In Louisiana, hurricanes and flooding are not just weather events. They are a way of life.
As climate change intensifies these threats, the state is taking steps to prepare. Rising sea levels, storm surges, and more frequent hurricanes are making flooding more complicated. especially when these disasters happen simultaneously. Frankly, traditional forecasting methods aren’t able to keep up.
To address this, Louisiana is exploring Al-driven solutions that combine the best of both traditional models and machine learning to better predict floods. This approach, already used in places like Galveston Bay, Texas— paired with a hydrological-ocean model with ML-based spatial mapping- uses AI to make flood predictions in seconds using a laptop instead of minutes on hundreds of cores on a super computer. In turn, emergency response times and disaster preparedness will improve, possibly saving many lives.
George Xue, professor in LSU’s Department of Oceanography & Coastal Sciences and Center for Computation and Technology, said. “By using this hybrid approach, Louisiana could significantly improve its ability to predict floods quickly and accurately, leading to faster emergency responses and better preparation for disasters like compound flooding. This combination of traditional models and advanced AI/ ML techniques is key to strengthening Louisiana’s resilience against increasingly frequent and severe hurricane-induced flooding events.”
As Louisiana faces these growing challenges, experts are also focused on boosting its economy while conserving the coast, innovating our energy, and integrating AI. Through AI-powered initiatives, Louisiana is preparing its workforce for the jobs of tomorrow, particularly in fields like clean energy, climate change, and disaster recovery.
Projects like ours that utilize technologies like digital twins and virtual learning are helping people gain the skills needed for these critical industries, especially in underserved communities. Ensuring that all residents have access to high-demand job opportunities is crucial for the future of Louisiana’s economy.
A key area of focus is renewable energy. Al-driven simulations are helping educate people about the benefits of solar farms and other green technologies. By offering immersive training programs, Louisiana is preparing workers for leadership roles in the renewable energy and disaster resilience sectors, which will be vital in the coming decades.
Marcus Lyle Brownowner of Believe Entertainment, partner at DigitalTwinsStudios and software development project manager at ULL- said. “These proposed earlystage projects highlight Louisiana’s potential to use AI responsibly to empower its workforce, enhance sustainability, and foster inclusive economic growth. By supporting ethical AI development, Louisiana can position itself as a leader in shaping the future of work, technology, and innovation.”
Through partnerships with both major tech companies and research one (Rl) universities, these collaborations drive technological advancement and ensure that progress aligns with Louisiana’s business-friendly policies and the needs of local communities. By scaling these Al-driven workforce development projects statewide, Louisiana is creating solutions to tackle climate resilience, economic recovery, and the energy transition.
Louisiana is preparing its residents for the future of work and technology, building resilience against the growing threats of climate change by combining cutting-edge AI with traditional solutions. We don’t do this by erasing our past and traditional methods, instead, we are integrating into them our technological future. These efforts ensure a sustainable, equitable future for all of Louisiana’s communities.
Marcus Lyle Brown, George Xue, Andrew Schwarz
