Monash University Sustainability Institute
February 10, 2010
The Urban Genome Project: Deciphering Cities’
DNA to solve sustainability challenges
Jonathan Fink, Director
Center for Sustainability Science Applications
Arizona State University
Monash University Sustainability Institute
February 10, 2010
Outline of Today’s Presentation
1) Personal and ASU background
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6)
ASU’s Global Institute of Sustainability
Role of cities in addressing sustainability
Different sectors’ approaches to urban systems
Rationale for an Urban Genome Project
Opportunities for Monash-ASU urban collaboration
Monash University Sustainability Institute
February 10, 2010
Personal Background
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Volcanology professor at ASU
Department Chair, VP Research, Sustainability Director
Helped promote interdisciplinary culture at ASU
Heavily involved in regional economic development
New Center focuses on cross-sector sustainability research
Monash University Sustainability Institute
February 10, 2010
Institutional Background - ASU
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One of largest universities in U.S. (~ 67,000 students)
Four campuses in Metro Phoenix under one administration
Interdisciplinary, global, socially relevant, use-inspired
Sustainability has been a top institutional priority since 2002
Monash University Sustainability Institute
February 10, 2010
Nature Editorial, April 26, 2007:
ASU as “The university of the future”
Much of this recognition grew
from our sustainability program
Monash University Sustainability Institute
February 10, 2010
ASU’s Global Institute of Sustainability
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First degree-granting School of Sustainability (BS, MS, PhD)
University practices that reflect principles of sustainability
University-wide Sustainability Research Federation
Decision Theater links research to community’s policy needs
Monash University Sustainability Institute
February 10, 2010
School of Sustainability: Emphasis areas
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Global urbanization
Energy and materials
Water quantity and quality
Biodiversity
Values and ethics
“The World’s First,
Business practices
so the World Lasts”
Monash University Sustainability Institute
February 10, 2010
School of Sustainability: How it works
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SOS Faculty: some full-time, some shared, some “borrowed”
Courses: Some just SOS, some shared, some distributed
Students: Majors and minors in Sustainability
650 undergrad majors in second year; 75 grad students
Most ASU Schools now want their own sustainability programs
Monash University Sustainability Institute
February 10, 2010
ASU Sustainable Business Practices
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Solid waste
Transportation
Energy
Buildings
Food
Purchasing
Water conservation
Public education
Monash University Sustainability Institute
February 10, 2010
Whether or not one “believes” in global climate
change, the path we are on is unsustainable
If everyone in the world lived like an average North
American, we would need five planets to live on
Monash University Sustainability Institute
February 10, 2010
How to best respond to the need for change?
Countries sign global treaties
But binding agreements, if any, are watered down
Companies find ways to profit from change
But if profits and public good conflict, profit wins
Individuals can change their behavior
But unless everyone does it, most put it off
Cities and regions try lots of different approaches
But each one tends to do its own thing
Each city can be considered an experiment
Monash University Sustainability Institute
February 10, 2010
Cities are ideal scale to address sustainability
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More than half the world’s population is now urban
Cities are best scale to balance consumption and resources
Urban density leads to reduced energy and water consumption
Population within a city easier to communicate with
People more responsive to local politics
Monash University Sustainability Institute
February 10, 2010
Large cities have lower per capita CO2 emissions
CO2 Emissions per capita
6.74
4.73
5.03
3.77
< 500,000
500,000-999,999
1,000,000-1,499,999
City population size
>1,500,000
Monash University Sustainability Institute
February 10, 2010
Transportation emissions scale
with population density
How can we greatly improve these efficiencies?
Monash University Sustainability Institute
February 10, 2010
Massive urbanization in China and elsewhere
offer opportunities to create large impacts
400M Chinese moving to cities from rural areas
Monash University Sustainability Institute
February 10, 2010
Four sectors help conduct urban experiments
Government
NGOs
Universities
Fund
Protect
Regulate
Negotiate
Educate
Discover
Convene
Integrate
Advocate
Defend
Inform
Solicit
Contribute
Innovate
Employ
Invest
Corporations
Monash University Sustainability Institute
February 10, 2010
How can Federal urban
systems research be
better coordinated?
