Post Event Summary

Recap: Connected Urban Development Global Conference, Seoul South Korea, May 21-22, 2009

Connecting Cities for Sustainable Living: An Urban Revolution

The Connected Urban Development global conference brought together 184 invited participants from 24 countries to Seoul, South Korea. This paper seeks to summarise the flow of the proceedings, key discussion themes, outputs and next steps for the CUD program towards 2010.

A number of successful presentations were provided throughout the two days, followed by seven highly interactive breakout sessions and by an executive dinner hosted by the City of Seoul. Professor, Lord Nicholas Stern, MIT Professor Carlo Ratti and Toronto Mayor David Miller were among the guest keynote speakers. Amsterdam Mayor Job Cohen and President Bill Clinton both sent congratulatory video messages. The audience provided very positive feedback on the overall event, on the progress of the CUD program, and the global thought leadership contribution to the debate regarding connected and sustainable cities. Five new projects were launched at the conference: Personal Travel Assistant and Smart Transportation Pricing in Seoul; UrbanEnergy Management in Madrid; Smart UrbanEnergy for Schools in Lisbon; and the Urban EcoMap in San Francisco. There are three main takeaways from the conference: 1. The CUD program has clearly moved away from what was exclusively a thought leadership discussion into an operational stage, with 12 projects now live. 2. The discussion within the CUD community is clearly shifting towards the creation of an integrated urban approach to IT deployment across key program domains. This is very much in line with the urban services platform visions presented by the cities, Cisco and other speakers throughout the conference. 3. Cities from all continents are extremely keen to engage with public-private partnerships in the deployment of innovative projects, based on the principles of economic, social and environmental sustainability. The opportunity for the CUD program members is to engage on high impact transformational engagements, through a truly global community of cities focused on urban and technology innovation.

Conference Proceedings - 21-22 May 2009

Day1 – Keynote sessions - Morning:

Welcome by Nicola Villa (Cisco), Wim Elfrink (Cisco) and opening addresses by Bill Clinton (CGI), and from our co-hosts, the City of Seoul, Vice-Mayor Duksoo Lee.

Connected and SENSEable City – Sangbum Kim (City of Seoul), Assistant Mayor for Transportation, then provided the city’s strategy for a Clean and Green City, highlighting the strategic direction of the city’s green growth strategy, and its relevance to the development of mobility and transportation infrastructure and services.

Prof. Carlo Ratti (MIT) provided an overview of his team’s innovative research at the MIT’s Senseable Cities Lab. A number of city research pilots were presented, to visualize the role an integrated network of sensors, monitoring, and technology plays in the physical fabric of cities, and in all our decision making in the future.

Connected and Sustainable World – This led into the following presentations from the CUD program; the Urban EcoMap pilot in San Francisco, as presented by Wolfgang Wagener (Cisco) and Jared Blumenfeld (City of San Francisco). The launch of the Urban EcoMap at the conference provides a tangible application of the influence that citizens can make with informed decisions of their cities carbon footprint.

This then set up a thought provoking presentation of a potentially revolutionary technology, by Prof. Ludger Hovestadt (ETH Zurich), regarding the use of a solar material that can utilize the planet’s latent energy, and moving from our reliance on ‘rocks and fires’.

The delegates then moved to one of four break-out sessions, on perspectives from the CUD program themes, and related perspectives from the wider community of global thought leaders.

Day 1 – Breakout sessions

• Connected and Sustainable Living

Two new CUD pilots were previewed at the Seoul conference; Urban Energy Management, in the city of Madrid, presented by Ana Reguero (City of Madrid); and Smart UrbanEnergy for Schools in Lisbon, presented by Carla Pedro (Cisco). Both pilots are being progressed into the operational phase in 2009.

Vin Sumner (Clicks and Links) provided an overview of the DEHEMS and Green Shift programs in the City of Manchester and across other European cities as part of an EC funded program.

Carolyn Purcell (Cisco) then described the Pecan Street project in Austin, Texas, progressing towards a smart energy grid.

