Livable Texas is an interdisciplinary research initiative organized and led by a subcommittee composed of members from the University Research Council (URC) and the Division of Research. This initiative brings Texas A&M researchers together to identify critical issues facing Texas. The state of Texas is viewed as a living laboratory that will allow us to assess; predict; and adapt new knowledge, technology, and lessons learned to improve outcomes for Texas. By developing partnerships that will foster the exchange of ideas and interdisciplinary collaborations, we can identify solutions to known and anticipated problems. In order to provide decision makers with the critical data to make informed decisions, we will establish a standardized baseline for social and natural elements that force change, determine data sets and the appropriate temporal and spatial scale for assessment, produce a heat map with areas of potential concern, and provide an assessment of potential hotspots and solutions.