Rapid urban growth is impacting not just the landscapes of cities, but also the local air quality, and the need for energy, water, and other resources. Although cities only occupy a mere 2% of the Earth’s surface area, they are responsible for nearly 70% of the global energy consumption, which is projected to increase 1.6 times from 2010 to 2040. This growth will be the result of increasing urban area populations, and infrastructure facilities such as high rise residential, commercial buildings, and data centers. Much of the energy used in urban areas is ultimately converted to anthropogenic waste heat released to the urban canopy, contributing to the growth of urban heat islands (UHI). The annual mean air temperature of a city of 1 million can be 1-3°C warmer than its surroundings, with the evening differences as high as 12°C. With extreme heat accounting for more weather-related deaths each year than any other form of extreme weather, urban populations are disproportionately impacted by rising temperatures. The UHI further results in increased summertime energy usage, higher air-conditioning costs, increased air pollution and greenhouse gas emissions, as well as degradation of water quality. A renewed sense of urgency exists to mitigate adverse thermal effects on urban climate due to the combination of greenhouse gas-driven warming at the global scale, and UHI-related warming at the local-regional scale.

A renewed sense of urgency exists to mitigate adverse thermal effects on urban climate due to the combination of greenhouse gas-driven warming at the global scale, and UHI-related warming at the local-regional scale.

This workshop will bring together various national and international stakeholders to identify urban thermal climate challenges, and ways of addressing these. Invited talks from academia, industry, and national labs will be complemented by breakout sessions on selected topics. The workshop will focus on identification of topics of interest for multi-disciplinary, collaborative research efforts to ensure the healthy growth of urban areas.

Agenda:

8:30am – 9:00am                  Registration and Breakfast

9:00am – 9:20am                  Welcome and Introductions

Chaouki Abdallah, Executive Vice President of Research, Georgia Institute of Technology

Yogendra Joshi, Professor and John M. McKenney and Warren D. Shiver Distinguished Chair, G.W. School of Mechanical Engineering, Georgia Institute of Technology

9:20am – 10:50am                 Setting the Scene

Brian Stone, Professor, School of City & Regional Planning, Georgia Institute of Technology

David Sailor, Professor, School of Geographical Sciences and Urban Planning; Director, Urban Climate Research Center, Arizona State University

Marshall Shepherd, Georgia Athletic Association Distinguished Professor of Geography and Atmospheric Sciences, University of Georgia  

Ada Gavrilovska, Associate Professor, College of Computing and the Center for Experimental Research in Computer Systems, Georgia Institute of Technology

10:50am – 11:00am               Break

11:00am – 12:15pm               Cities in Action: A Look at What is Happening on the Ground in Athens, Atlanta, and Phoenix

Amol Naik, Chief Resilience Officer, City of Atlanta

Andrew Saunders, Sustainability Officer, Athens-Clarke County

Mark Hartman, Chief Sustainability Officer, City of Phoenix

Katherine Moore, Sustainable Growth Program Manager, Georgia Conservancy

Minami Yoda, Professor, George W. Woodruff School of Mechanical Engineering, Georgia Institute of Technology, Moderator

12:15pm – 1:15pm                 Lunch Break

1:15pm – 2:15pm                  Exercise: Breakout Groups

Urban Thermal Environment Modeling & Mitigation

Tim Hebrink, Staff Scientist, 3M Corporate Research Process Lab

Yogendra Joshi, Professor and John M. McKenney and Warren D. Shiver Distinguished Chair, G.W. School of Mechanical Engineering, Georgia Institute of Technology

Promoting Urban Health Under Temperature Extremes

David Sailor, Professor, School of Geographical Sciences and Urban Planning; Director, Urban Climate Research Center, Arizona State University

Daniel Matisoff, Associate Professor, School of Public Policy, Georgia Institute of Technology

2:15pm – 3:30pm                  Panel on Integrated Pillar Applications

Stephanie Stuckey, Director of Sustainability Services, Southface

Hendrik Hamann, Senior Manager and Distinguished Research Staff Member, IBM T.J. Watson Research Center

Denise Quarles, Chief City Executive – SE Region, Center of Competence, Americas, Siemens Corporation

Jon Philipsborn, Associate Vice President, Climate Adaptation Practice Director, Americas, AECOM

Tracy Twine, Associate Professor, Department of Soil, Water, and Climate, University of Minnesota

Debra Lam, Managing Director, Smart Cities and Inclusive Innovation, Georgia Institute of Technology, Moderator

3:30pm                                  Closing and Next Steps

Hotels Nearby: (***Hotel reservations should be made as soon as possible, as  there are many events scheduled in Atlanta in January 2019.)