• Connected and Sustainable Work

Bas Boorsma (Cisco) introduced the session with the principles of CUD’s program around the future of work.

Ronald Prins (City of Amsterdam) provided an update on the status of the Smart Work Center pilot in Amsterdam and Almere, the user survey results from this pilot and the scaling developments in Amsterdam and the Netherlands.

The replication and progress of the Smart Work Center concept in Seoul was provided by Dong Guen Kim (City of Seoul).

Chris Vein (City of San Francisco) then provided an overview of the plans for a TeleScience Club, an SWC influenced learning network, in conjunction with the Californian Academy of Sciences. The plans here illustrate the potential of the SWC to specific communities of interest, and in various global contexts.

This session concluded with a further overview of the global developments taking place of the SWC concept, and the focus for CUD in the next year towards facilitating these global initiatives and in the advancement of a MySmartworkSpace reservation tool for SWC users to manage their time effectively and interface into various personal information applications such as the Personal Travel Assistant and the Urban EcoMap.

• Connected and Sustainable Mobility

This session was introduced by Tony Kim (Cisco), and introduced the panelists, and topics in the context of CUD’s mobility vision.

The first panel, moderated by J.D. Stanley (Cisco) discussed the development of the PTA pilots, approaches, visions and what a sustainable business model could be. From Amsterdam Rick Batelaan (City of Amsterdam) presented the

developments in Amsterdam. Yong Mok Shin (City of Seoul) described the Seoul PTA today, and where it goes in the future, and Rosina Howe-Teo (Singapore) described the personal travel advisor developments in Singapore.

A presentation by Dr Soo Young Lee (Korea Automotive Technology Institute) on the future of smart and green urban mobility looked at a number of innovative mobility pilots and where they are leading us in the future. Dr Lee then moderated a discussion with the previous presenters on technology and urban mobility visions.

• Urban Sustainability Modeling and Services

The session was moderated by the Cisco Urban EcoMap lead, Dr Wolfgang Wagener. The scaling of the Urban EcoMap to Amsterdam was provided by Frank Kresin (Waag Society). This will form an important second stage to realizing the global comparisons of cities eco footprint & climate actions.

There then followed a more in depth overview of the E-Planet concept, following the keynote session, from Prof Ludger Hovestadt and Dr Vera Bueuhlmann (ETH Zurich).

Dr Steve Hipskind (NASA AMES Research Center) described the earth science monitoring of urban environments, and looked at some of the applications, and monitoring developments which are feeding into the CUD pilots, and in cities information

This led into the joint development of The Planetary Skin, which NASA AMES and Cisco are progressing. Juan Carlos Castilla-Rubio (Cisco) described the conception, joint work with NASA aims and the scope, and development plans of this innovative approach to sensing the world we live in.

Day1 – Keynote sessions - Afternoon:

Smart and Connected City – The afternoon opened with an update on the progress from the CUD program by Nicola Villa (Cisco). There followed a short video message from Mayor Job Cohen (City of Amsterdam), endorsing the value of the CUD partnership to his city, and their city wide innovation and sustainability strategy.

In a link, from the C40 Climate Change summit, hosted in Seoul earlier in the week, Mayor David Miller (City of Toronto and Chairman of C40) gave an inspiring presentation on his city, and the progress being made in applying technology to the priorities of the city of Toronto.

Hosting the conference in South Korea, as well as the city of Seoul, a wide range of innovative and world leading urban strategies is close at hand. Notably, the Songdo/IFEZ new city, as presented by the next speaker, Jonathan Thorpe (Gale International). Songdo/IFEZ provides a leading new build opportunity to integrate technology into the fabric of the development. Indeed, it is described by Jonathan as ‘Future City 1.0’.

This practical program provided a bridge to Wim Elfrink’s (Cisco) presentation on ‘Smart and Connected Communities’. Cisco’s strategic plans for how technology plays the fundamental role in the future of cities was outlined, along with demonstrations of the applications of building controls, personalized living and work and then addressing how technology can make cities safe and secure for citizens.

The Low Carbon Digital City – The next session, a question and answer session moderated by Dimitri Zenghelis (Cisco and LSE), introduced one of the world’s leading sustainability economists, Prof. Lord Nicholas Stern (LSE). The live TelePresence link from Seattle (USA), outlined the macro perspective, challenges and imperatives which underlie the CUD partners priorities for Connected and Sustainable Cities.

So, what are the practical considerations, frameworks and live projects that are being developed towards a ‘carbon neutral smart city’? The conception of an ‘Urban Information Architecture’ as the crucial component towards sustainable cities was set out by Volker Buscher (Arup), in the context of Arup’s work in designing some of the world’s leading sustainable urban developments.

Connected and Sustainable Mobility – Tony Kim (Cisco) started the next session by looked at the connected and sustainable mobility vision which he is leading at Cisco, and in the development of innovative pilots with the city of Seoul.

J.D. Stanley (Cisco) set out the story of the Personal Travel Assistant, from a prototype, and its role in realizing the vision of providing integrated city mobility decision making engine.

Dr. C.K. Kim (Seoul), Director of TOPIS, then explained the city of Seoul’s ambitious plans for integrated transportation and how the Seoul PTA provides an engaging and innovative service progressing towards this strategy.

Site Visit – TOPIS Center

Delegates then visited the Transport OPeration Information System (TOPIS) Center to see how the city manages the cities transportation network in real-time, from the control center, and a further insight into this from Dr Kim and his team.

Day2 – Keynote Sessions

Nicola Villa (Cisco) introduced the day’s proceedings, and to the moderator for the morning keynote sessions, Martin Stewart Weeks (Cisco). Martin provided a synopsis of day one’s proceedings, and personal perspectives on the challenges and opportunity for cities to integrate technology into future city developments.

Sung-il Park (Korean Ministry of Public Administration and Security) described the South Korean Green growth strategy, and digital stimulus strategy.

Christine Loh (Civic Exchange, Hong Kong) presented her perspectives on growing and greening the economy and the dimensions of innovation towards a preferred future.

Dimitri Zenghelis (Cisco, LSE) explained the economic imperative, climate economics perspectives and the case for a sustainable stimulus.

Molly Webb (The Climate Group) – presented the opportunity that technology has to play in our future development of cities. Her overview of the Smart2020 report provided an upbeat and actionable target for city leaders to respond to.

Day2 – Breakout Sessions

• City Governance Models for a Carbon Economy

A session moderated by Dimitri Zenghelis (Cisco), with introductory perspectives from Peter Head (Arup) and Nicky Gavron (City of London) debated the long-term visions for connecting cities to the growing carbon economy and how will city governance models likely evolve over time? The session focused on what it means for the build-out of sustainable urban infrastructures and how cities, investors, and citizens can interact with new global institutions. Participants discussed how cities can refocus their urban infrastructures and services as communities come to grips with the opportunities that arise from a carbon economy.

• Green and Digital Economy Stimulus

A session moderated by Peter Gruetter (Cisco) and Mark de Kruijk, (City of Amsterdam) debated the long-term implications of global stimulus packages to cities and to their green and digital strategies? The session focused on green and digital imperatives and opportunities, taking into consideration the role of green and digital stimulus programs that aid economic recovery and the prioritization of sustainability objectives. Participants shared their own

perspectives, circumstances, and experiences in the refocusing of urban infrastructures and services, as communities take advantage of green and digital opportunities that result from global stimulus packages.

• 21st Century Cities

A session moderated by Wolfgang Wagener (Cisco) and Gordon Feller (Urban Age Institute) debated the long-term visions for 21st century cities, making use of digital networks? Today’s cities continue to increase people’s access to information and communication. They are connected by a global information and communications network that facilitates human interaction and mobility. As the new channels for collaboration between people and the design and management of cities, the Internet is leading to dramatic transformations in urban life. The session explored what this means for the intersection of urban design, innovation and public policy. The participants engaged with the innovation boost that digital networks can deliver for cities. Ultimately, this session explored the emergence of a new “City Building Industry” to create an Urban Services Platform for—and among—cities.

