Introduction

iAdapt

INTERNATIONAL CENTER FOR ADAPTATION PLANNING AND DESIGN

With ever-increasing worldwide risks from climate change, sea-level rise, and extreme weather events will greatly threaten the built and natural environment across the globe. Against this backdrop, the overarching goal of IAdapt is to understand the complexity and interdependence between built and natural systems in face of climate change and extreme weather events now and in the future, identify and assess adaptation measures with a multidisciplinary research team, and ultimately to enhance adaptive capacity to strengthen the sustainability and resilience of an integrated built-natural system through a participatory approach with local planners, engineers and government agencies. IAdapt is also an international knowledge-to-action exchange hub, and undergraduate and graduate colloquium and international joint planning and design studios to educate our next generation of planners, engineers, and government officials.

In the continued development of climate change, the impacts of sea level rise (SLR) on coastal life are increasing. Many communities, both urban and rural, are suffering from the effects of sunny day flooding, salinity increase, drainage issues, higher risks from storms and surge, and many other challenges. The majority of the global population, including the Unites States, is placed at risk by SLR.  To increase and support the adaptive capacity of vulnerable communities against sea level rise, the Department of Urban & Regional Planning in the College of Design, Planning and Construction at the University of Florida, decided to establish the International Center for Adaptation Planning and Design following a proposal by Dr. Zhong-Ren Peng.

iAdapt Objectives

  • 1. Initiate and Develop Urban Planning AI
    • Advance AI-enabled Urban Planning
    • Address Urban Planning AI related social and ethical issues
  • 2. Optimize Climate Adaptation Planning Policies and Processes
    • Evaluate adaptation strategy in response to climate change
    • Examine the impacts of climate change on coastal communities
  • 3. Characterize Urban Transportation Systems Dynamics
    • Assess the impacts of autonomous public transportation systems
    • Enhance microtransit and micromobility Services
    • Examine interactions between shared mobility and spatial structure
  • 4. Provide International Knowledge-to-Action Exchange
    • Build a bridge between the University of Florida and practice communities
    • Cultivate professional adaptation planners

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