Climate Change Comparative Resilience Analysis with Integrated Machine Learning for Austrian and African Cities

Cooperating countries: Egypt, South Africa and Austria

Coordinating institution: Suez University, Sherif Abu El-Magd, Sherif.abuelmagd@sci.suezuni.edu.eg

Partner institutions: Johannes Kepler University Linz, University of Pretoria

Project duration: 1 August 2024 - 31 July 2026

Abstract: 

Climate change poses a formidable challenge to urban environments worldwide, impacting ecosystems, weather patterns, and exacerbating the frequency and intensity of extreme weather events. Increasing global temperatures, altered precipitation patterns, and rising sea levels underscore the urgency of understanding and mitigating the multifaceted impacts of climate change on vulnerable urban areas. The C3RAISE project represents a pioneering effort in climate change research, employing innovative methodologies to conduct a comparative analysis of climate change indicators in Austrian (Linz) and African (Suez and Pretoria) cities. The study integrates advanced machine learning models, including Extreme Gradient Boosting, Random Forest, and Support Vector Machine, to predict and analyze complex climate dynamics. Three distinct data arrangement methods; spatial, temporal, and multi-feature, are systematically employed to capture the multidimensional nature of climate change phenomena. Through a cross-cultural lens, the project explores regional and cultural influences on vulnerability and resilience, contributing to a more nuanced understanding of climate change impacts. The incorporation of socio-economic and land-use data within the multi-feature arrangement enhances the comprehensive nature of the analysis. Notably, the project innovatively focuses on the rapid prediction of climate events such as droughts, floods, and Land Surface Temperature, providing valuable insights for operational planning and disaster management. The project's aim to bridge the gap between academic research and practical application, offering actionable insights for urban planning. C3RAISE holds the potential to influence global strategies for building resilient and sustainable cities in the face of a changing climate.