Sustainable Urban Infrastructure

Climate affects many aspects of human experience and has shaped the evolution of our cultures and societies as changing climatic conditions disrupt the natural, economic and social systems we depend on. In turn, since the dawn of the industrial era, human activities have increasingly driven large scale changes in global climate.

• The multi-disciplinary research project 'Building a Deeper Long-Term Climate Understanding of Rainfall Trends in Singapore, West Malaysia, and Northern Sumatra' led by Associate Professor of Environmental History Fiona Clare Williamson explores the creation of a robust rainfall prediction model using 60 years of historical data.
• Associate Professor of Urban Sustainability Terry Van Gevelt explores how complex and uncertain climate impacts can be communicated to diverse stakeholders for effective policy translation through the research project 'Developing a risk assessment and communication platform to translate climate projections to policy'.
  
• Professor of Urban Climate Winston Chow is a co-principal investigator of the project "Climate Transformation Hub" which aims to contribute to Cluster 1 (Climate processes and extremes) and Cluster 5 (Climate and finance markets) of the multi-disciplinary Climate Transformation Programme led by The Earth Observatory Centre at Nanyang Technological Centre. Professor Chow's research will focus on regional climate processes, extreme weather events, and their consequences so as to address key knowledge gaps in the understanding and modelling of climate change impacts in Singapore and Southeast Asia.
  

The study of cultural heritage is vital for the preservation of traditions, languages, and practices that enhance social cohesion and inclusivity while natural heritage research contributes to the conservation of biodiversity and ecosystems that are critical for public health and climate resilience. Research into cultural and natural heritage also supports sustainable tourism and education, raising awareness and empowering communities to protect their heritage and contributing to more sustainable and liveable urban areas.

• Associate Professor of Environmental History Fiona Clare Williamson is examining the ways in which historical gardening practices in Singapore have been continued, reinforced, and transformed into the contemporary period, reflecting an increased focus on intangible cultural heritage as part of the Our SG Heritage Plan, and placing ordinary people and practices in the foreground.
  

As cities grow and expand outwards, it is imperative that transport systems are transformed to enable people and goods to move around quickly and easily while reducing traffic congestion, air pollution, and carbon emissions. Our research examines challenges and solutions around shared mobility, vehicle electrification, Internet-of-Things applications for vehicles and transport infrastructure, and public transit infrastructure.

• Associate Professor of Economics Tomoki Fujii is examining the implications of Dhaka’s new mass rapid transit system on the distribution of socioeconomic activity and mobility within the city through the project, 'Short-run impacts of Dhaka Mass Rapid Transit System (Metro Rail)'.
• Associate Professor of Information Systems Wang, Hai is developing and testing an integrated set of models, algorithms, and tools to improve operational efficiency and travel experience of passengers within air transport terminals, and the impacts of a new AI-based system on stakeholders.

Urban heat island (UHI) is the increase in temperature experienced in highly developed urban areas due to land cover, urban geometries, materials used in the built environment, and heat released by human activity. Our research explores the microclimate within cities, the significant adverse impacts on health and economic activity, as well as strategies to mitigate the adverse effects of UHI.

• Explore Cooling Singapore 2.0, a multi-disciplinary project co-led by Principal Investigator SMU Professor of Urban Climate Winston Chow, which holistically simulates Singapore’s urban climate enabling policymakers to assess the effectiveness of various mitigation strategies. Professor Chow is also leading a project to assess the efficacy of cool paints in mitigating the UHI effects in schools through the deployment of micro-scale sensors.
  

Rapid urbanisation and industrialisation, and wasteful consumption has resulted in over 2 billion tons of municipal solid waste being generated globally every year, and this is expected to increase 70% by 2050. Waste not only contributes significantly to human-related methane emissions, it can result in large-scale pollution and endanger public health if not managed properly. Our research examines the waste sector workforce, policy and regulatory frameworks, and behavioural incentives needed for sustainable urban waste management.

• Assistant Professor of Urban Studies Aidan Wong is leading a longitudinal project to quantify and qualify the economic and environmental impact of the Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) framework for e-waste in Singapore, which will aid the Singapore Ministry of Sustainability and Environment in assessing the effectiveness of the e-waste EPR and refining it for future phases.