Award of $59,681 to develop software
Assistant Professor Dr. Adnan Rajib received a grant for developing a complicated model that can predict when and where floods will occur as well as their size.
Dr. Rajib’s research project aims to aid in community preparedness.
“These grants are very competitive,” Dr. Rajib said.
“We propose something that will help the people. Something that fills a need or a purpose.”
With how prevelant climate change has become, there has been an increase of flooding, especially in South Texas. Preparation and early evacuations have become increasingly important.
Dr. Rajib and his team are constructing a software that will have the ability to map out areas of flooding and locations of populous areas. “We have a huge team, and each an expert in their own research,” assistant and team member Krutik Patel said.
Team members and assistants Patel and Qianjin Zheng had significant roles in developing the model. Zheng took charge in researching flood plains and how human activity affects these natural water storages. She also studies data from a NASA satellite and tracked the changes of floodplains from 1980 to present day. Zheng found that 10,000 square kilometers of flood plains have been decimated and replaced by cities during this 40-year period.
Patel then takes this information and creates a model that shows how much these changes will affect flooding. He will then create one single software that will predict flooding in the state of Texas.
“With this software, anyone with internet access will be able to see flooded areas with one single click,” Dr. Rajib said.
Along with the goal of helping populous areas better prepare for natural catastrophes, Dr. Rajib also aims to change the typical classroom settings.
His classrooms are interactive, hands on and engaging to help students absorb the class material and enjoy learning.
“I think when we create a different classroom environment it helps students learn,” Zheng said.
Dr. Rajib and his team are working together to change the way Texans prepare for extreme weather to save their lives.
