This theme focuses on how to improve life for those living in cities today, and how to reduce the impact they have on the areas around them. It focuses on research in the areas of energy, waste management, net zero technologies and green skills to enable the transition towards more environmentally-friendly, liveable, and resilient cities of the future.
Projects
FCRI 2024-2026 Flagship PROJECT
Building Future Net-Zero Cities with Zero-Emissions Portland Cement
The team:
- Prof Mohamed BS Saafi, Lancaster University
- Prof Mohamed Kheireddine Aroua, Sunway University
- Dr Dr Gupta Gaurav, Lancaster University
- Dr Farihahusnah Hussin, Sunway University
The overall goal of this project is to develop the world’s first renewable-powered zero-emissions electrochemical manufacturing process for Portland cements to decarbonize the construction of future cities. The key objectives are: (1) use Multiphysics simulations to design and optimize a scalable electrochemical process capable of reducing limestone (Ca(OH2) and producing hydrogen (H2) and Oxygen (O2) without emitting CO2, (2) use Multiphysics-based results to build and test the electrochemical process performance, and (3) produce cement physically and chemically similar to conventional cements.
The methodology involves (1) using Multiphysics to simulate the electrochemical Ca(OH2) process performance under different operation parameters and assist in electrochemical cell design, (2) guided by simulations, building electrochemical cells and investigating their capability to produce Ca(OH)2, H2, and O2 at low temperature, and (3) using the produced Ca(OH)2 to manufacture Portland Cement Clinker (PCC) samples, comparing their properties with commercial cements.
Currently, cement production contributes about 8% of global CO2 emissions, and demand is expected to skyrocket, resulting in significant CO2 emissions. This research provides a paradigm shift toward manufacturing cements without emitting CO2 or using fossil fuels, removing 1kg of CO2 per 1kg of cement, opening new opportunities for achieving net-zero cities with a robust green economy.
FCRI 2024 SEED CORN PROJECT
Techno-Economic Impact Analysis of Solid Waste Collection Optimization and Management for Smart City Towards Achieving Sustainable Development Goals
The team:
- Prof M A Hannan, Sunway University
- Prof Santha Vaithilingam, Sunway University
- Prof Ong Hwai Chyuan, Sunway University
- Dr Jan Grabowski, Lancaster University
- Dr Burak Boyaci, Lancaster University
- Dr Pin Jern Ker, The Energy University
- Dr Rawshan Ara Begum, University of Technology Sydney
Waste generation has increased tremendously due to rapid development, posing challenges in efficient disposal without burdening society financially and physically. This project aims to develop a 5G communication architecture-based solution to efficiently manage solid waste in cities like Selangor. It will design a smart bin system providing real-time bin status, develop an optimized solid waste truck routing algorithm based on collected data, and establish a central monitoring system for coordinated waste collection and routing. The research investigates the feasibility and economic viability of optimized algorithms and cost-effective waste collection and management, maximizing the system’s return on value through performance, efficiency, and sustainability. A case study will validate the functionality at Sunway University, enabling potential industries related to solid waste management.
FCRI 2024 SEED CORN PROJECT
Painting a Greener Future Cities: Developing Advanced Paint Formulations to Combat Climate Change and Enhance Indoor Air Quality in Cities
The team:
- Dr Mohd Azlan Kassim, Sunway University
- Dr Giuseppe Bagnato, Lancaster University
- Prof. Mohamed Kheireddine Aroua, Sunway University
- Dr David Cheneler, Lancaster University
Anthropogenic greenhouse gas emissions have driven a 1.18°C global temperature rise, causing severe environmental impacts. To limit further warming to 1.5°C by 2100, urgent actions including a 45% reduction in CO2 emissions by 2030 and achieving net-zero emissions by 2050 are required. Cities contribute almost 75% of CO2 emissions, making achieving zero carbon cities challenging and necessitating innovative technologies like Direct Air Carbon Capture and Storage (DACCS). This study focuses on incorporating CO2-reactive calcium hydroxide (Ca(OH)2) in water-based paint to significantly incorporate CO2 adsorption functionality and absorb CO2 during application. The objectives are to investigate the new paint formulation’s performance, properties, and CO2 absorption capacity. Applying this novel paint formulation in city buildings aims to effectively mitigate urban carbon emissions, contributing to emission reduction and improving indoor air quality. This study presents an avenue to combat climate change by leveraging advanced paint formulations for CO2 removal and emission reduction, aligning with global Sustainable Development Goals and Malaysia’s Science, Technology, Innovation and Economy Framework for sustainable urbanization and resilient infrastructure.
