Thematic Cluster: CLIMATE-POSITIVE CITIES An Interdisciplinary Thematic Cluster for Urban Transformation

Facing worsening floods and pollution, the Klang River Basin requires an urgent, systemic transformation. This research cluster develops a climate-positive vision for the basin through three integrated projects. The first establishes a technical foundation, using hydrodynamic modeling to assess green-grey-blue infrastructure under future climate scenarios. The second employs participatory engagement to co-design community adaptation strategies with vulnerable neighborhoods. The third extends resilience to mobility, exploring how transport systems can adapt to flooding while ensuring equitable, low-carbon access. Together, these projects generate actionable evidence for infrastructure design, adaptation planning, and policy, directly supporting Malaysia's climate goals and the Klang River Rehabilitation Masterplan.

Impact: Collectively, these projects aim to:

Examine potential for 30% flood reduction in the Klang Basin
Inform Selangor's Klang River Rehabilitation Masterplan and ASEAN urban resilience guidelines
Develop participatory planning and engagement frameworks for stakeholders, including vulnerable communities, for flood risk management and environmental stewardship.

Industry engagement with partners like LUAS (Selangor Water Authority), DID (Department of Irrigation & Drainage Malaysia), and DBKL (Kuala Lumpur City Hall) will amplify impact through pilot projects, policy co-design, and community capacity building. These initiatives demonstrate how cities can transition from climate vulnerability to climate positivity, benefiting ecosystems, vulnerable populations, and policymakers.

Project 1 (School of Engineering)

Green–Grey–Blue Infrastructure Resilience Assessment Framework for Urban Flood Mitigation in the Klang River Basin

This research aims to develop an integrated Urban Flood Resilience Analysis (UFLRA) framework—originally designed to assess coupled green–grey–blue infrastructure systems—for enhancing urban flood resilience along the Klang River. The study will evaluate how combinations of nature-based-solution (NBS) (green), engineered (grey), and water-based (blue) interventions can reduce flood risk in this rapidly urbanizing and climate-sensitive watershed. By modeling the backwater effects and hydrodynamic interactions unique to the Klang River context, the research will quantify resilience gains from interventions such as connectivity of NBS and urban drainage systems. The approach will incorporate local rainfall patterns, land use configurations, and projected climate change scenarios. The outcome will be a decision-support tool that enables urban planners and policymakers in Malaysia to prioritize and design effective, context-sensitive flood mitigation strategies using a blend of nature-based and conventional infrastructure. This framework will inform policy, master planning, and practical implementation, driving climate-resilient transformation in urban flood management.

We seek a motivated candidate with a background in civil engineering, environmental engineering, hydrology, water resources management, or urban planning. Experience in hydrodynamic modeling, flood risk assessment, nature-based solutions, or climate change impact analysis will be an advantage.

The ideal applicant will demonstrate strong analytical and computational skills, scientific curiosity, and the ability to work collaboratively across disciplines. An interest in sustainable urban development, climate resilience, and policy communication within the Malaysian and Southeast Asian context is highly desirable.

For enquiries, please contact Assoc. Professor Chow Ming Fai

For more information about this project, please visit our GEMS website.

How to Apply

When you apply for admission into your preferred degree program you will be able to select your scholarship type. No separate application is required.

By clicking on a course, you will be directed to further information, including details on ‘How to Apply’.

However, before applying for a GEMS, it is recommended that you first contact the main supervisor for this GEMS research topic. Please provide details of your academic background and achievements to the supervisor so that they can assess your suitability for the GEMS research topic you are interested in.

Main Supervisor (Malaysia): Assoc. Professor Chow Ming Fai

Associate Supervisor (Malaysia): Dr Izni Mohd Zahidi

Associate Supervisor (Australia): Prof. Diego Ramirez, Dr. Michaela Prescott

Project 2 (School of Engineering)

This Project is No Longer Available.

Project 3 (School of Engineering)

AI-Driven Adaptive Mobility for Resilient Transport in Flood-Prone Urban River Basins

Climate change is projected to increase the frequency and severity of extreme weather events (e.g., intense rainfall and riverine flooding), which can cause severe mobility disruptions. Such events impede personal travel, disrupt supply chains and public transport operations, and block access to critical services, disproportionately affecting low-income and transport-disadvantaged populations.

This research will develop community-led adaptive mobility plans to manage and plan transport flows during severe road disruptions. A key innovation will be the integration of a flood vulnerability assessment directly into the transportation simulations. This assessment will draw upon local rainfall patterns, land use configurations, and projected climate change scenarios to model flood depth, extent, and duration to identify at-risk road segments and critical mobility corridors. To ensure equitable and accessible evacuation, local knowledge will be combined with dynamic digital mapping create context-specific evacuation paths for vehicles, pedestrians, and other road users.

We seek a motivated candidate with a strong background in transportation engineering, operational research. Experience in transport modelling, big data analysis, programming and experience with AI optimization will be an advantage.

The ideal applicant will demonstrate strong analytical skills, scientific curiosity, and the ability to work collaboratively across disciplines. An interest in smart. resilient and sustainable mobility within the ASEAN context is highly desirable.

For enquiries, please contact Dr Susi Susilawati

For more information about this project, please visit our GEMS website.

How to Apply

When you apply for admission into your preferred degree program you will be able to select your scholarship type. No separate application is required.

By clicking on a course, you will be directed to further information, including details on ‘How to Apply’.

Main Supervisor (Malaysia): Dr Susi Susilawati

Associate Supervisor (Malaysia): Dr Taesik Kim

Associate Supervisor (Indonesia): Dr Alyas Widita

Associate Supervisor (Australia): Dr Tanvi Maheshwari

The above projects are open for application until positions are filled.