Data, Models & Intelligent Tools
Observations, models, and emerging AI-supported tools provide a crucial layer of “intelligence” for the Green–Grey–Blue–Intelligent (GGBI) Framework. They help us interpret how Green, Grey, and Blue elements behave, evaluate options, and communicate complex ideas to decision-makers, students, and the public.
Why Data and Models Matter in GGBI
Engineering decisions about Green, Grey, and Blue infrastructure often rely on understanding how water moves and how systems respond to different conditions. Data and models help to:
- Quantify rainfall–runoff and drainage behavior.
- Evaluate river, estuary, and coastal water levels and flows.
- Simulate how infrastructure performs under current and future scenarios.
- Explore “what-if” questions before investments are made.
- Support communication among engineers, planners, and communities.
In the GGBI Framework, data and models are part of the Intelligent domain that supports more transparent and robust decisions.
Representative Types of Data and Models
Monitoring & Observations
Rain gauges, stream gauges, tide and surge sensors, water-quality measurements, and remote sensing data that capture how systems behave in real events.
Hydrologic & Hydraulic Models
Tools for representing rainfall–runoff, urban drainage networks, and river flows, used in stormwater design, flood analysis, and GI–Grey evaluations.
Hydrodynamic & Coastal Models
Models of tides, storm surge, waves, salinity, and sediment processes, used to analyze estuarine circulation, coastal flooding, and shoreline change.
Water-Quality & Sediment Models
Models that link land use, flows, and constituent transport to downstream conditions in rivers, lakes, estuaries, and coasts.
Emerging Intelligent & AI-Supported Tools
In addition to traditional models, new tools are becoming available that can assist with:
- Summarizing technical documents and organizing case studies.
- Generating visual explanations and diagrams for teaching.
- Exploring scenarios and sensitivities in an interactive way.
- Helping compare alternative portfolios of measures at a high level.
- Translating technical material into more accessible formats for broader audiences.
These tools do not replace engineering judgment or detailed modeling. Instead, they can complement established methods by improving synthesis, communication, and accessibility of knowledge.
Connecting Data & Models to Green, Grey, and Blue Domains
Within the GGBI Framework, data and models are used to understand and connect:
- Green: how GI and landscape measures change runoff, peak flows, water quality, and microclimate.
- Grey: how drainage networks, storage facilities, levees, and coastal structures perform under different storms and sea levels.
- Blue: how rivers, estuaries, and coasts respond to combined riverine, tidal, surge, and wave forcing.
By linking these domains, data and models help identify where measures reinforce one another and where additional adjustments may be needed.
Typical Use Cases in GGBI Applications
- Evaluating GI–Grey combinations for urban stormwater and local flooding.
- Assessing basin-scale flood risks and environmental flows.
- Analyzing storm-surge and coastal flooding under different storm tracks.
- Exploring salinity intrusion or water-quality responses to management actions.
- Supporting long-term resilience planning under climate and land-use change.
These use cases can draw on both conventional modeling tools and emerging AI-assisted methods for analysis and communication.
Connections to GGBI Framework Domains
- Intelligent domain – concept of the Intelligent layer
- Green domain – GI performance and design
- Grey domain – drainage, storage, and coastal structures
- Blue domain – hydrodynamics and coastal processes