FCRI 2024 SEED CORN PROJECT
Sustainable cities: the role of green skills and sustainable education in business and management curricula
The team:
- Dr Sandra Awanis, Lancaster University
- Dr Hina Khan, Lancaster University
- Prof. Yuka Fujimoto, Sunway University
Countries are increasingly adopting sustainable practices to enhance city inclusivity, safety, and resilience, necessitating fostering green skills and sustainable education. However, many aspects of promoting green skills for a green economy remain under-researched. This project aims to investigate the roles of educational curricula, institutions, and policies in promoting green skills for sustainable city design and explore how barriers can be removed, focusing on the role of business and management education in promoting environment-, social-, and governance-focused competencies. It will involve a qualitative case study comparing “tales of two cities” on the path to sustainable city recognition: Morecambe, UK, and Kuching, Malaysia, based on varying green skilling investments. A quantitative survey will explore interventions enhancing or hindering sustainable city development through green skills, drawing on case study findings. This project aims to advance educational theory, practice, and policy by investigating an under-researched area where business/management and urban planning intersect under improving the urban and natural habitat for all inhabitants.
FCRI 2022 SEED CORN PROJECT
The UNDERSTAND Project: Towards Understanding and Incorporating Senior Citizens’ Needs in Disaster Response Operations
The team:
- Dr Goh Yi Sheng, Sunway University
- Assoc Professor Catherine Lee, Sunway University
- Prof. Juliana Sutanto, Lancaster University
- Prof. Yang Hu, Lancaster University
The UNDERSTAND project is a commendable effort towards creating a disaster-resilient urban space for Malaysia’s ageing population. The project’s focus on understanding the needs of senior citizens in disaster response operations is a crucial step in ensuring an inclusive and equitable disaster management system. By using a design fiction approach, the project team is exploring innovative ways to cater to the specific needs of senior citizens in times of crisis. The mini-exhibition showcasing the archival materials and design ideas is an excellent way to raise awareness and highlight the importance of considering the needs of senior citizens in disaster response operations. With the involvement of key stakeholders, including governmental and non-governmental organisations, the project is generating valuable insights that can drive meaningful change in disaster management in Malaysia. Overall, the UNDERSTAND project is a vital initiative that could serve as a model for other countries to follow.
SAFERUP!
SAFERUP! aims to provide the European community with innovative solutions that will form the urban paved environment of the future. Footpaths, bike lanes, roads, intersections, squares and all other walkable surfaces that we all use every day will be designed, constructed and managed to meet context-sensitive criteria including not only safety, mobility and costs (construction and maintenance), but also sustainability, environmental impacts, accessibility, aesthetics, circular economy and local economy preservation.
RECIRCULATE: Driving Eco-Innovation in Africa
This project will deliver innovative solutions to pressing problems with water use and safety. RECIRCULATE will ‘join up’ the different ways in which water sustains communities, from sewage disposal to energy generation and water used in food production.
ACTUATE: Accelerating the Adoption of the Circular Sanitation Demonstration Systems for Improved Health Outcomes
Supplying clean, secure and sustainable supplies of water, food and energy, while managing waste and optimising circular economies, is still an aspiration rather a policy-in-operation in Sub-Saharan Africa. ACTUATE will encourage the adoption of the anaerobic digester technology and circular economy by showcasing the benefits through co-delivery of community-based demonstration systems in Ghana and Nigeria.
Liveable Cities: Transforming the Engineering of Cities for Global and Societal Wellbeing
Liveable Cities is an ambitious, five-year programme of research to develop a method of designing and engineering low-carbon, resource-secure, wellbeing enhanced UK cities. It will establish future visions of low-carbon, resource-secure, liveable UK cities from which the team will backcast to determine what needs to be done now to achieve these visions.
Future Cities Research Institute 