NOVEMBER 16, 2012: OPENING OF CREATE

The official opening of CREATE, by the Prime Minister of Singapore, has been scheduled for the afternoon of Friday 16 November 2012. (The original target date had been sometime in September 2012.)

The warranty of all facilities is one (1) year, calculated from the handover date:

FM Office space at CREATE Tower Level 9: Handed over on 9 April 2012

FM lab space at CREATE Enterprise Level 1: Handed over on 17 May 2012

FM move-in date: 17 May 2012

MIT President, Rafael Reif hopes to attend.

 

 

SEPTEMBER 2012: ORC Informal Seminar

Title: Autonomy and control for Future Urban Mobility

Abstract: [This talk will consist of an] overview of ongoing research in autonomy and real-time control techniques for future urban mobility. We will first focus on Mobility on Demand services that leverage recent advances in autonomous vehicle technology.

Consider a finite group of shared vehicles, located at a set of stations. Users arrive at the stations, pick up vehicles, and drive (or are driven) to their destination station where they drop-off the vehicle. When some origins and destinations are more popular than others, the system will inevitably become out of balance: Vehicles will build up at some stations, and become depleted at others. We propose a robotic solution to this rebalancing problem that involves empty robotic vehicles autonomously driving between stations. Control policies and performance bounds are developed and discussed. I will conclude the seminar with some recent work on distributed algorithms for adaptive traffic light scheduling. The proposed scheduling algorithms are provably maximally stabilizing, adaptive to traffic conditions, and significantly outperform state-of-the art systems in high-fidelity simulations.

 

 

MAY 14, 2012: 2nd ADVISORY COMMITTEE MEETING

NRF [will] convene on the 2nd Advisory Committee meeting on 14 May 2012, @ NRF CREATE Tower Illumination Room. Please see attached agenda.

Within the agenda, [we have] suggested some agencies give a brief presentation on their interest/current work in the area of urban solutions R&D.

Convening 2nd Advisory Committee Meeting
please see attached. /folder: emilio frazzoli /

 

 

March 23, 2012: FM SEMINAR (2nd): "Stability and Robustness of Dynamical Transportation Networks

Presenter: Ketan Savla

Title: "Stability and Robustness of Dynamical Transportation Networks"

Abstract: In this talk, we present recent results on the stability and robustness properties of transportation networks with respect to the agents' route choice behavior. We perform the analysis within a dynamical system framework over a directed acyclic graph between a single origin-destination pair. The dynamical system is composed of ordinary differential equations (ODEs), one for every link of the graph. Every ODE is a mass balance equation for the corresponding link, where the inflow term is a function of the agents’ route choice behavior and the arrival rate at the base node of that link, and the outflow term is a function of the congestion properties of the link. We propose a novel decision framework, where the drivers combine their historical knowledge about the global congestion levels with real-time local information to make route choice decisions at every node. We show that, if the rate of update of global information is sufficiently slow and if the drivers make route choice decisions cooperatively, then the Wardrop equilibrium is globally stable. We then study the resilience of the flow transferring capability of the whole network under disturbances that reduce the flow carrying capacity of the links. In particular, we characterize various margins of resilience of the network with respect to the topology, pre-disturbance equilibrium and agents' local route choice behavior. We show that the cooperative route choice behavior is maximally resilient in this setting. We also setup a simple convex optimization problem to find the most resilient pre-disturbance equilibrium for the network and determine link-wise tolls that yield such an equilibrium. Finally, we extend our analysis to link-wise outflow functions that accommodate the possibility of cascaded failures and study the effect of such phenomena on the margins of resilience of the network.
(joint work with G. Como, D. Acemoglu, M. A. Dahleh, and E. Frazzoli)

Bio: Ketan Savla is a research scientist in the Laboratory for Information and Decision Systems at MIT. He obtained his Ph.D. in Electrical Engineering and M.A. in Applied Mathematics, both in 2007, from University of California at Santa Barbara, as well as M.S. in Mechanical and Industrial Engineering from University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign in 2004. His current research interest is in control and optimization techniques for dynamic vehicle routing, humans-in-loop systems, complex service networks and computational neuroscience.

 

 

FEBRUARY 29, 2012: WORKSHOP ON MATSim SINGAPORE,

SEC is holding a workshop on transportation and mobility. Of relevance for FM IRG and the researchers may be interested to attend.

A workshop on MATSim Singapore, hosted by Module VIII - Mobility and Transportation of the Future Cities Laboratory. The workshop entitled "MATSim Singapore: Agent-based transport demand modelling in practice", will provide comprehensive insights into the framework of MATSim and the implementation for the case of Singapore. The diverse modelling practice of which MATSim Singapore is composed, is explained by the respective leading researchers in nine presentations.

The half-day workshop is separated into two blocks. The second block will be broadcasted to the ValueLab at ETH Zurich.

The workshop is open to public and free of charge. If you would like to attend, please register for each block separately at http://bit.ly/matsimworkshop. Please find all details including a location plan in the attached programme leaflet which is designed to be printed in duplex (flip on short edge) and folded where indicated.

 

 

FEBRUARY 28, 2012: SUSTAINABLE URBAN LIVING (SUL) R&D PROGRAMME

Meeting with the Urban Redevelopment Authority (URA), Ministry of National Development (MND) and the National Research Foundation (NRF) to seek your valuable input on a new R&D Programme on Sustainable Urban Living to be launched in Singapore this year.

