Smart Cities research theme
within Computer Science Research Centre (CSRC).
Overview
The Smart Cities theme carries out applied research and covers various facets of the system development life cycle for smart city solutions. This includes stakeholder engagement and requirements management, city data governance and analytics, security and privacy, piloting and evaluation. Our main areas of interest include but are not limited to remote sensing, AI for cross-thematic urban analytics, citizen science and citizen participation in urban governance, geospatial analytics and social network analysis. More specifically, we apply distributed technologies including but not limited to Cloud, distributed ledgers, IoTs, generative AI and digital twin for smart city solutions.
Recent examples of our work are on ICT-enabled participatory governance, making effective use of city open data and remote sensing data, design and development of citizen observatories, digital twin and digital ledgers in smart city applications. We collaborate with a number of organisations from different sectors locally, nationally and internationally to design and develop smart city solutions.
Theme Lead
Activities
CLMS-Cities
To achieve climate neutrality, cities in the EU Mission on “Climate-Neutral and Smart Cities” must reduce their greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions to net zero by 2030. This includes emissions from buildings, transport, and land use changes within the city (scope 1). The new CLMS-Cities project aims to enhance Copernicus Land Monitoring Service (CLMS) with additional tools that support local climate change mitigation efforts by monitoring GHG emissions. Focusing on ten cities initially labelled in 2023, CLMS-Cities will offer scalable and consistent products, integrating data from various sources. The project has received about €2 million from the European Commission, including €373,000 for UWE Bristol. Key partners include local governments, research institutions, and private sector companies from countries such as United Kingdom, Greece, Spain, Portugal, Switzerland, and Italy all working together to support the Mission’s ambitious objectives. CLMS-Cities project is in collaboration with UWE Bristol’s Centre for Sustainable Planning and Environments. (EU Commission, 2025-2028)
For further information, contact Professor Zaheer Khan.
Machine learning for wastewater treatment
This is a three-year Knowledge Transfer Partnership (KTP) project with WASE Limited, funded by Innovate UK. This collaboration aims to drive innovation and create positive commercial impacts. WASE specialises in converting wastewater and organic waste into energy, helping clients reduce energy costs and carbon emissions. The partnership will develop a machine learning platform to optimise WASE’s technology, allowing customers to treat wastewater on-site while generating energy. This project will enhance system performance, reduce downtime, and improve waste management. This project is a collaboration between academics from the Smart Cities and Artificial Intelligence themes of CSRC and from UWE Bristol’s School of Engineering. (Innovate UK, 2025-2028)
For further information, contact Professor Zaheer Khan.
GREENGAGE
The GREENGAGE project is about engaging citizens - mobilising technology - delivering the green deal. The GREENGAGE project brings together technology providers (mobile apps, Copernicus remote sensing, web tools, blockchain, AI/ML, visualisation, wearable sensors, IoT, UX, software engineering), social science, environmental and urban planning experts from seventeen organisations across Europe to develop citizen observatories across four pilots (Bristol, Copenhagen, Noord Brabant and Turano-Gerace). It leverages citizens’ participation and quips them with innovative digital solutions that will transform citizens’ engagement and cities’ effectiveness in delivering European Green Deal objectives for carbon neutral cities and shaping their climate mitigation and adaptation policies. This project is a collaboration with the Centre for Sustainable Planning and Environments. (EU Horizon Europe, 2023-2025)
For further information, contact Professor Zaheer Khan.
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