Sustainable Smart Cities Symposium

“Opportunities & Closing Remarks”

Fouad H. Fouad, Ph.D., P.E.Professor and Chair, CCEE Department

Director, UAB Sustainable Smart Cities Research Center

June 12, 2014

Contributing to Develop the Science of Cities• The UAB SSCRC provides the enabling platform to promote interdisciplinary

research, attract major federal funding, advance scientific knowledge, and educate the community.

• UAB has a strong network of scientist and a solid research infrastructure that facilitates the interdisciplinary work to develop the new ‘Science of Cities’. The UAB SSC is collaborating with the UAB Schools of Business, Engineering, College of Arts and Sciences, Health Professions, Medicine and Public Health.

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Why Sustainability?

• Economic benefits/savings

• Environmental benefits

• Social

Recent Activities

IBM Smarter Cities Challenge

• City of Birmingham in collaboration with the UAB Sustainable Smart Cities Research Center is one of 16 cities selected worldwide to receive an IBM Smarter Cities Challenge grant.

• The Smarter Cities Challenge grant contributes the skills and expertise of IBM’s top talent to help cities address critical issues. During the past three years, 100 cities have been selected to receive grants, with contributions valued at more than $50 million.

The Challenge

VACANT PROPERTIES FOOD DESERTS

The City of Birmingham working with UAB SSC will engage IBM’s Smarter Cities program by focusing on efficient strategies that begin to reverse community degradation and create new investment as well as stabilize and grow neighborhood property value by increasing access to fresh, healthy food.

“Reversing community degradation, stabilize neighborhood property value and increase access to fresh, healthy foods. ”

The Regional Planning Commission of Greater Birmingham is exploring the feasibility of implementing a bikeshare system in Birmingham.

Implementation of bikeshare programs in urban areas has been seen to positively affect how residents, employees, and visitors experience a city.

Toole Design Group was selected by RPCGB to lead its bikeshare feasibility study UAB SSC is involved in analytical studies and survey data analysis

Public Radio WBHM 90.3 FM hosted an "Issues & Ales" event concentrating on sustainable development and Birmingham's future on March 12 at WorkPlay.

WBHM “Issues & Ales: Sustainable Development”

Mayor Bell Speaks About STEM Education

Middle School Youth Champions Program

Bu i ld i n g our fu tu re, toda y!

Educating the youth about management of natural resources and improving quality of life for present and future generations.

Program started on February 2014

Each Saturday, one of the following sustainability topics is covered:1. Energy Conservation & Sustainable

Transportation2. Environmental Quality3. Field Trip (Ruffner Mountain, Cheaha Park,…)4. Health and Livability of Cities

- Ossie Ware Middle School- Green Acres Middle School

Summer Enrichment Program

What is it?Learning program to promote opportunities in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) to increase enrollment in engineering schools with sustainable transportation focus

Who is it for?Currently enrolled freshmen, particularly African American and Hispanic/ Latino students

When is it?

4 week summer program

Pilot Research Grants

The GOAL of the UAB SSC Pilot Grant Program is Twofold:

1) Encourage faculty to collaborate on cross-disciplinary research, training, and,

2) Attract Extramural Funding, Develop IPs, Patents, etc…

RFP Priority Areas for Funding

Green Building and Infrastructure Design

Information and Smart Technology

Sustainable Urban Development

Clean Energy (Efficiency, Renewable, Alternative)

Natural Resource and Carbon Management

Urban Health and Environmental Exposure

Statistics # Letters of Intent Submitted: 18 UAB Departments and Centers (PI): 16 Faculty (PI): 17 Faculty (Co-PI): 22 # Invited Proposals: 5 Proposal Approved for Funding: 2

Pilot Research Projects

Proposals Approved for Full Development1. A Novel Algorithm Toward Wireless Smart Monitoring and Control of in-Home

Units for Energy ConservationDepartment of Electrical & Computer Engineering Department of Computer and Information ScienceDepartment of Civil, Construction, and Environmental Engineering

2. The Utilization of Blue-Green Algae Recovered from Local Lakes and Rivers for Composite Materials

Department of Materials & Science EngineeringDepartment of Biology

The UAB Hydrogen Fuel Cell Bus entered service with MAX in April 2014. It is currently running on the DART Southside Loop.

UAB Hydrogen Fuel Cell Bus

The demonstration will last for 24 months and will eventually be extended to all MAX routes. The hydrogen fueling station is fully operational at the MAX yard.

“With only a few such buses operating in the world, Birmingham will be home to the only hydrogen fuel cell bus and fueling station in the Southeast.”

Secretary of Transportation Anthony Foxx spoke on Wednesday, April 16th in Birmingham, Ala., as part of a week-long, eight-state tour. Foxx boarded the bus to tour several Birmingham landmarks. He spoke briefly at the MAX intermodal site at 2 p.m.

UAB Hydrogen Fuel Cell Bus

Egypt

UK

UAB SSCRC

UAB SSCR Active research and training partnership

Collaboration dialogue started in 2012

International Research Collaborations

Colombia

Brazil

17

Spain

International Collaborations

Master’s of Engineering in Sustainable Smart Cities

The program is designed to be a broad curriculum exposing graduates to many areas of sustainability and how these areas are interrelated in the development of smart cities and sustainable infrastructure.

• A pioneer online program to kickoff Spring 2015

• Joint with the UK, Staffordshire University

• Will allow for related science / field admissionsRequirements: BA / BS Degree, Professional Recommendation, etc.

• 30 Hrs: 10 Courses

About the Program Audience: This program is intended to give decision makers, such as architects, engineers, planners, government officials, and managers the broad background and conceptual knowledge they need to remain competitive in the market place of sustainable, smart cities and infrastructure

Courses: MODULE 1 – Principles of Sustainable Development MODULE 2 – Introduction to Sustainable Smart Cities MODULE 3 – Low Carbon and Renewable Energy Systems MODULE 4 – Managing Natural Resources MODULE 5 – Green Infrastructure MODULE 6 –Green Buildings MODULE 7 – Smart Technologies MODULE 8 – Health & Livability MODULE 9 – Big Data & Data Analytics MODULE 10 – Capstone Project

Thank you