Monash University Sustainability Institute
February 10, 2010
HOUSING
HEALTH
ENERGY
WATER
URBAN
SECURITY
How can Federal urban
systems research be
better coordinated?
AIR
MANUFACTURING
CLIMATE
TRANSPORTATION
LAND
USE
FORESTS
AGRICULTURE
Federal approach to urban systems is fragmented
HOUSING
HEALTH
HUD
ENERGY
DOE
URBAN
SECURITY
DOD
DOJ
USGS
EPA
Mission
Agencies
DOC
TRANSPORTATION
WATER
How can
can the
the
study of
How
study
of urban
urban
Federal
systems be
be coordinated?
systems
coordinated?
DHS
MANUFACTURING
NIEHS
CDC
NOAA
DOL
DOT
CLIMATE
NASA
USFS
BLM
LAND
USE
AIR
USDA
FORESTS
AGRICULTURE
State and local agencies have same problem
HOUSING
HEALTH
HUD
ENERGY
NIEHS
CDC
DOE
URBAN
SECURITY
APS
SRP
USGS
AERO
How can
can the
the Federal
study of
ADWR
How
study
of urban
urban
&
systems be
beState
coordinated?
systems
coordinated?
Mission
EPA
GPEC
Local
Agencies
Agencies ADEQ
ADOC
DOJ
DOC
TRANSPORTATION
ADHS
DOD
DHS
MANUFACTURING
WATER
DOL
MAG
ADOT
DOT
SFAz
ADOA
NOAA
CLIMATE
NASA
USFS
BLM
LAND
USE
AIR
USDA
FORESTS
AGRICULTURE
ASU used one project to connect pieces for Phoenix
HOUSING
HEALTH
HUD
ENERGY
NIEHS
CDC
DOE
WATER
ADHS
DOD
APS
SRP
USGS
AERO
DOJ How
can the
the Federal
study
ADWR
ASU of
How can
study
of urban
urban
&
systems be
be State
coordinated?
systems
coordinated?
Mission
EPA
DHS
GPEC
CAPLocal
AIR
Agencies
Agencies
LTER
ADEQ
ADOC
DOC
NSF
MANUFACTURING
NOAA
MAG
SFAz
DOL
ADOT ADOA
CLIMATE
DOT
NASA
TRANSPORTATION
URBAN
SECURITY
USFS
BLM
LAND
USE
USDA
FORESTS
AGRICULTURE
Global Institute of Sustainability (GIOS)
formalized the university’s integrative role
HOUSING
HEALTH
HUD
ENERGY
NIEHS
CDC
DOE
WATER
ADHS
DOD
APS
SRP
USGS
AERO
DOJ How
can the
the Federal
study
ASU of
ADWR
How can
study
of urban
urban
&
systems be
be State
coordinated?
systems
coordinated?
Mission
EPA
DHS
GPEC
CAPLocal
AIR
GIOS
Agencies
LTER
Agencies
ADEQ
ADOC
DOC
NSF
MANUFACTURING
NOAA
MAG
SFAz
DOL
ADOT ADOA
CLIMATE
DOT
NASA
TRANSPORTATION
URBAN
SECURITY
USFS
BLM
LAND
USE
USDA
FORESTS
AGRICULTURE
Do urban transport and land use affect water?
HOUSING
HEALTH
HUD
ENERGY
NIEHS
CDC
DOE
WATER
ADHS
DOD
APS
SRP
USGS
AERO
DOJ How
can the
the Federal
study
ASU of
ADWR
How can
study
of urban
urban
&
systems be
be State
coordinated?
systems
coordinated?
Mission
EPA
DHS
GPEC
CAPLocal
AIR
GIOS
Agencies
LTER
Agencies
ADEQ
ADOC
DOC
NSF
MANUFACTURING
NOAA
MAG
SFAz
DOL
ADOT ADOA
CLIMATE
DOT
NASA
TRANSPORTATION
URBAN
SECURITY
USFS
BLM
LAND
USE
USDA
FORESTS
AGRICULTURE
How do energy efficiency and climate interact?
