AI-Powered Drones and Robots to Help Underprivileged Communities During Floods

Research at the University of Louisiana at Lafayette aims to use advanced technology to protect small, vulnerable communities in south Louisiana from flooding.

The project will combine artificial intelligence, drones and robots, and flood simulations to provide real-time information on flood conditions, evacuation routes and resource needs. This will help communities and first responders work together to evacuate more effectively and to ensure people are safe, said Dr. Emad Habib. He is the project lead and director of the Institute of Coastal and Water Research at UL Lafayette.

“Our goal is to give small, underprivileged communities the tools to respond quickly and safely during floods. By using drones and robots, informed by flood computer simulations, we can provide accurate information on what’s happening at that time, so people can make safe choices during an emergency,” Habib said.

Researchers will use drones and robots to collect and share real-time data about flooding, helping emergency managers and first responders make better, faster decisions. The AI-powered technology will track where floodwaters are rising and identify the best evacuation routes.

The project also focuses on strong communication with affected communities. Using input from local residents, nonprofits and government agencies, the interdisciplinary research team is creating communication strategies to ensure messages are clear and trustworthy.

In addition to Habib, UL Lafayette researchers on the project include Dr. Mohamed ElSaadani, assistant research professor in civil engineering; Dr. JoAnne DeRouen, professor of sociology; Dr. Songyang Zhang, assistant professor in electrical and computer engineering; Dr. Shannon Strother, director of the National Incident Management Systems and Advanced Technologies Institute; and James Williams, public-private partnership officer at the Louisiana Business Emergency Operations Center.

The team is also partnering with emergency managers in several south Louisiana parishes, the Governor’s Office of Homeland Security and Emergency Preparedness and the Acadiana Voluntary Organizations Active in Disaster.
This project is funded by the National Science Foundation’s Civic Innovation Challenge Stage 1, in partnership with the U.S. Department of Homeland Security and the U.S. Department of Energy. Grant recipients include projects in 36 states and Puerto Rico, Washington D.C., and the U.S. Virgin Islands. Each received $75,000 in funding.

In early 2025, awardees will submit proposals for Stage 2 consideration. Teams that are selected for a second round of funding will be eligible for awards of up to $1 million to begin piloting and evaluating the projects designed during Stage 1.