As data-driven decision-making becomes increasingly vital in addressing climate-related
challenges, it is crucial to build a comprehensive understanding of climate datasets that support
research and innovation in climate risk assessment and mitigation. This project aims to conduct
an extensive climate data discovery process within UIUC, focusing on identifying and cataloging
datasets across units, research centers, and government entities, with a special emphasis on
climate risk, insurance, and actuarial applications. By consolidating these diverse climate-
related datasets into a centralized repository, we aim to create a unified platform that
empowers researchers, students, and faculty members to analyze and model climate risks more
effectively.
The project aligns with SOA’s objectives by supporting the development of data-driven tools
and methodologies for assessing risks associated with extreme weather events. The repository
will include datasets relevant to climate science, risk modeling, financial exposure, and loss
estimation, bridging the gap between meteorological data and actuarial applications. We
anticipate that this initiative will involve dedicated personnel for climate data integration,
interactive visualization, and the development of a relational database that facilitates
interdisciplinary research in climate risk, resilience, and insurance modeling.
Supervisor: Zhiyu (Frank) Quan
Graduate Supervisor: Jiayi Guo