
Our Work
GoGreenNext is an EU funded Horizon Europe project with the ambition of supporting cities and regions to achieve their climate targets by implementing novel nature-based approaches.
ClimateIQ is an AI driven, multi-hazard risk and vulnerability tool leveraging Machine Learning, Big Data, and multiple climate hazard model environments to reveal high resolution hotspots of overlapping climate risks in cities and urbanized regions.
An initiative to co-develop synthetic infrastructure models for Phoenix, New York City and Atlanta that will simulate critical failure in energy distribution systems and potential cascading impacts on other power, water, and transportation infrastructure during extreme events to optimize solutions, and improve reliability and robustness.
A NSF supported planning effort to develop a model for coproduction of knowledge and solutions to address climate risks in cities, with special attention to environmental justice concerns.
A research study on future climate change and its potential impacts to inform decision-making by the City of New York and assessment reports by the NYC Panel on Climate Change.
An to accelerate advances in convergent urban systems science capable of providing cities with the knowledge and methods for building integrated SETS resilience strategies to extreme events, supported by cutting-edge modeling, simulation, and visualization of infrastructure systems.
The Environmental Justice of Urban Flood Risk and Green Infrastructure Solutions project aims to better understand the environmental justice impacts of climate change related flooding on minority and low-income communities and assess social equity in green infrastructure planning for reducing urban flood risks.
The Nature-based Solutions for Urban Resilience in the Anthropocene (NATURA) project links networks in Africa, Asia-Pacific, Europe, North and Latin America, and globally to enhance connectivity among the world's scholars and practitioners and improve the prospects for global urban sustainability.
The objective of this NSF RAPID project is to integrate survey, social media, building infrastructure, energy demand and use, and social-demographic data with simulations of potential emerging weather-related extremes to examine interdependent social vulnerability to COVID-19 and weather in New York City (NYC).

Ocellus XR
Ocellus XR is a mixed reality application that leverages the Urban Systems Lab’s (USL) Data Visualization Platform to present users with unique interactive geospatial information of heat, flood risk and other climate indicators in New York City.
Resources
Tools & Products
Green Roofs NYC is a resource to inform residents, developers, and business owners about the benefits of green roofs and connect them with green roof resources, including policy, finance options, and educational curriculum.
Stormwater.nyc is a mapping platform that visualizes NYC stormwater resiliency by integrating public data on demographics, land use, critical infrastructure, green spaces, and floodplains from the New York Panel on Climate Change.
Ekos is a multiplayer board game that uses systems thinking and strategy to explore concept of urban resilience and nature-based solutions.
An interactive web application that visualizes Social, Ecological, and Technological Systems (SETS) data.
The Milwaukee Flood and Health Vulnerability Assessment (FHVA) is an assessment tool which identifies communities across Milwaukee where exposure to urban flooding and pre-existing health, housing and socioeconomic conditions intersect and create disproportionate vulnerabilities to the impacts caused by extreme flooding.
The Climate Ready Uptown Plan (CRUP) is a guide and map to help Northern Manhattan community members understand their individual risk to climate related disasters
Reports & Publications
A report developed by researchers at the Urban Systems Lab, Cornell University and others, in partnership with RISE and Universe City exploring strategies for adapting to multiple, compounding climate hazards in New York City.
This report evaluates a green infrastructure (GI) network to reduce combined sewer overflows, urban flooding, and climate risks in Southwest Yonkers. Using hydrologic modeling and ecosystem service prioritization, it proposes targeted GI solutions for a 52-acre sewershed along Riverdale Avenue.
The Saw Mill River Watershed Flood Vulnerability Modeling Project, led by the Saw Mill River Coalition and supported by the Urban Systems Lab, assesses climate-driven flood risks and provides tools for long-term land-use planning. The project supports equitable resilience by integrating flood modeling with habitat restoration, public access, and environmental justice goals.
A report from the World Economic Forum's Global Commission on BiodiverCities to synthesize the latest research with practical solutions in the service of sustainable, inclusive and nature-positive urban development.
A concise and accessible synthesis of IPCC Working Group I material for urban policymakers.

News
The Urban Systems Lab 2024 Annual Report is now live. We invite you to explore our annual report to learn how the USL is helping cities worldwide develop more resilient, sustainable, and just futures in the face of unprecedented challenges.
Celebrate Earth Week with the Urban Systems Lab. Mark your calendars and join us for these impactful events: NY Climate Exchange’s Climate Solutions Summit, April 23-24, and Cornell Mui Ho Center for Cities – “Climate Resilience in New York City”, April 24.
Join Urban Systems Lab's Timon McPhearson on Monday, Feb. 3, for the annual Anthony J. Brazel Lecture at Arizona State University, discussing the topic of Urban Systems, Risk and Resilience in the Anthropocene
Follow Us
LATEST BLOG ARTICLES
