Leila Bahrami

Environmental Planner

Climate Resilience Expert



Research Interest

Climate Change & Resilience;

Urban Environmental Modeling;

Climate and Health;

Social Jutice;



Remote Sensing; Geospatila Analytics

GIScience; Mahchine Learning

WRF-UCM; Predictive Modeling



Background

As a research professional with experience at the Environmental Modeling Lab at UPenn and in the private sector, I specialize in integrating spatial data, machine learning, and GIS to analyze human, urban, and natural systems under extreme climate events.


Over the past three years, I have conducted advanced statistical modeling in R to simulate climate vulnerability, leading regional climate action plans, and advanced environmental justice studies.


My current work involves using spatial data and machine learning to understand urban resilience and health challenges in the face of global change, including heat extremes and pandemics.


Mission

My expertise lies in integrating machine learning (Geo-AI), remote sensing and GIS techniques to explore the complex relationships between human, urban and natural systems under climate change, which aims to provide both scientific and practical frameworks for designing more resilient and sustainable communities.

My goal is to promote urban climate equity through urban planning.


Research

Health and social inequalities in Urban Heat Exposure Areas in New Orleans

2024-10-01

How do health and social inequalities shape urban heat exposure in New Orleans?
This study examines disparities in urban heat exposure across New Orleans, identifying vulnerable populations and analyzing the health impacts. It leverages geospatial and socioeconomic data to propose equitable strategies for mitigating heat-related risks and improving community resilience.

Impacts of Land Use and Socioeconomic Patterns on Urban Heat Island in Baltimore City

2020-05-01

This paper examines the relationship between land surface temperature (LST), land use, and socioeconomic variables, highlighting disparities in heat exposure. It identifies impervious surfaces and vegetation as primary drivers and explores equity-focused strategies to mitigate urban heat impacts.

Greening Philadelphia:
Measuring Impacts of Urban Greening Projects

2020-12-18

Are urban greening projects making our city greener? This project applies remote sensing approaches to measure the change of green in Philadelphia Navy Yard.