Research

The Future Sustainability Research Group investigates and develops intelligent solutions for sustainable, net-zero, healthy, liveable and equitable cities of the future. We employ state-of-the-art technologies and methodologies from a number of disciplines including engineering, computer science, urban planning, public health and sociology to achieve our vision.

The challenges of urbanisation, environmental degradation and climate change are complex and multi-faceted. Pathways towards a sustainable future will only be achieved by successfully harnessing emerging technologies including data analytics and artificial intelligence; by embracing complexity; by fostering a systems thinking approach and by engaging with people, policymakers and government. These approaches are intrinsic to our work.

Our research falls into two major categories – ‘Sustainable Future Cities’ and ‘Technology, Policy & Society’. Research themes include the following:

  1. Urban Environmental Exposures (Air Pollution & Greenspace) & Environmental Epidemiology
  2. Urban Analytics & the Science Underpinning ICT-Enabled Tools for Cities & Citizens
  3. Emissions Modelling for Urban Scale Climate Action Plans
  4. Environment/Climate Policy & Society
  5. Humanitarian & Sustainable Development Efforts

Nyhan Future Sustainability Research Group

School of Engineering & Architecture

Environmental Research Institute

University College Cork, Ireland

Email: marguerite.nyhan@ucc.ie

Projects in the Spotlight

“Biophilic Cities” – Quantifying Google Street View-Derived Greenspace Exposures in Unprecedented Scale & Resolution & Determining its Impact on Human Health & Socioeconomic Factors

Click on the image to access the project website.
O’Regan, A., Hunter, R., Nyhan, M., 2021. Environmental Science & Technology. doi.org/10.1021/acs.est.1c01326

“Urban Exposures“ – Modelling Population Exposure to Air Pollution in Megacities Using Largescale Mobile Phone Data

Click on the image to access the project website.
Nyhan et al., 2016. Environmental Science & Technology. 50(17):9671-81.
Nyhan et al., 2019. JESEE 29, 238-249 go.nature.com/2r3cU3O

“Airscapes” – Real-Time Air Quality Sensing in Spatio-Temporal Resolution Using a Distributed Network of Sensors & Subsequent Commuter Exposure Tool

Nyhan et al., 2015. Airscapes Interactive Web Application: eoe.airscapes.io/