Impact Engines | Intelligent Solutions to Urban Pollution for Equity and Resilience
Intelligent Solutions to Urban Pollution for Equity and Resilience
The Intelligent Solutions to Urban Pollution for Equity and Resilience (iSUPER) Impact Engine will pair low-cost, adaptable sensing technologies with novel pollution prediction models to accurately identify hyperlocal pollution hot spots in real time.
THE CONTEXT
Air pollution remains a major global health risk throughout densely populated urban centers. Existing air pollution sensor locations are biased against lower socioeconomic communities based on geographic location and are sparsely located throughout urban areas. Current modeling approaches provide data on a 1km² scale, yet to be more representative of urban communities, modeling must operate at hyperlocal level on a 100 m² scale.
THE PROBLEM
Hyperlocal data is critically needed to make sound policy decisions and recommendations for air pollution control, environmental justice, and urban infrastructure improvement at the city level.
THE SOLUTION
The Intelligent Solutions to Urban Pollution for Equity and Resilience (iSUPER) Impact Engine will pair low-cost, adaptable sensing technologies with novel pollution prediction models to accurately identify hyperlocal pollution hot spots in real time. This innovative use of these technologies will generate neighborhood-level data that will help guide decisionmakers towards effective governance and policymaking. The pilot program will measure data in two Boston neighborhoods representing communities with different socioeconomic characteristics.
THE IMPACT
iSUPER will build digital, climate-smart infrastructures with advanced data analytics, AI/WIoT-enabled AP monitoring devices and sensors
and real-time surveillance systems.
This Impact Engine will provide data, science, and tools for cities to reduce air pollution, improve health, and address inequity.
iSUPER will co-design implementation strategies with city-level managers, planners, and other stakeholders to address city-scale challenges.
LEADERSHIP
Yang Zhang, PhD
Professor and Distinguished Fellow and Associate Chair for Research, Civil and Environmental Engineering
CROSSDISCIPLINARY TEAM
Haris N. Koutsopoulos
Professor & Associate Chair for Undergraduate Studies, Civil and Environmental Engineering; Affiliated Faculty, Mechanical and Industrial Engineering
Qi “Ryan” Wang
Associate Professor and Vice Chair for Research, Civil and Environmental Engineering; Affiliated Faculty, School of Public Policy & Urban Affairs
Matthew J. Eckelman
Associate Professor, Civil and Environmental Engineering;<br /> Affiliated Faculty, Chemical Engineering; Affiliated Faculty, Marine and Environmental Sciences; Affiliated Faculty, School of Public Policy and Urban Affairs
Amy Mueller
Assistant Professor and Vice Chair for Graduate Studies, Civil and Environmental Engineering; Assistant Professor, Marine and Environmental Sciences; Affiliated Faculty, Electrical and Computer Engineering
Ming Wang
COE Distinguished Professor, Civil and Environmental Engineering; Director, VOTERS
Jennifer Dy
Professor, Electrical and Computer Engineering; Director of Experiential AI Postdoc Education, Roux Institute
Stratis Ioannidis
Assistant Professor of Electrical and Computer Engineering, Khoury College Courtesy Appointment
David Kaeli
COE Distinguished Professor, Electrical and Computer Engineering; Program Director, Data Science; Affiliated Faculty, Bioengineering; Affiliated Faculty, Khoury College of Computer Sciences
Sara Wylie
Associate Professor Sociology and Health Science
Julia Varshavsky
Assistant Professor, Department of Health Sciences; Assistant Professor, Civil and Environmental Engineering
Daniel T. O'Brien
Associate Professor of Public Policy and Urban Affairs and Criminology and Criminal Justice; Director, Boston Area Research Initiative; Director, PhD in Public Policy Program
Becca Berkey
Lecturer of Human Services; Director of Service-Learning,College of Social Sciences and Humanities, Community-Engaged Teaching & Research
PARTNERSHIPS
Northeastern Ecosystem
College of Engineering
College of Science
Bouve College of Health Sciences
College of Social Sciences and Humanities
START A CONVERSATION
If you’re looking to learn more about this Impact Engine or would like to talk about Impact Engines in general, our support team is eager to assist.
Email us at impactengines@northeastern.edu