HOUSING
HEALTH
HUD
ENERGY
NIEHS
CDC
DOE
WATER
ADHS
DOD
APS
SRP
USGS
AERO
DOJ How
can the
the Federal
study
ASU of
ADWR
How can
study
of urban
urban
&
systems be
be State
coordinated?
systems
coordinated?
Mission
EPA
DHS
GPEC
CAPLocal
AIR
GIOS
Agencies
LTER
Agencies
ADEQ
ADOC
DOC
NSF
MANUFACTURING
NOAA
MAG
SFAz
DOL
ADOT ADOA
CLIMATE
DOT
NASA
TRANSPORTATION
URBAN
SECURITY
USFS
BLM
LAND
USE
USDA
FORESTS
AGRICULTURE
First joint Federal urban research program in 2009
HOUSING
HEALTH
HUD
ENERGY
NIEHS
CDC
DOE
URBAN
SECURITY
DOD
DOJ
Mission
Agencies
DOC
MANUFACTURING
TRANSPORTATION
USGS
How can
can the
the
study of
How
study
of urban
urban
Federal
systems be
be coordinated?
systems
coordinated?
DHS
EPA
AIR
NOAA
DOL
HUD-DOT-EPA Initiative
for
CLIMATE
NASA
Sustainable Communities
DOT
USFS
BLM
LAND
USE
WATER
USDA
FORESTS
AGRICULTURE
Monash University Sustainability Institute
February 10, 2010
Metro Phoenix as a laboratory
• 5th largest, 2nd fastest-growing city in US
• Relatively easy to model
• Large federal urban research projects
• State agencies, industry, universities collaborate well
• ASU’s sustainability focus is on Phoenix
• Already feeling climate impacts (heat, drought, migration)
Monash University Sustainability Institute
February 10, 2010
Simple boundary conditions for modeling Phoenix
• Spatial: city strictly limited by infrastructure
• Population: well-documented; rapid growth
• Cultural: built on ancient Hohokam canals (AD 1000)
• Topography/Tectonics: Basin and Range; stable
• Water: aquifers; canals; reservoirs; streams; Colorado River
• Air: eastward flow; heat island; brown cloud; monsoon
• Land Use: desert
agriculture
• Economy: mining/agriculture
urban
high tech/tourism
• Housing: Cheaper on periphery; follows freeways
Monash University Sustainability Institute
February 10, 2010
Grand challenges of urban sustainability
placed in a Phoenix framework
• Eliminate water as a limit to prosperity in Arizona
• Replace all Arizona’s carbon-based energy with renewables
• Clean air to reduce childhood respiratory illnesses
• Design cities to reduce vulnerabilities to urban heat
• Use ICT, modeling and policies to end traffic congestion
• Develop city so biodiversity and ecosystem services increase
• Expand inexpensive, locally-grown food to reduce hunger
• Establish affordable, sustainable housing and communities
• Make region leader for sustainable technology innovation
Monash University Sustainability Institute
February 10, 2010
ASU’s urban systems research projects
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CAP-LTER, one of two Urban LTERs
Two Urban Ecology IGERTs (NSF)
Agrarian-urban transitions (NSF)
Heat Island Research Center (EPA)
Urban Fluid Dynamics (ADEQ, EPA)
100 Cities remote sensing (NASA)
Decision Center for a Desert City (NSF)
Morrison Institute for Public Policy
Center for Science, Policy & Outcomes
Monash University Sustainability Institute
February 10, 2010
ASU’s urban systems research projects
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CAP-LTER, one of two Urban LTERs
Two Urban Ecology IGERTs (NSF)
Agrarian-urban transitions (NSF)
Heat Island Research Center (EPA)
Urban Fluid Dynamics (ADEQ, EPA)
100 Cities remote sensing (NASA)
Decision Center for a Desert City (NSF)
Morrison Institute for Public Policy
Center for Science, Policy & Outcomes
Monash University Sustainability Institute
February 10, 2010
Central Arizona – Phoenix Long Term Ecological Research
CAP is one of only two urban LTERs
old city
slower growth
humid climate
flat terrain
young city
rapid growth
arid climate
rugged topography
Phoenix
3
5
Baltimore
Monash University Sustainability Institute
February 10, 2010
Underlying CAP-LTER Research Questions
How does urbanization affect city’s underlying ecosystem?
