Project Grant 2624573

The National Science Foundation Office of Integrative Activities awarded the University of Louisville $299,676 on January 1, 2027, under the Integrative Activities program (CFDA 47.083) to develop a large predictive model for severe flooding events through the EPSCOR Research Fellows initiative.

The award funds a fellowship for an assistant professor at the University of Louisville and training for a graduate student to advance development of a framework for predictive common operating picture synthesis in flood crisis response. The project leverages artificial intelligence foundation models to unify fragmented flood-relevant data sources, predict near-term impact evolution, and synthesize information for reliable decision-making in flood emergency response. The work develops a reinforcement-learning-based orchestration mechanism that enables the system to learn how to select, coordinate, and use specialized model capabilities according to analytical needs rather than relying on a single model or fixed processing pipeline. The research aims to enhance disaster situational awareness, enabling more effective resource allocation, faster response times, and reduction in loss of life and economic impacts caused by flood disasters.

The University of Louisville Office of Research & Innovation serves as the recipient. Work is performed at Oak Ridge, Tennessee in collaboration with the Environmental Sciences Division at Oak Ridge National Laboratory. The period of performance runs from January 1, 2027, through December 31, 2028. The project strengthens research infrastructure at the University of Louisville by supporting faculty professional advancement and establishing long-term research collaboration between the principal investigator and Oak Ridge National Laboratory, with project outcomes to be incorporated into courses taught by the principal investigator.