University of Hawaiʻi Joins $25M AI Initiative to Monitor Disasters

The University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa has become a key partner in a significant national project, receiving a share of a $25.6 million grant from the National Science Foundation (NSF) to enhance disaster monitoring through artificial intelligence (AI). This initiative, named Sage Grande, aims to deploy 300 advanced sensor systems across the United States, designed to provide rapid alerts for natural disasters such as wildfires, floods, and volcanic eruptions.

The project will allow researchers and students at UH Mānoa to collaborate with a nationwide team focused on developing a new generation of AI-powered sensors. These devices will have the capability to analyze data on-site, eliminating the need to send information to distant servers. This advancement means that communities, scientists, and policymakers will receive quicker updates on critical environmental changes, including smoke from wildfires, shifting weather patterns, and unusual volcanic activity.

Hands-On Experience and Technological Innovation

Jason Leigh, director of the Laboratory for Advanced Visualization and Applications within UH Mānoa’s Department of Information and Computer Sciences, emphasized the dual benefits of this project: advancing disaster preparedness and providing students with practical experience in cutting-edge AI technology. “By joining Sage Grande, UH is not only advancing disaster preparedness and environmental science, but also giving our students hands-on experience with cutting-edge AI,” he stated.

Plans are underway to install two to three sensors across the Hawaiian Islands as early as next year, with specific locations yet to be determined. The team includes Leigh and other faculty members from the Water Resources Research Center at UH Mānoa, including Chris Shuler, Han Tseng, Anke Kügler, and Tom Giambelluca.

Building on Previous Successes

The University of Hawaiʻi has prior experience utilizing similar technology. In Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park, students have tested a current-generation Sage sensor to analyze real-time data from Kīlauea. This early work demonstrated AI’s potential to address fundamental questions, such as determining whether an eruption is occurring.

On the island of Maui, a comparable sensor has been installed in Lahaina to monitor air quality and fire risks in the aftermath of the devastating 2023 wildfires. Funded through a separate NSF grant, this project also collects climate and pollution data to support recovery efforts and inform future planning. Local students are engaged with these instruments, gaining valuable training in environmental science and advanced AI systems.

As the Sage Grande project unfolds, it promises to not only enhance environmental monitoring capabilities but also foster a new generation of skilled professionals equipped to tackle pressing challenges related to natural disasters. The integration of AI into disaster preparedness represents a forward-thinking approach to safeguarding communities and ecosystems alike.