How does regional ecosystem constrain urban development?
Monash University Sustainability Institute
February 10, 2010
CAP-LTER 200 point survey
Uniform data collected regularly
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Monash University Sustainability Institute
February 10, 2010
CAP analyzes complex urban impacts on ecosystems
• Hydrologic modifications
– Land cover changes
– Manipulation of water source,
amount, quality
– Simplification of flow-paths
• Chemical modifications
– Enhanced N, C deposition
– Addition of novel compounds and
pollutants
Monash University Sustainability Institute
February 10, 2010
Hydrologic balance for the CAP ecosystem
0.74 (cooling water)
2.2
1.0
WWTP
+
5.2
Nonconsumptive
uses
+
9.0 =
17
SW
4.8
6.0
Cropland
Urban landscapes
1.1
0.49
0.62
2.1 (river)
7.5
15 Evaporation
10
Surface water
Evaporation
Outflow
Internal transfers
0.62
Groundwater
Monash University Sustainability Institute
February 10, 2010
Air pollution impacts on ground water and soil
Monash University Sustainability Institute
February 10, 2010
Urban Heat Island Effect
Night time temperatures go up a lot in city
Monash University Sustainability Institute
February 10, 2010
How to reduce airport’s thermal footprint?
N
Sky Harbor
Airport
Urban heat island has health, water, and energy consequences
Monash University Sustainability Institute
February 10, 2010
New materials can reduce airport’s impact
Low Albedo
High Albedo
Low Thermal
Mass
High Thermal
Mass
Low Albedo
High Albedo
High Thermal
Mass
Low Thermal
Mass
Anthropogenic
Heat
Monash University Sustainability Institute
February 10, 2010
ASU-NASA 100 Cities remote sensing project
Monash University Sustainability Institute
February 10, 2010
100 Cities Project:
Standardized, repeated urban remote sensing
Partners
Existing
Negotiating
Planned
Monash University Sustainability Institute
February 10, 2010
100 Cities Project:
• Annual day and night images collected for each city
• Goal is to partner with local groups in all 100 cities
• Can we develop a taxonomy of growing cities?
• How can cities minimize their environmental impact?
• Collaborating with World Bank
Monash University Sustainability Institute
February 10, 2010
Visible to near-infrared
15 m/pixel
Shortwave infrared
30 m/pixel
• Major land cover classes
• Vegetation health
• Soil properties
• Soil contamination
• Urban surface materials
• Rooftop materials
• Energy use
• Fugitive dust production
• Metal contamination
• Ecological communities
Thermal infrared
90 m/pixel
• Surface energy balances
• Regional climate models
• Anthropogenic heat sources
• Heat island development
• Surface composition
Las Vegas, NV, 17-Oct-2000
Monash University Sustainability Institute
February 10, 2010
Urban 4D NASA Proposal
• $30M for aircraft-based remote sensing of four cities
• NASA Goddard, Ames, Marshall Ctrs; NCAR, ASU, UGa, MIT
• Apply models from one city to all the others
• Understand inter-urban, multi-scale comparisons
Monash University Sustainability Institute
February 10, 2010
Ultimate goal: “City Sat” remote sensing satellite
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Urban remote sensing data difficult to obtain
Often can’t access satellite data of cities
Existing instruments not optimized for cities
Solution is a dedicated urban satellite system
ASU and NASA now planning “CitySat”
Monash University Sustainability Institute
February 10, 2010
Decision Center for a Desert City
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Addresses urban water decision-making under uncertainty
Regional stakeholders engaged from start to finish
Decision Theater helps them assess alternative futures
