Among other accomplishments, he is known for his forward-thinking work in climate change research for the International Geosphere-Biosphere Program, developing the Canadian Climate Change Scenarios Network, the IPCC Task Group on Data and Scenario Support for Impact and Climate Analysis; and, contributing to the development of green infrastructure and in 2012 for which he was awarded the Lifetime Achievement Award for Green Roof Research.
He also led the development of COBWEB (Complexity and Organized Behaviour Within Environmental Bounds), an agent-based simulation software designed to explore how a population adapts to change and the emergent new structures during this process. This includes options for using use an AI engine, based on genetic algorithms, as the basis for agents’ actions in the environment. And in 2013, he founded the University Research Experience in Complex Systems, to provides secondary school and university students an opportunity to use COBWEB to apply this AI approach to research on complexity using computer simulation.
Since inception, over hundreds of students have applied COWEB to a diversity of science and social science disciplines, including neuroscience, ecology, soil chemistry, economics, economic geography, social psychology and sociology. Outside of work, Brad is an avid walker and music collector, often of the obscure, a cat and dog lover and he is known to make up a mean pesto.