1. We would like to invite you to a meeting with the Urban Redevelopment Authority (URA), Ministry of National Development (MND) and the National Research Foundation (NRF) to seek your valuable input on a new R&D Programme on Sustainable Urban Living to be launched in Singapore this year.

2. URA and HDB are jointly leading a Sustainable Urban Living (SUL) R&D Workgroup, formed by MND and comprising 16 public agencies. The aim of the Workgroup is to develop a 10-year R&D programme on planning and developing a sustainable and liveable city, beginning with a first grant call scheduled for 3Q2012. Through the SUL R&D programme, the Workgroup intends to foster collaboration between research institutions, professional bodies, industry and the public sector, as well as build up long-term research capability, to address 7 key challenges that cities will face in the future:

a. Leverage on localised resource-optimising processes and technologies to create more resource efficient districts (zero energy, water, waste);

b. Develop typologies and technologies to create a highly liveable and compact city;

c. Cater to tomorrow’s mobility needs through sustainable transport;

d. Create a City in a Garden – improve the distinctiveness and liveability of Singapore through urban greenery and ecology;

e. Improve food resilience and security in the face of uncertainty;

f. Optimise the use of underground space to expand Singapore’s land resources;

g. Optimise the provision of urban services through the use of expert systems supported by data analytics and complex urban systems modelling.

(For further information on the SUL R&D Workgroup, please refer to Attachment 1.)

3. Over 2011, the SUL R&D Workgroup collaborated with representatives from industry, and the research and scientific community, to develop a preliminary set of research topics that could address the key challenges above (Attachment 2). We would like to seek your comments on the scope of the R&D topics, in particular:

(a) Beyond the applied R&D topics we have identified, are there basic sciences or fundamental research that should be conducted to enhance this R&D endeavour?

(b) Beyond the technological and engineering R&D topics we have identified, are there sociological, psychological or behavioural aspects that require further research?

4. Given our aim to utilise the SUL R&D programme as a platform to build long-term research capability in Singapore, we would like to better understand the existing expertise of the Singapore-MIT Alliance for Research and Technology that could support this programme. Specifically, we seek your input to identify:

(a) the specialties/disciplines relevant to the SUL R&D topics

(b) any supporting research entities or programmes based at MIT

(c) the current level of manpower and academic credentials associated with these specialties and research programmes.

Finally, we are keen to understand where are the gaps to build up future R&D capability.

5. The proposed meeting details are as follows:
Meeting on Sustainable Urban Living (SUL) R&D Programme

Date: 28 February 2012 (Tuesday)

Venue: The URA Centre, 45 Maxwell Road (please let us know if you would prefer a venue at CREATE)

Attendees:
Mr Richard Hoo, Group Director (Strategic Planning), URA
Additional representatives from NRF, URA and MND

Agenda
1. Opening Briefing on SUL R&D Programme (URA)
2. Discussion on scope of R&D programme
3. Discussion on R&D capability

(For further information on the SUL R&D Workgroup, please refer to Attachment 1. + Attachment 2). ): /FOLDER: EMILIO FRAZZOLI /

 

 

FEBRUARY 23, 2012: FM SEMINAR: Behavioral models for SimMobility Medium-term Simulator

Presenter: Varun Pattabhiraman

Title: "Behavioral models for SimMobility Medium-term Simulator"

Abstract:
SimMobility is an integrated system of mobility sensitive simulation models to evaluate future urban transportation scenarios. It aims to integrate and link together various mobility-sensitive behavioural models with state-of-the-art simulators to predict the impacts of mobility demands on transportation networks, services and vehicular emissions. The medium-term simulator provides capabilities to simulate a transportation network (at the level of a day) through the interaction of macroscopic network supply models and behavioral models that predict demand. Activity-based models are increasingly being used to forecast demand since they capture traveler response to network conditions like congestion, and policy decisions like pricing.
Our work focuses on enhancements to operational activity-based models that better represent travelers' behavioral choices. We use the theory of needs to describe the choice of human activities as motivated by the desire to satisfy their needs. We develop a theoretical model of activity location, duration, and frequency choices based on the theory of utility maximization. Based on the theoretical model, we also propose an estimation method to calibrate this model using travel diary data.
Collaborators: Prof. Moshe Ben-Akiva (MIT) and Maya Abou-Zeid (American University of Beirut)

 

 

JANUARY 2012: CREATE CAMPUS TOUR

CREATE campus tour for the IRGs is scheduled on Sunday, January 15 from 3:30pm-4:30pm. This is the only date and time the IRG can visit CREATE. In order to facilitate the timing of the tour, we would like to request your assistance in conducting the office and lab tour for your IRG. Since LEES-IRG begins their ramp-up phase in January and majority of them are new to Singapore and CREATE, Regina will show them their office and lab space.

 

 

JANUARY 19, 2012: BubbleZERO Launch

The Low Exergy Module of the SEC Future Cities Laboratory will launch of our research facility, BubbleZERO - Zero Emission Research Operation. It contains pilot technologies including a custom built chiller, radiant cooling panels and TABS testing system, decentralized ventilation and dehumidification, LED lighting with zero-lighting-heat-load-exhaust, advanced low-E glazing, and wireless sensing and control.

The official launch event took place Thursday, January 19th during Prof Hansjürg Leibundgut's visit to Singapore from the ETH in Zurich. