Research Projects
Current research on urban hydrology, green infrastructure, and resilient water systems.
Smart Monitoring for Long-Term Performance of Green Stormwater Infrastructure 2026-2027 Linking smartphone images, hydrologic screening, and maintenance decisions.
This project will develop and test an AI-enabled, smartphone-based monitoring workflow for green stormwater infrastructure. Students, residents, community groups, and stormwater managers will be able to take standardized site photos and field notes that help identify maintenance needs.
The workflow will use vision-language models to screen for visible concerns such as blocked inlets, sediment buildup, unhealthy vegetation, litter, standing water, and erosion. Surveys in Boston and New York City, together with focused hydrologic checks at selected Boston sites, will connect visual conditions with drainage performance. The goal is to detect maintenance needs earlier and help rain gardens, bioswales, and related systems function effectively over time.
This project is conducted in collaboration with and supported by the Stone Living Lab (SLL).
Understanding Variability in Green Stormwater Infrastructure Performance Under Real-World Conditions in Boston 2026-2027 Examining why green stormwater systems perform differently across seasons, sites, and maintenance conditions.
Green stormwater infrastructure, including rain gardens, bioretention systems, and bioswales, can reduce runoff, improve water quality, and support climate-resilient cities. In practice, systems with similar designs may perform differently because of seasonal weather, sediment accumulation, vegetation condition, inlet and outlet function, and maintenance history.
This Boston-focused study examines those real-world sources of variability and their effects on drainage performance. The findings will support practical field assessment and better-informed maintenance of green infrastructure in dense urban settings.