<p>Bengaluru: The International Institute of Information Technology-Bangalore (IIITB) and the University of Toronto jointly hosted a conference to explore the role of AI-powered public-private partnerships in addressing key urban governance challenges such as water management, transportation, waste disposal, and climate adaptation.</p>.<p>Titled 'AI and the City: Understanding Applications in Urban Environments', the conference highlighted AI's potential as a transformative tool to tackle issues in urban mobility, sustainability, and social inequity.</p>.<p>The event was organised by the IIITB’s Centre for Information Technology and Public Policy (CITAPP), the School of Cities at the University of Toronto, and the University of Toronto India Foundation (UTIF).</p>.<p>The conference brought together urban researchers and technologists from 22 institutions across 11 countries, including the Geneva Graduate Institute (Switzerland), Georgia Institute of Technology (US), Royal Holloway University of London, and Singapore Management University.</p>.<p>Participants showcased studies and research projects demonstrating AI's application in urban planning, addressing informal-formal sector divides, and strengthening cybersecurity.</p>.Bengaluru conference on climate change, sustainability raises questions on conservation efforts, gaps in policy.<p>Among the notable contributions was Prof Sachit Rao’s AI-driven research on mapping and monitoring Bengaluru’s waterbodies. His work underscored how flooding disproportionately impacts various populations and poses significant infrastructural challenges. </p>.<p>Prof Rao mentioned that AI tools have a great value in predicting flooding and aiding policymakers and urban local bodies in better resource allocation and crisis management for cities like Bengaluru, Chennai, Hyderabad, Mumbai, and Delhi.</p>.<p>Another study from CITAPP focused on monitoring urban heat islands, showcasing how AI can classify land surfaces, analyse temperature trends, and assess the cooling impact of green spaces in urban areas.</p>.<p>Simon Marvin, a professor at the University of Sydney, presented his thoughts on Urban AI: The “Technisation of Everything?” </p>.<p>He discussed the growing ubiquity of AI across human and non-human life and called for reimagining its social role in urban environments.</p>.<p>The conference reinforced the importance of interdisciplinary collaboration and innovative AI applications in shaping more sustainable and equitable urban futures.</p>
<p>Bengaluru: The International Institute of Information Technology-Bangalore (IIITB) and the University of Toronto jointly hosted a conference to explore the role of AI-powered public-private partnerships in addressing key urban governance challenges such as water management, transportation, waste disposal, and climate adaptation.</p>.<p>Titled 'AI and the City: Understanding Applications in Urban Environments', the conference highlighted AI's potential as a transformative tool to tackle issues in urban mobility, sustainability, and social inequity.</p>.<p>The event was organised by the IIITB’s Centre for Information Technology and Public Policy (CITAPP), the School of Cities at the University of Toronto, and the University of Toronto India Foundation (UTIF).</p>.<p>The conference brought together urban researchers and technologists from 22 institutions across 11 countries, including the Geneva Graduate Institute (Switzerland), Georgia Institute of Technology (US), Royal Holloway University of London, and Singapore Management University.</p>.<p>Participants showcased studies and research projects demonstrating AI's application in urban planning, addressing informal-formal sector divides, and strengthening cybersecurity.</p>.Bengaluru conference on climate change, sustainability raises questions on conservation efforts, gaps in policy.<p>Among the notable contributions was Prof Sachit Rao’s AI-driven research on mapping and monitoring Bengaluru’s waterbodies. His work underscored how flooding disproportionately impacts various populations and poses significant infrastructural challenges. </p>.<p>Prof Rao mentioned that AI tools have a great value in predicting flooding and aiding policymakers and urban local bodies in better resource allocation and crisis management for cities like Bengaluru, Chennai, Hyderabad, Mumbai, and Delhi.</p>.<p>Another study from CITAPP focused on monitoring urban heat islands, showcasing how AI can classify land surfaces, analyse temperature trends, and assess the cooling impact of green spaces in urban areas.</p>.<p>Simon Marvin, a professor at the University of Sydney, presented his thoughts on Urban AI: The “Technisation of Everything?” </p>.<p>He discussed the growing ubiquity of AI across human and non-human life and called for reimagining its social role in urban environments.</p>.<p>The conference reinforced the importance of interdisciplinary collaboration and innovative AI applications in shaping more sustainable and equitable urban futures.</p>
