Water is Our Focus

Water is the central focus of our research and to the support we offer to faculty members at The University of Alabama. It plays a vital role in sustaining our lives and ecosystems. It is a finite and essential resource, and its availability and quality are increasingly threatened by climate change, population growth, pollution and overuse. AWI’s transdisciplinary research into water resources, management and conservation is necessary to understand complex hydrological systems and to develop sustainable solutions to manage and protect water resources for present and future generations.

Research

AWI Research Entities

GWSC

The Global Water Security Center leverages cutting-edge science to deliver critical water and environmental security insights to key decision-makers and provides reliable tools and analysis to support national water security interests.

CIROH

CIROH is a one-of-a-kind partnership between The University of Alabama, NOAA and the National Weather Service, aimed at revolutionizing U.S. water forecasting through collaboration among 28 institutions.

CONSERVE

CONSERVE draws on The University of Alabama’s wide-ranging interdisciplinary expertise to address biodiversity and watershed management challenges through community-centered research.

Research News

New Equipment Strengthens UA Water Research Across Disciplines

From the lab to the field, new tools funded by the Alabama Water Institute are empowering UA researchers to solve Alabama’s most pressing water challenges.
New Satellite-Derived River Slope Database Helps Improves U.S. Flood Forecasts

CIROH researchers have harnessed NASA’s satellite data to sharpen a critical piece of flood forecasting: river slope. Their new datasets improve U.S. flood models by more than 30%, giving emergency managers faster, more reliable information to protect communities during extreme weather.
UA Researchers to Develop Digital Twin Systems to Track Water Resources for AI Infrastructure

Dr. Jonathan Frame has secured a National Science Foundation grant to investigate how expanding AI infrastructure will impact water resources—a critical issue he believes will define the next decade of water management.
Machine Learning Model Improves River Flow Estimates in Ungauged Basins

Most rivers lack gauges, leaving gaps in flood forecasting, water management and emergency planning. This new machine learning approach uses downstream data to predict upstream flow with no sensors needed.

WaterWorks

An image showcasing the AWI Annual Report. Click here to download it.

The Alabama Water Institute’s Annual Report highlights a year of progress in advancing water science, technology and policy. From tackling pressing challenges like floods and droughts to fostering innovation through our flagship research entities — GWSC, CIROH and CONSERVE — we continue building a nationally recognized research enterprise. Explore how our work, in partnership with NOAA, USGS and others, is translating science into solutions that benefit communities in Alabama and beyond.