
Sustainability and Smart Cities
Community Reference Meeting
WASP-HS Community Reference Meetings are dedicated to public and private organizations in Sweden, and for involved actors to learn about challenges and questions of their interest, as well as for WASP-HS to share recent research development within the program in order to identify opportunities for collaboration in different sectors. This particular Community Reference Meeting concerns the issue of sustainability and smart cities.
Artificial Intelligence (AI) has the potential to support urban and rural development and to accelerate global efforts to protect the environment and conserve resources. The technology can do so by detecting energy emission reductions, removing CO2, helping develop greener transportation networks, monitoring deforestation, and predicting extreme weather conditions. When AI technology is used within smart cities it makes it easier to control the traffic, waste and maintenance, energy consumption, pollution risks, and the effects of the environment in the cities. This further leads to smarter decisions, fewer negative impacts on climate change, and improved quality of life.
However, while AI provides unprecedented opportunities for cities and the environment, depending on the framework in which it is used, it may not always result in positive outcomes. For instance, current uses of AI rely greatly on huge amounts of data and computational power which leads to heavy ecological footprints for the companies that develop and use AI.
At this Community Reference Meeting, WASP-HS invites participants to discuss how AI can support progress on these complex environmental and social problems which humans are facing, while also mitigating risks and ensuring fair and inclusive solutions for cities and the environment.
Program
The event will be held in English.
14:00 Introduction to WASP-HS
Virginia Dignum, WASP-HS Program Director
14:10 Introductory Keynote – Can A Smart City Be Equal? Integrating a Critical Perspective in Sustainable Urban Development
Linda Gustafsson, gender strategist working for the city of Umeå.
14:30 Roundtable Discussions (in parallel)
- Autonomous Vehicles and AI as Enablers for Shared and Sustainable Mobility on Demand
Chair: Fabian Lorig, Associate Professor at Internet of Things and People Research Center, Malmö University
Autonomous vehicles and AI enable more dynamic transportation, which is based on the individual needs of the travelers and is independent of schedules and fixed stops. We want to discuss how autonomous shared mobility can contribute to more sustainable transportation by reducing traffic volume and pollution.
- AI in Disasters and Crises – From Corona to Climate Change
Chair: Lina Rahm, Assistant Professor at the Division of History of Science, Technology and Environment, KTH Royal Institute of Technology
Seeing how crises can be very complex and information-dense situations this round table aims to open up discussions about vulnerabilities but also strengths with the use of AI and autonomous systems in preparedness for, and management of, societal crises and disasters.
- From Boomtown to Bust: Being Critical About the Smart City
Chair: Barry Brown, Professor of Human Computer Interaction, Stockholm University
Co-Chair: Mareike Glöss, Digital Futures Postdoctoral Fellow, KTH Royal Institute of Technology
How can we make sure that smart city developments benefit all citizens and city-stakeholders? Can we develop different visions of the smart- ones that are not tied into the interests of technology vendors? How might the smart city be both more equitable and fair, rather than more efficient?
- Autonomous Systems for All – Public Transportation in Smart Cities
Chair: Mikael Wiberg, Professor of Informatics, Umeå University
Chair: Henrik Danielsson, Professor Department of Behavioural Sciences and Learning (IBL), Linköping University
15:30 Summary and Conclusions
16.00 End of the event
More information on the program will be provided soon…
Registration
The number of participants is limited. Registration will open soon, please stay posted.
Further Questions
For further questions regarding the event, please contact our event coordinator.

Tatyana Sarayeva
Event Coordinator
tatyana.sarayeva@umu.se