July 9, 2025
Energi Simulation Research Chair Behnam Jafarpour and USC Viterbi Professor Yan Liu are leading a new research project to improve the understanding and prediction of how water, carbon dioxide (CO₂), and energy move underground — critical for safe CO₂ storage, water management, and sustainable energy recovery. Supported by the National Science Foundation, the three-year study combines physics-based knowledge with artificial intelligence through a deep-learning model called PINCER, which aims to overcome the limitations of traditional models by enhancing physical accuracy while reducing the need for large datasets. The project could significantly advance carbon capture and storage (CCS), groundwater management, and geothermal energy, ultimately helping identify safer storage sites and reducing the risk of environmental hazards.
Read more about the project here: https://viterbischool.usc.edu/news/2025/07/ai-unlocks-earths-subsurface-mysteries-for-smart-energy-applications/?hash=iMvZQZ9878883