Empowering Coastal Communities with Decision Aids

May 30, 2023 in Featured, News

University of Florida engineering alumni gathered at a Gator Nation event in Jupiter to hear how the CCS is working to unlock Florida’s potential to quickly implement data-driven and cost-effective actions to improve water quality statewide through its decision support system. This integrated system identifies root causes of water quality issues and simulates solutions using accelerated computing power to deliver solutions to decision makers.

CCS Director Christine Angelini, Ph.D., gave a presentation on some of the innovative decision-making support tools being developed by the center to a group of UF alumni and members of the aerospace industry in Jupiter in May. The tools are being used to improve water quality and manage the health of coastal waters and ecosystems vital to the everyday lives of people living on the coast. (Photo credit: Nicholas Cole)

“CCS technologies are important tools that can be used to help safeguard Jupiter’s natural assets and ensure the continued livability of this coastal community and address some of its vulnerability to climate change,” said CCS Director Christine Angelini.   

The Loxahatchee River, which flows out of Jupiter’s inlet and into the open Atlantic to its east, makes the area vulnerable to flooding from storms and hurricanes. 

“The presentation by Dr. Angelini on innovative science and technologies to protect Florida’s waterways and coastal ecosystems was exciting, interesting and very pertinent to what I have been working on since my graduation from UF’s Black Hall in 1993,” said Tom Conboy, consulting president and principal engineer with South Florida Engineering. “Having spent a third of my career working in the Coastal Ecosystems Division at South Florida Water Management District (SFWMD) working with optimization models utilizing AI, specifically genetic algorithms and fuzzy logic, I was excited to see some of the projects UF is involved in. This event was special to me in so many ways.” 

Jupiter is home to pristine shores and the Loxahatchee River, one of two federally designated Wild and Scenic rivers in Florida due to its remarkable recreational, wildlife and cultural values. Ensuring the long-term health and vitality of coastal communities is central to CCS’ mission. (Photo credit: Noah Densmore – stock.adobe.com)

CCS is grateful to UF alumni Tracy and Mike Dickinson for hosting this event.