New Tool Could Help Florida Homeowners Weather Flood Risks, Lower Insurance Costs
Platt, Zeinali and team, including Jeff Carney, an associate professor in the UF School of Architecture and the director of FIBER, and UF interior design and architecture students, have compiled a relational database of material data — everything from the hardness of flooring types to moisture-resistance ratings and environmental product declarations. The system assigns each material a resilience score based on its overall potential for failure based on a tunable risk level, allowing users to compare options and choose those most suited to their climate risks.
And it’s not just structural materials. SAMPL also evaluates common finishings and furnishings such as carpet types, wood varieties, porcelain tiles and more. While the system does not recommend brands, it gives users a sense of how different material types stack up in terms of performance and safety.
“We’re looking at materials as a proactive strategy,” Platt said. “Then we’re layering in smart-home technology, including systems for preventing water intrusion, automatic shutoff valves and foundation sensors, as a reactive safeguard. Together, they form a home design that connects risk-reducing and resilience-boosting strategies with potential insurance savings.”
Informing Policy, Protecting Homes
The project aligns with proposed Florida legislation calling for tax incentives for building with resilient materials. The ultimate goal, Platt said, is to provide homeowners and insurance regulators with a shared rubric: if a home meets certain resilience benchmarks, it could qualify for lower premiums.
The SAMPL platform is designed to be adaptable beyond Florida. While it’s currently calibrated to assess flood and storm risks common to coastal regions, it could be tuned for threats like extreme heat, wildfire, or other types of regional risks.
Platt, who has worked as both a designer and academic, said her personal experience as a Florida homeowner drives her research.
“I think about protecting my family just like anyone else,” she said. “Our goal as scientists and educators is to help others make better decisions that protect their homes, their health and their financial stability.
“SAMPL isn’t perfect, and it can’t predict everything,” Platt continued, “but it’s allowing us to move in the right direction for leveraging data to inform reliable design decisions.”
Toward an Open Access Future
Looking ahead, Platt envisions SAMPL becoming an open-access resource for anyone involved in homebuilding or renovation — especially in climate-vulnerable areas.
“This isn’t about telling people how to design their homes,” she said. “It’s about giving them the best information we have, in a usable form, so they can make informed choices that protect what matters most.”
Karen Dooley serves as a national media strategist for the University of Florida. The article was originally posted to the website of the University of Florida.
