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
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. ”
VACANT PROPERTIES
FOOD DESERTS
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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
WBHM “Issues & Ales: Sustainable Development”
Public Radio WBHM 90.3 FM hosted an "Issues & Ales" event
concentrating on sustainable development and Birmingham's future on
March 12 at WorkPlay.
Mayor Bell Speaks About STEM Education
Middle School Youth Champions Program
 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
Transportation
2. Environmental Quality
3. Field Trip (Ruffner Mountain, Cheaha Park,…)
4. Health and Livability of Cities
Building our future, today!
- 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
Statistics
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Green Building and Infrastructure Design
 # Letters of Intent Submitted: 18
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Information and Smart Technology
 UAB Departments and Centers (PI): 16
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Sustainable Urban Development
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Clean Energy (Efficiency, Renewable, Alternative)
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Natural Resource and Carbon Management
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Urban Health and Environmental Exposure
 Faculty (PI): 17
 Faculty (Co-PI): 22
 # Invited Proposals: 5
 Proposal Approved for Funding: 2
Pilot Research Projects
Proposals Approved for Full Development
1. A Novel Algorithm Toward Wireless Smart Monitoring and Control of in-Home
Units for Energy Conservation
Department of Electrical & Computer Engineering
Department of Computer and Information Science
Department 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 Engineering
Department of Biology
UAB Hydrogen Fuel Cell Bus
The UAB Hydrogen Fuel Cell Bus entered
service with MAX in April 2014. It is
currently running on the DART
Southside Loop.
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.
UAB Hydrogen Fuel Cell Bus
“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.
International Research Collaborations
International Collaborations
UK
Spain
Colombia
Brazil
UAB SSCRC
UAB SSCR Active research and training partnership
Collaboration dialogue started in 2012
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Egypt
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 admissions
Requirements: 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:
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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
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MODULE 8 – Health & Livability
MODULE 9 – Big Data & Data Analytics
MODULE 10 – Capstone Project
Thank you