environmental Protection, NYC Mayor’s Office of Climate & Environmental Justice, and the NYC Office of Technology and Innovation.
This project was initially supported by grants from the C2SMART Transportation Research Center and the CUNY Office of Research.
This project was also supported by the Smart Cities Innovation Partnership grant. This program is a collaboration between the Governor’s Office Technology & Innovation Portfolio, Empire State Development (ESD) and the Israel Innovation Authority (IIA) and is a pilot program to facilitate the development and integration of emerging technologies into public services.
For a full list of partners visit this site.