ABSTRACT

In this mobile workshop, participants will encounter a remarkable pairing: the Los Angeles River at full scale and a precisely engineered 60-foot-long, 1:120 hydraulic model, situated nearly side by side. This juxtaposition offers a unique perspective on how the river is studied, understood, and redesigned. Hosted by the USC Inclusive Infrastructure Design Lab, the visit reveals how engineers, landscape architects, artists, and community members collaborate to reimagine urban waterways for a climate-resilient future. 

The session begins along the Glendale Narrows, grounding participants in the river’s history, present conditions, and peculiar aesthetics. From there, participants move into the Lab, an active research and engagement space where advanced tools make it possible to rapidly develop hydraulically viable design ideas. The visit traces the evolution of river modeling in Los Angeles—from early analog techniques to today’s hybrid approaches that integrate physical models, augmented reality (AR), and an ultra-fast numerical simulation. Custom AR tools allow participants to explore layered data and to annotate and comment directly on the model—bringing community voices, ideas, and concerns into the design process. 

Participants will witness a simulation of a 100-year flood event (alongside others), underscoring the complexity of balancing flood control, ecosystem health, and community needs. They will also learn about the Los Angeles River Observatory, a platform for gathering and sharing real-time data to support nature-based design. The session will conclude with demonstrations of how the Lab is used not only for design and engineering, but also for cultural programming, including artist-led workshops. This immersive visit demonstrates a practice of inclusive, cross-disciplinary processes that can help create infrastructure that is adaptive, equitable, and deeply connected to its communities.