Could also apply to air pollution, energy, traffic, food
Lake Mead, Lake Powell, and the Seven States Plan
Pow ell
Equalizations
2006 Pow ell Volume
Copy 2 of Upper
Basin Use
Pow ell Evaporation
Pow ell
Index Volume
Max Pow ell storage
Volume Thresholds
Pow ell Overflow
Predicted Pow ell
Predicted Pow ell
UC Shortage
CO Beginning of
Drought
Upper Basin
Consumption
Future - Historical
Sw itch
Upper Basin Flow
Upper Basin
Allocation
CO Drought Factor
CO Number Drought
Years
CO Drought
Multiplier
Upper Consumption
during shortfall
Rule to use
LeesFerryInflow
Drought Factor
Copy of Pow ell to
Mead
Colorado Index
Year
Seven States Rule
Pow ell W atershed
Holding Supply
Balance Amount
Copy of Mead
w atershed
Mead
Return to Starting Page
Projected Natural
Flow
Colorado Random
Flow
Colorado mean
Colorado sd
Colorado AER
Monash University Sustainability Institute
February 10, 2010
Phoenix has three water sources:
Aquifers, Colorado River, Salt-Verde Rivers
Monash University Sustainability Institute
February 10, 2010
Sources of Phoenix’s water uncertainty
Total Annual Precipitation
Climate Division 4
CD 4: 1895-2004
20
15
10
5
0
-5
1896-1904
Annual rainfall variability
millions
Phoenix Population Growth
3.8
3.7
3.6
3.5
3.4
3.3
3.2
3.1
3.0
2000
Urban heat island
1995
1985
1975
1935
1925
1915
1905
1895
Global climate change
1995-2004
1965
1942-1956
-15
1955
-10
1945
Precipitation Anomaly (inches)
25
2001
2002
2003
2004
Population growth
Monash University Sustainability Institute
February 10, 2010
“WaterSim” forecasting tool in Decision Theater
WaterSim has many user-adjustable variables
Monash University Sustainability Institute
February 10, 2010
“WaterSim” framework connects models for
hydrology, law, economics, climate, land use
Lake Mead, Lake Powell, and the Seven States Plan
Powell
Equalizations
2006 Powell Volume
Copy 2 of Upper
Basin Use
Powell Evaporation
Powell
Index Volume
Volume Thresholds
Max Powell storage
Future - Historical
Switch
Powell Overflow
Predicted Powell
Predicted Powell
UC Shortage
CO Beginning of
Drought
Upper Basin
Consumption
Upper Basin Flow
Upper Basin
Allocation
CO Drought Factor
CO Number Drought
Years
CO Drought
Multiplier
Upper Consumption
during shortfall
Rule to use
LeesFerryInflow
Drought Factor
Copy of Powell to
Mead
Colorado Index
Year
Seven States Rule
Powell Watershed
Holding Supply
Balance Amount
Projected Natural
Flow
Colorado Random
Flow
Copy of Mead
watershed
Mead
Return to Starting Page
Colorado mean
Lake Mead, Lake Powell and the Seven States Plan
Colorado sd
Colorado AER
Monash University Sustainability Institute
February 10, 2010
“WaterSim” framework connects models for
hydrology, law, economics, climate, land use
Lake Mead, Lake Powell, and the Seven States Plan
Powell
Equalizations
2006 Powell Volume
Copy 2 of Upper
Basin Use
Powell Evaporation
Powell
Index Volume
Volume Thresholds
Max Powell storage
Future - Historical
Switch
Powell Overflow
Predicted Powell
Predicted Powell
UC Shortage
CO Beginning of
Drought
Upper Basin
Consumption
Upper Basin Flow
Upper Basin
Allocation
CO Drought Factor
CO Number Drought
Years
CO Drought
Multiplier
Upper Consumption
during shortfall
Rule to use
LeesFerryInflow
Drought Factor
Copy of Powell to
Mead
Colorado Index
Year
Seven States Rule
Powell Watershed
Holding Supply
Balance Amount
Projected Natural
Flow
Colorado Random
Flow
Copy of Mead
watershed
Mead
Return to Starting Page
Colorado mean
Lake Mead, Lake Powell and the Seven States Plan
Colorado sd
Colorado AER
Monash University Sustainability Institute
February 10, 2010
Powell
Equalizations
“WaterSim” framework connects models for
hydrology, law, economics, climate, land use
Index Volume
