FloodNet NYC began in 2020, bringing together researchers at New York University (NYU) and the City University of New York (CUNY) with New York City agencies to measure street-level flooding and make the resulting data useful to residents, community groups, public agencies and researchers. 25 Its work grew from separate efforts by NYU and CUNY researchers to develop ultrasonic sensors, shaped by research needs and community priorities. 2
The sensors measure water depth in streets and other low-lying places that conventional river and tide gauges may not capture. Solar-powered devices take readings every minute and transmit them wirelessly; the measurements are displayed on a public map and data platform. 5811 The project’s aims include supporting emergency response and flood planning, helping validate flood models, and giving communities more detailed evidence about where and when flooding occurs. 7813
FloodNet’s partners include NYU, CUNY institutions including the Advanced Science Research Center and Brooklyn College, and city offices such as the Mayor’s Office of Climate and Environmental Justice and the Office of Technology and Innovation. The NYC Department of Environmental Protection has also commissioned a citywide sensor expansion. 2812 The project has shared data from major storms: during Hurricanes Henri and Ida, its sensors recorded the timing and depth of flooding, including water reaching three feet at one location during Ida. 713
The network has expanded beyond its initial pilot sites in Brooklyn and Queens to all five boroughs. A 2026 NYU report says it had reached 400 sensors and recorded more than 2,400 flood events since the first installation in October 2020. 4 The project also publishes research and works with community partners on education and the use of flood data. 310