Sustainable Smart Cities
Symposium
April 3, 2013
Fouad H. Fouad, Ph.D., P.E.
Professor and Chair, CCEE Department
Director, UAB Sustainable Smart Cities
Research Center
Mission
Fostering cross-disciplinary research,
training, education, and outreach for the purpose
of developing innovative solutions for sustainable
smart cities
College of Arts and Sciences
School of Business
School of Medicine
School of Public Health
Facilities
Dept. of Civil, Constr, & Environ Engineering
UAB Schools
Birmingham
Community
UAB Facilities
SUSTAINABLE
SMART CITES
RESEARCH CENTER
Research
Education
Outreach
Research
Main Areas of Research
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Green infrastructure design
Intelligent technologies for smart cities
Environmental sustainability
Health and livability
Green transportation solutions
Economic development
Government and public policies
Education
Sustainability Courses at UAB
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Design of Non-Motorized Transportation Facilities
Intelligent Transportation Systems
Green Building Design
Sustainable Construction
Energy Resources
 Energy Conservation
 Air Pollution
UAB School of Business
 Fall 2013: SSC 301 Fundamentals of Sustainable
Engineering (3 Hrs)
 New course developed exclusively for business majors.
 Course will focus on engineering topics including
sustainable / green design, alternative environmental
infrastructure and sustainable smart cities development.
SSC Cities Master’s Degree
 A pioneer program addressing many areas of
sustainability
 This program is intended to give decision makers a
broad background and conceptual knowledge to
remain competitive in the marketplace
 Admission requirements: BA or BS Degree,
Professional Recommendation, etc.
 33 Hrs: 10 Courses and an SSC Capstone Project.
Livable Communities Education
Educational and Professional Training
Modules on Sustainable Design and Rating
Systems for Neighborhood
Development and Transportation
Participating Universities: UAB, Georgia Tech, and Univ. of Florida
Funding: approx. $100K, to be spent in 2013, provided by the
Regional University Transportation Center at University of Florida
“Southeastern Transportation Research, Innovation, Development and
Education Center (STRIDE)”
Senior Design (Fall 2012)
Design of a pedestrian bridge and
parking lot at Railroad Park with
sustainable features:
 Sustainable water management
 “Driveable grass” parking lot
 Bio-retention cells
 Pedestrian friendly designs
 Aesthetic designs
 Sound reduction
Senior Design (Spring 2013)
Design of a sustainable city:
 Students develop sustainable master plan
 Design elements of the city using sustainable
practices and materials
 Estimate impacts relative to conventional design
Outreach and Training
Student Training – Summer 2013
Summer Enrichment Program 2013
Highlights of Recent Activities
Pre-Conference - February 27, 2013
The Built Environment: Health and Livability of Cities
Keynote Speaker:
Hugh Barton, Emeritus Professor
Planning, Health and Sustainability
University of the West of England, Bristol, UK
Special Advisor on Healthy Urban Environments to the
World Health Organization Healthy Cities European Programme.
Technologies for Disaster Resiliency and
Future Protection of Communities
Collaborative strategies to
foster revitalization, capacity
building and school reform in
communities impacted by the
April 2011 tornadoes in
Alabama
Based on Cross Organizational Collaboration
Resource
Fiber/Alabama
LLC
UAB
UA
UWA
TU
Structural Strength and Behavior of AAC
POWER PANELS
Advantages
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Lightweight board for commercial, industrial, and residential construction
Pollution free in manufacturing and usage
4-hour fire rating
Termite and pest resistant
Good workability for ease and speed of construction
Green Construction Methods
 A study of the ENR top 100 green contractors to identify key
green construction practices and the total LEED points that can
be assigned to specific practices
 Break it down to 3 main areas in construction of environmental
impact
 Materials
 Energy
 Water
Birmingham Downtown Circulator Roundtable
Fuel Cell Bus Demonstration
Design, build, and testing of a hybrid electric/
hydrogen fuel cell bus:
 System testing underway in Georgia
 H2 fueling station at MAX maintenance yard
 Will enter revenue
service in Birmingham
by summer 2013.
New Partnerships
MoU with the City of Bham
UAB will work with the City in areas
related to sustainability. Activities may
include:
Feb. 27, 2013
1. Provide intellectual support for the Mayor’s councils
2. Provide research on environmental, energy, smart cities,
and livability issues
3. Support the Mayor’s initiatives on recycling, energy
efficiency, smart cities development, and livability
4. Coordinate UAB research initiatives with the City
5. Other activities of mutual interest to and benefit for the
Parties
International Collaboration
- In June 18-25, 2012, a delegation from the
U.S. (including UAB) were invited to visit
England as part of the US/UK Communities
for Health Exchange Program.
- We have established a working relationship
with Staffordshire University, Sustainable
Futures Lab.
- Exploring joint research opportunities and
collaboration around sustainable smart
cities.
Signed an
MoU with
Staffordshire
University
UAB Campus Initiatives
UAB Sustainability Committee
Encourage, support, and communicate sustainability
efforts across the UAB enterprise
• Faculty
• Design & Construction
• Purchasing
• Transportation
• Facilities
• Media
• Energy Management
• Students
• Recycling
• Hospital
UAB Facilities
 $7m annual utility cost reduction as compared to
5 years previous
 Climate occupancy sensors
 Lighting upgrades
 Fin water reuse
 Solar panels
 Recycling
 Green roofs
Thank You!
SSC Online Certificate
Program
Dr. Martha Bidez
Interim-Director, Division of eLearning and
Professional Studies
SSC Certificate Program
• Summer 2013: UAB Launches SSC Certificate Program;
3 Certificates will be offered
• Flexible: Available online with live help sessions
• Career Minded: Each certificate class will be eligible for up
to 1 graduate credit hour, 12 PDH, and/or 1.2 CEU
• Affordable: $895 per certificate course
• Progressive: Advanced / emerging topics offered by UAB
faculty and adjuncts
SSC Certificate Courses this Summer
• SSC 501 Principles of Sustainability
• Dr. Talat Salama
• June 10th – June 28th 2013
• Study of sustainability principles applied to
planning, design, operation, and renovation.
Emphasis will be on resource efficiency,
environmental protection, and waste minimization.
SSC Certificate Courses this Summer
• SSC 503 Sustainability of Common
Building Materials
• Dr. Chris Waldron
• July 22th – Aug. 9nd 2013
• Examine the common structural building
materials (steel, concrete, masonry, and
lumber) through the lens of sustainability.
Explore methods for evaluating, comparing,
and enhancing the sustainability of each.
SSC Certificate Courses this Summer
• SSC 505 Green Building: Rating
Systems
• Dr. Jason Kirby
• July 1st – July 19th 2013
• This certificate course will examine the
similarities and differences between major
US green building rating systems (LEED,
ENVISION, etc.) and discuss
opportunities for incorporation into
sustainable smart cities design.
For More Information
• Dr. Jason T. Kirby is available
today to answer questions about
these academic programs and to
assist those who are interested in
participating.
jtkirby@uab.edu
205-934-8479