Sensor Networks Help Fight Floods

Two multidisciplinary teams at NYU's Center for Urban Science and Progress (CUSP), have developed sensor networks that provide near-real-time data acquisition and analysis of flooding and noise pollution, giving New York a distinct edge in collecting data to help combat these challenging problems.

With the support of a 2015 National Science Foundation grant, the Sounds Of New York City (SONYC) project was founded to build and deploy noise sensors, working in collaboration with the NYC Department of Environmental Protection, the city agency tasked with enforcing the noise code.

The sensor networks for urban monitoring was also used by the FloodNet project, a consortium comprised of researchers at NYU and the City University of New York (CUNY) and city agency personnel at the NYC Mayor's Office of Climate Resiliency (MOCR) and Office of the Chief Technology Officer, including NYU CUSP professors Andrea Silverman, Elizabeth Henaff, Tega Brain, and Mydlarz.

Ultimately, the data and knowledge gained through FloodNet can be used by local residents, researchers, and city agencies to address flood risks. In fact, New York City acknowledged the importance of flood sensor data in its inaugural Extreme Weather Response Task Force report, listing sensor deployment as an initiative in its action plan for improving the City's response to future extreme precipitation events.