Lake Mead, Lake Powell, and the Seven States Plan
Powell
Equalizations
Max Powell storage
Copy 2 of Upper
2006 Powell Volume
Powell
Volume Thresholds
Max Powell storage
Future - Historical
Switch
Powell Overflow
Predicted Powell
Predicted Powell
UC Shortage
Consumption
CO Beginning of
Drought
Basin Use
Powell Evaporation
Index Volume
Volume
Thresholds
Upper Basin
Upper Basin Flow
Upper Basin
Allocation
Rule to use
Drought Factor
PredictedCO Powell
CO Number Drought
Years
CO Drought
Multiplier
Upper Consumption
during shortfall
Rule to use
LeesFerryInflow
Drought Factor
Copy of Powell to
Mead
Colorado Index
Year
Seven States Rule
Powell Watershed
Holding Supply
Balance Amount
Copy of Mead
watershed
Mead
Return to Starting Page
Projected Natural
Flow
Colorado Random
Flow
Seven States Rule
Colorado mean
Colorado sd
Amount
Lake Mead, Lake Powell and theBalance
Seven
States Plan
Mead
Colorado AER
Monash University Sustainability Institute
February 10, 2010
W
E
T
D
R
Y
Watershed
Simulation
Climate
Change
More technical
Land Use &
Population
Policy
Tradeoffs
Groundwater
Sustainability
Less Technical
Graph slider bars allow alternate futures to be assessed in real time
WaterSim also available online at http://watersim.asu.edu
Monash University Sustainability Institute
February 10, 2010
Watershed Simulation
Monash University Sustainability Institute
February 10, 2010
Climate Change
Monash University Sustainability Institute
February 10, 2010
Land Use and Population
Monash University Sustainability Institute
February 10, 2010
Policy Tradeoffs
Monash University Sustainability Institute
February 10, 2010
Groundwater Sustainability
Monash University Sustainability Institute
February 10, 2010
MIT Senseable Cities Lab’s “Copenhagen Wheel”:
Improve urban data collection and mobility
Monash University Sustainability Institute
February 10, 2010
World Bank’s Global City Indicators Facility:
Common metrics for all the world’s cities
Monash University Sustainability Institute
February 10, 2010
Cisco Systems’ Connected Urban Development:
Informs city dwellers about their impacts
Monash University Sustainability Institute
February 10, 2010
CUD’s Urban EcoMap for
Amsterdam, San Francisco and Seoul
Monash University Sustainability Institute
February 10, 2010
EcoMap shows environmental impact by zip code
Monash University Sustainability Institute
February 10, 2010
IBM’s Smarter Cities program
Combines new sensor
technologies with
computer models for
better management
decisions
Monash University Sustainability Institute
February 10, 2010
Non-IT corporations can be partners
for urban sustainability research
• Wal-Mart: (retail supply chain)
• Waste Management Inc: (material flows)
• CEMEX: (construction materials)
• Veolia: (urban environmental monitoring)
• BP Solar: (urban renewable energy)
• U Haul: (social mobility)
• Henkel/Dial: (home products)
• Arizona Public Service: (electricity generation)
• Salt River Project: (urban water and power delivery)
Monash University Sustainability Institute
February 10, 2010
What can Phoenix and other cities
learn each from other?
• Cities taking the lead in discovering sustainable solutions
• Each city has unique challenges and opportunities
• Competition to be “green” helps cities find new ideas
• Regional cooperation is essential
Monash University Sustainability Institute
February 10, 2010
Chicago
• Urban Heat Island mitigation policies include incentives for cool
roofs, pavements, and urban forestry
 Planted 500,000 new trees
 2 million square feet of green roofs (more than rest of US)
Green and cool alley way project
Green roofs 70 degrees cooler
Monash University Sustainability Institute
February 10, 2010
Vancouver, B.C.