Closing Keynote Session

Following the break out sessions the conference closed with perspectives from Nicola Villa (Cisco) and Simon Willis (Cisco). We have an opportunity and an imperative to act, find solutions and engage in driving towards connected and sustainable cities. Simon referenced the historical perspectives on cities in the center of human civilization

Conference summation and next steps

The launch of two leading pilots from the CUD cities provided the latest deliverable from the CUD partner cities. This was supported by the preview of the Buildings and Energy pilots from the cities of Lisbon and Madrid.

Discussion on partnerships, scaling, and the imperative to develop a technology platform across cities underlay a number of the sessions, and is influencing the direction of cities, urban planners, and companies to respond to this requirement.

The socioeconomic imperative is to apply technology towards making informer decision making for city managers, integrated urban systems, and in inducing behavioural change in the way citizens live, work, play, and move about cities.

We heard from a number of speakers at the conference, that we are now seeing a convergence of crises, a ‘perfect storm,’ unprecedented in modern human history in its scale and complexity. This manifests itself visibly into the city. This is where issues related to the several crises are being felt: unemployment, lack of social integration, lack of resources for infrastructure renewal, traffic, energy shortages, exposure to climate change consequences, are abound. Local communities are the places where solutions will need to provide an impact, where investments, innovation and job creation will need to happen. Yet this recognition goes hand in hand with the understanding that local communities can and will only succeed by ensuring effective collaboration between local, national and international government and authorities on the one hand, while mobilizing the four ‘P’s’ of Public/Private Partnerships, as well as People living in urban environments. It is this socioeconomic imperative which will be a focus for CUD in all of the pilots, whether through informed decision making in energy utilization, integrated transportation, building management or the way we work, and apply green ICT infrastructure to our everyday living.

CUD developments for 2009/10

• CUD Alliance – Development of a broader alliance of cities, and companies, focused on delivering technology solutions.

• Vision 2030 survey & interviews – A survey of city leaders and a series of interviews with our CUD network of

city leaders and urban practitioners. • Development of technology pilots – Continuation and expansion of the CUD blueprint and the reference pilots

from all partner cities. • Expanding the relationships, scope, technology innovation and scaling models, towards connected and

sustainable cities

Priorities for delivering Connected and Sustainable Cities

A final summation and take away from the conference is that we are seeing the need for a number of future focus and priority areas for the CUD partners and wider community. The not exclusive list includes; training for city leaders, financing solutions, city governance models, tangible value cases for economic, environmental and social utility and returns on investment, North/South relevance, new and retro-fit applications.

See you all soon for more discussions in our CUD webcast series, in various global forums and in future CUD events, which all aim to bring the global community of thought leaders and practitioners towards addressing these, and other focus areas.

Post conference resources

All presentations from the conference, interviews, briefing documents for the breakout sessions, city technology pilot fact sheets, and video-on-demand presentations from the keynote sessions are available online at; www.connectedurbandevelopment.org/conferences/seoul_may_2009

Six pre-meeting fact sheets were available for conference delegates, and are now available online; - Smart Work Centers - UrbanEnergy Management - Personal Travel Assistant - Smart UrbanEnergy for Schools - Smart Transportation Pricing - Urban EcoMap

In addition, the review paper from The Connected Bus pilot in San Francisco is now available, as a summation of the research, value case and next steps for the first pilot from the CUD program.

CUD Vision 2030 Survey

Cisco in partnership with Metropolis, the global cities alliance, has devised a survey of city leaders, to understand the priorities, plans, and challenges of cities. This research, being supported by a series of one-to-one interviews with city leaders in the CUD community aims to highlight the key trends in cities, and reveal the visions for the future that the CUD partners and the wider community can reference for our future priorities and directions towards connected and sustainable cities.

For questions and further information, contact Nicola Villa nvilla@cisco.com, and Shane Mitchell shanmitc@cisco.com.

Nicola Villa Global Director, Connected Urban Development Cisco