2026 CMC Seminar Series - Francisco Pereira

Speaker: Francisco Pereira

Title: Climate Adaptation with Reinforcement Learning: Experiments with Flooding and Transportation in Copenhagen

Link to slides

Link to seminar recording

Abstract: Climate change is expected to increase the frequency and intensity of extreme rainfall, leading to more frequent urban floods that damage infrastructure and disrupt mobility. Cities urgently need strategies to adapt to these escalating risks. In this seminar, we will present how reinforcement learning (RL) can be used to uncover effective adaptation strategies—identifying where and when measures should be deployed. The framework combines projections of future rainfall and flooding with a simplified model of Copenhagen transport, allowing us to capture both direct damage to infrastructure and indirect impacts on mobility. We will share preliminary results showing how RL can help prioritize interventions in vulnerable areas and determine the optimal timing for their implementation, ultimately supporting more resilient and adaptive urban transport systems.