Huili Chen

Dr. Huili Chen is a Senior Lecturer in Water Engineering at Loughborough University. Her research focuses on developing innovative methodologies using satellite observations and high-performance modelling tools to assess disaster impacts and risks, particularly in data-sparse regions. She specializes in flood risk reduction, climate change adaptation, and hydrodynamic modelling. Her work emphasizes safeguarding vulnerable populations in disaster-prone areas through advanced data analytics.

• Education: BEng, MSc, PhD
• Research Interests: Flood risk assessment, disaster impact modelling, satellite data integration, climate resilience strategies

Dr. Chen leads and collaborates on projects such as the UNESCO Chair in Informatics and Multi-hazard Risk Reduction, the SPIRIT initiative for flood modelling standardization, and the FLASH project for hazard assessment in Bhutan. She has pioneered techniques like the High-Performance Integrated Hydrodynamic Modelling System (HiPIMS) and GIS-based DEM correction methods to enhance flood simulation accuracy. Her research also addresses agricultural flood damage, pluvial flood nowcasting, and glacial lake outburst flood impacts using open-source data.

Her advisory and grant activities include roles as Principal Investigator (PI) and Co-Investigator (CoI) on multiple grants from NERC, EPSRC, and the Royal Society. She has managed projects totaling over £multi-million, demonstrating leadership in interdisciplinary environmental engineering solutions.

Dr. Chen’s work contributes to global initiatives like the UNESCO Chair program and the SHEAR-funded WeACT project, advancing flood hazard assessment and forecasting systems for vulnerable regions. Her research bridges computational modelling, environmental science, and policy to promote sustainable resilience strategies.