Every idea has a journey,
Watch our story unfold.
KaRez is a research-driven initiative developing tools, strategies, and digital solutions for climate resilience, sustainable land and water management, and future-ready urban systems.
We work at the intersection of science, technology, nature-based solutions, and decision support to help organizations better understand risks, explore future scenarios, and design resilient pathways for communities and infrastructure.
Our Mission
Transforming climate knowledge into actionable resilience
Our mission is to bridge advanced scientific research with practical decision-making tools that support climate adaptation, mitigation, and regenerative urban and environmental systems.
KaRez focuses on integrated approaches that connect land, water, infrastructure, ecosystems, and society to address the complex challenges of climate change and cascading risks.
The KaRez Story
An ancient underground irrigation system
The name “KaRez” is inspired by the ancient underground water channel systems known as qanats or karez, resilient engineering systems developed centuries ago to sustainably manage water in arid regions.
Just as traditional karez systems connected landscapes, communities, and water resources through intelligent design, KaRez seeks to connect science, technology, governance, and resilience for the challenges of the 21st century.
Our Approach
KaRez combines interdisciplinary research, digital innovation, systems thinking, and stakeholder-oriented approaches to support resilient planning and environmental decision-making.
Our work integrates:
- Climate risk analysis
- Hydrological and environmental modeling
- AI-driven analytics and digital twins
- Nature-based solutions (NbS)
- Scenario planning and decision support
- Urban and infrastructure resilience
- Participatory and cross-sector collaboration
Founders
KaRez was founded by researchers and practitioners working at the intersection of climate resilience, environmental systems, digital innovation, and sustainable urban development. The initiative brings together interdisciplinary expertise spanning environmental engineering, hydrology, urban systems, architecture, nature-based solutions, and AI-driven decision support.
Research Foundations & Collaborations
KaRez is built upon years of interdisciplinary research, international collaboration, and applied work in climate resilience, hydrology, nature-based solutions, AI-driven environmental modeling, and digital twins.
The scientific background behind KaRez has evolved through collaborations involving universities, municipalities, international research consortia, and innovation initiatives focused on resilient urban and environmental systems.
From Research to Action
KaRez translates scientific knowledge and interdisciplinary experience into practical tools, decision-support systems, and resilience strategies for real-world climate and sustainability challenges.
Selected Research & Innovation Initiatives:
AI-Driven Sustainable Spatial Planning
Research initiative focused on advancing climate-neutral cities through AI-enabled spatial planning, digital innovation, and integrated urban sustainability strategies.
Research initiative led by or involving researchers affiliated with KTH Royal Institute of Technology and funded by Formas strategic innovation programme: Smart Built Environment.
CASCADE
AI-driven digital twins and cascading climate risk assessment for resilient urban infrastructure systems, with a focus on interconnected urban services and extreme-event resilience.
Research initiative led by or involving researchers affiliated with KTH Royal Institute of Technology and the City of Stockholm, and funded by Digital Futures.
RESOLVE
International research initiative addressing climate-resilient and eco-sustainable railway infrastructure through geohazard mitigation, resilience assessment, and biodiversity-sensitive strategies.
Research initiative led by or involving researchers affiliated with KTH Royal Institute of Technology and international partners, funded under the Horizon Europe framework.
LEGACY
Research initiative investigating historical, emerging, and future groundwater pollution pathways to marine environments and coastal ecosystems.
Research initiative led by or involving researchers affiliated with KTH Royal Institute of Technology and international collaborating institutions, funded by KAW (Knut and Alice Wallenberg Foundation).
LandEX
Integrated landscape resilience and hydrological extremes management through nature-based solutions, environmental modeling, and stakeholder-driven adaptation planning.
Research initiative led by or involving researchers affiliated with KTH Royal Institute of Technology and European research partners, and regional stakeholders. Funded by The Water4All Partnership.
PUDDLEJUMP
Research on upstream–downstream connectivity, flood resilience, ecosystem services, and integrated water and landscape management approaches.
Research initiative led by or involving researchers affiliated with KTH Royal Institute of Technology and SLU. Funded by Formas.
Rezvani A, et al. Journal of Hydrology: Regional Studies. 2025;61:102669. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ejrh.2025.102669.
DeepAqua
Deep learning and Earth observation research for monitoring changes in lakes, rivers, and surface water systems, supporting climate resilience, water resource management, and environmental decision-making.
Research initiative led by or involving researchers affiliated with KTH Royal Institute of Technology and funded by Digital Futures.
REFORMIT
Research initiative focused on understanding and strengthening the resilience of forest-based climate mitigation systems under future environmental change.
Research initiative led by or involving researchers affiliated with KTH Royal Institute of Technology and interdisciplinary research partners, funded by Formas.
NATURANCE
European initiative exploring innovative financial and governance mechanisms to accelerate nature-based solutions for climate adaptation and resilience.
International collaboration involving universities, public authorities, and European partners.
CrisAct
Research initiative addressing systemic resilience, climate risks, environmental security, and preparedness for future societal challenges.
Research initiative led by or involving researchers affiliated with KTH Royal Institute of Technology and interdisciplinary partners, funded by VR.
AI-Powered Knowledge Integration to Carbon-Neutral Cities
Research initiative focused on integrating AI, environmental data, and urban systems knowledge to support pathways toward carbon-neutral cities.
Research initiative led by or involving researchers affiliated with KTH Royal Institute of Technology and interdisciplinary partners, funded by Formas.
The projects referenced above are independent research and innovation initiatives that have contributed to the scientific and interdisciplinary experience informing the development of KaRez.