• Neighborhood Energy Utility: Space heating and hot water use
heat recovered from sewers and from solar collectors
• Climate Change Action Plan: All new construction in Vancouver
will be GHG neutral by 2030
Monash University Sustainability Institute
February 10, 2010
Curitaba, Brazil
• All-bus rapid transit system: inexpensive “social fare” leads to
Brazil’s highest ridership, lowest per capita pollution
• Green Exchange employment program lets low income families
trade their trash for bus tickets and food
Monash University Sustainability Institute
February 10, 2010
Phoenix is dealing with problems today that
other global cities will face in the future
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Water shortages due to consumptive lifestyles and low prices
Heat island effect caused by hot climate and built environment
Immigrants fleeing poverty and environmental degradation
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Auto-based economy vulnerable to high fuel costs
Current lack of renewable energy generation
Food, fuel, and water supplies transported long distances
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Epidemic of childhood asthma related to poor air quality
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Monash University Sustainability Institute
February 10, 2010
ASU contributions to “greening” of Phoenix
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ASU helped prepare $75M “Green Phoenix” US DOE proposal
Sustainable City Network involves managers from all cities
ASU helps recruit greentech companies like Suntech
Customized research for urban sustainability solutions
– Renewable energy: Solar and algae-based biofuels
– Energy efficiency: Building and neighborhood redesigns
– Heat island effect mitigation: New materials and strategies
Monash University Sustainability Institute
February 10, 2010
Sustainable Cities Network helps Metro
Phoenix cities learn from each other
Comparative studies of cities
PHX
Urban LTER sites
PHX
Urban Heat Island
UK-ASU collaboration
Urban 4D
ASU-CAS Joint Center
on Urban Sustainability
Decision Center
for a Desert City
PHX
PHX
PHX
ASU-World Bank
NASA Urban
Remote Sensing
Phoenix Sustainable
Cities Network
PHX
Cisco Connected
Urban Development
SFO
EPA-CDC
UHI Network
Baltimore
Beijing
Dar es
Salaam
Peoria
Amsterdam
Global UHI
Network
Tyndall Centre
UK Cities
London
Las Vegas
Amman
ILTSER Urban
Network
Atlanta
Chicago
Houston
PHX
Other LTER
urban studies
Baltimore
EU-COST Urban
Network
NASA-ASU
100 Cities
Atlanta
Other
Chinese cities
Tucson
Sao
Paolo
Fastest-growing
Cities Network
U.S. waterstressed cities
Bangkok
Tempe
Seoul
NASA-CDCWB CitySat
Global City
Indicators
Facility
U.S. Regional
Networks
Other CUD
Cities
WEAP-based Global
Water Network
Urban
Vulnerability
Assessments
Global Urban
Regional networks
Corporate Urban
Research Network
Monash University Sustainability Institute
February 10, 2010
Do We Need an Urban Genome Project?
• Human Genome Project (HGP) sought to cure human diseases
• Urban Genome Project seeks to cure planetary diseases
• Each person has unique characteristics embedded in DNA
• Each city’s unique characteristics are reflected in its “DNA”
• HGP required multiagency and private sector funding
• Urban Genome Project needs multi-sector support
• But who will oversee it? WB? UN? NAS? OSTP? NASA?
Monash University Sustainability Institute
February 10, 2010
Monash-ASU urban collaboration options?
• Fast-growing cities on the front line of climate change
• Highly-stressed water supplies
• Growing heat island effects
• Immigration issues
• Regional governance challenges
• Air quality
• Agricultural conversion
Monash University Sustainability Institute
February 10, 2010
Center for Sustainability Science Applications: http://cssa.asu.edu
Global Institute of Sustainability: http://sustainability.asu.edu
School of Sustainability: http://schoolofsustainability.asu.edu
Decision Theater: http://dt.asu.edu
Central Arizona-Phoenix Long Term Ecological Research: http://caplter.asu.edu
ASU Heat Island Research: http://asusmart.com
100 Cities program: http://100cities.asu.edu
Decision Center for a Desert City: http://dcdc.asu.edu
WaterSim: http://watersim.asu.edu
Sustainable Cities Network: http://sustainablecities.asu.edu
MIT Senseable Cities Laboratory: http://senseable.mit.edu
Copenhagen Wheel http://web.mit.edu/newsoffice/2009/ratti-copenhagen-1216.html
Copenhagen Wheel Video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U5k25-hHNrc
Cisco Connected Urban Development: http://www.connectedurbandevelopment.org
Urban EcoMap: http://www.urbanecomap.org
IBM Smarter Cities: http://www.ibm.com/smartercities
World Bank’s Global City Indicator Facility: http://www.cityindicator.org
One Planet Living: http://www.oneplanetliving.org