Rowen Partners with UGA on Climate Resilience Study

Weather Focused Project is Rowen’s 5th “Living Lab” Project

LAWRENCEVILLE, Ga. (July 10, 2025) – The Rowen Foundation in partnership with the University of Georgia has launched a two-year Hydrometeorology and Land Cover Change Observational Study (HALOS) that will begin this summer. HALOS is the fifth Living Lab project established by Rowen — the 2,000-acre knowledge community shaped by partnerships with Georgia’s leading universities and institutions.

HALOS will generate critical baseline data to monitor how large-scale development impacts local weather, geography and watershed properties in real time. Research will be led by Dr. J. Marshall Shepherd of UGA’s Atmospheric Sciences and Geography department, alongside co-investigators from UGA’s Franklin College of Arts and Sciences, the Odum School of Ecology, the College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences and the College of Engineering.

The study will deploy advanced technologies, such as satellite imagery, drones and real-time sensing instruments to monitor environmental indicators through December 2027. All equipment and technology have been provided by Weatherstem, an industry leader in scientific instrumentation.

“We are thankful for the opportunity to collaborate with the University of Georgia and Weatherstem on this important project,” said Rowen President and CEO Mason Ailstock. “The HALOS study will help shape data-driven, climate-resilient development strategies to serve as a nationwide model for sustainable practices on large-scale projects.”

The Rowen Foundation’s Living Lab Agreement with the University System of Georgia and the Technical College System of Georgia allows Rowen to provide resources to support research and innovation on-site, advancing its mission to be a catalyst for education, research and transformation, establishing a unique destination for industry tenants to build, innovate and grow.

“Rowen is leading the way when it comes to developing a community where sustainability and environmental stewardship are core principles, integrated into site planning and future developments,” said Dr. Shepherd. “This study will provide valuable insights into how large-scale construction projects alter local ecosystems.”

The project aims to investigate the impacts of urban heat islands and assess the effects on air quality, flooding and water quality from early-stage construction through future growth at Rowen. The findings will inform urban planning and development strategies, guide sustainable growth and mitigate adverse environmental effects. The longitudinal nature of the study will allow for continuous monitoring and adaptation of strategies based on real-time data and trends. Climate data collected through the project will be shared with local government and made available to K-12 students and teachers for real time experiential learning.

Other Living Lab projects include a workforce study related to e-mobility, an artificial intelligence collaborative, smart transportation research and work around ecologically sustainable development.

Learn more about Rowen’s climate-conscious approach to development and Living Lab partnerships.

About Rowen

Owning 2,000 carefully preserved acres along Highway 316 in Gwinnett County, Ga., Rowen is a visionary knowledge community that will bring together entrepreneurs, researchers and innovators at the intersection of the Atlanta, Athens and Gainesville metropolitan statistical areas and more than 50 research and educational institutions. A new multi-use concept designed to foster discoveries in agricultural, medical and environmental sciences, Rowen will build on the land’s rich history of thoughtful environmental stewardship, while changing the economic and social trajectory of Gwinnett, Georgia and our nation for generations.

About Rowen Foundation

Rowen Foundation is the independent, mission-driven, not-for-profit entity leading the planning and visioning of Rowen. With its mission to be a catalyst for education, research, innovation and transformation, the foundation is responsible for project leadership and operations to ensure the long-term vision for Rowen is never compromised.

Media Contact:

Brian Brodrick

404-983-4394

bbrodrick@jacksonspalding.com

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