Ensemble is an interdisciplinary research team, working to explore the opportunity of new and emergent digital technologies in understanding, mitigating and adapting to environmental change. Using methods drawn from computer science, environmental science, social science, statistics, art, design and writing the team aim to transform the work of environmental scientists and decision makers, and the experience of communities by addressing themes related to complexity, uncertainty and abstraction of data. This paper discusses activities undertaken within a research ‘sprint’ directed at addressing flood risk management through data driven decision making, communication and community engagement.