At URBES, we explore the processes, scales, and feedbacks, regulating the functioning of natural and urban ecosystems. Specific research areas include urban climate and hydrology, soil-plant processes in natural and urban environments, urban structure and dynamics, and sustainable urban design – with particular attention to urban green spaces, climate, and health. Given the complexity of such problems, our research crosses the boundaries between multiple disciplines, from hydrology, to ecology, meteorology, physics, urban planning, and public health.
Our aim is to conceptualize and generalize the biotic and abiotic processes occurring at the Earth’s land surface and derive simplified (mathematical) descriptions of the complex interactions between humans, climate, and ecosystems.
Ongoing projects and collaborations
EPFL-SBB Research initiative – Industry Collaborations.
ETH Domain, Open Research Data (ORD) program. Read more here.
CROSS project 2025 (EPFL-UNIL).
Branco Weiss Fellowship Collaborative Grant 2024 (The Branco Weiss Fellowship, ETH Zurich).
ENAC Fribourg Grant 2024.
SNSF-FNRS. Read more here
UNHCR & Geneva Technical Hub – funded by the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation. The project outcome is available here.
CLIMACT Starting Grant 2022. Read more here.
SNSF Sinergia. Read more here
FCL Global. Read more here
Workshops
EPFL, 13-15 September 2023. See program here.
