By Dr. Randall Hill, Vice Dean, Viterbi School of Engineering, Omar B. Milligan Professor in Computer Science (Games and Interactive Media), Executive Director, ICT
After the recent wildfires devastated our city, ICT’s researchers were asked to contribute ideas on how to build a more resilient Los Angeles for a series of articles which appeared on the Viterbi School of Engineering site.
Sharon Mozgai, Director, Virtual Human Therapeutics Lab
Los Angeles faces critical challenges in recovery from fires, including trauma and grief, overwhelmed mental health services, limited access to emergency resources, and inequitable distribution, particularly affecting marginalized communities. Battle Buddy, a virtual human-led AI system delivered via mobile phone application, could be tailored to address these needs and bolster L.A.’s resilience. As a compassionate, trauma-informed interface, the virtual human component could support victims experiencing PTSD and anxiety, while the underlying AI agents could enable real-time analysis of needs, scalable resource allocation and personalized guidance to essential services like shelters, medical aid, food distribution, legal assistance and rebuilding support. Together, these innovations could fill resource gaps, support equitable access, and strengthen community recovery efforts.
Dr. Yajie Zhao, Vision and Graphics Lab, Director
USC-ICT’s Vision and Graphics Lab’s ongoing research on pluralistic image inpainting can assist those who have recovered partial pieces of art or damaged photographs after the fires. With minimal data input, image inpainting will fill in the missing pixels of an image with appropriate content and restore photographs for those who have lost cherished memories during the fires. Additionally, our research on geometry-aware feature matching for large-scale structure from motion (SfM) provides valuable support for damage assessment and 3D mapping of areas impacted by the fires. Maps generated via SfM can support structural and environmental damage calculations, streamlining insurance assessments and the reconstruction efforts.
MORE INFO: https://vgl.ict.usc.edu/Research/LCPII/ [Image Inpainting]
https://www.semanticscholar.org/paper/Geometry-aware-Feature-Matching-for-Large-Scale-Chen-Wu/00a7b06a9f3a85467f908a863838108c1256a3e1 [Structure from Motion]
David Nelson, MxR Lab Director
USC-ICT’s Mixed Reality Lab’s Watercraft and Ship Simulator of the Future (WSSOF) research project can improve the resilience of L.A.’s vital maritime infrastructure through disaster preparedness training by leveraging cutting-edge virtual and mixed-reality technologies that combine realistic wave physics and geo-specific terrain modeling to simulate actual maritime environments. WSSOF is being developed for DOD use, but can be adapted for civilian and industrial sectors, improving training for port operators to reduce risk in one of the world’s busiest harbors.
MORE INFO: https://ict.usc.edu/research/projects/shipsim-wssof/
Dr. Andrew Feng, Associate Director, Geospatial Terrain Research Lab and Dr. Meida Chen, Research Scientist, ICT
USC-ICT’s Geospatial Terrain Research Lab uses drone mapping and existing 3D reconstruction to ascertain changes in real-time. Although this is not something we are currently working on, this could pivot to quickly detect, locate and update an existing 3D terrain to report on a fire spreading situation in the future.
MORE INFO: https://ict.usc.edu/research/labs-groups/geospatial-terrain-research/
Dr. Jonathan Gratch, Research Professor of Computer Science
Homeowners and government officials will face tense negotiations and conflict as they navigate dealings with insurance companies and government agencies. ICT’s research on negotiation and conflict resolution can help in this process, both in the role AI can play in teaching conflict resolution skills and automating some aspects of conflict resolution. Some of these methods will be highlighted at the AI Negotiation Summit hosted by Harvard Program on Negotiation in March, which I am co-organizing.
MORE INFO: https://agsjournals.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/jgs.18775
Skip Rizzo, Ph.D., Director, Medical Virtual Reality, ICT
Our USC research with Veterans using Virtual Reality (VR) as a tool to effectively treat posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) has provided valuable insights that can be applied to addressing similar challenges in broader populations. PTSD can arise from a diverse range of traumatic events, and the nature of the trauma—whether caused by human actions or natural disasters—significantly influences how PTSD manifests and is experienced.
Studies indicate that trauma resulting from human actions, such as violence or combat, often leads to higher rates of PTSD compared to trauma from natural disasters. This may be attributed to the intentional nature of the harm, which directly undermines the victim’s sense of agency and security. In contrast, PTSD from natural disasters frequently centers on feelings of helplessness and profound loss, including the death of loved ones, destruction of homes, and disruption of communities.
A critical factor for maintaining mental health and resilience across all types of trauma is access to robust social support. Strong connections with family, friends, and community members are consistently shown to be key predictors of successful adaptation to trauma-related stress and positive responses to therapy when it is needed. This underscores the importance of fostering supportive networks as a foundational element of recovery and well-being.
Our work in the field of PTSD has demonstrated how effective use of technology, such as VR, can facilitate healing by helping individuals engage in restorative processing, often circumventing their natural tendency to avoid it. However, the positive impact of human support—whether from a friend, family member, or therapist—remains an essential and irreplaceable component of a resilient response to trauma. Combining innovative technology with strong interpersonal connections enhances the recovery process and fosters long-term resilience.
More Info: https://ict.usc.edu/research/projects/bravemind-virtual-reality-exposure-therapy/
//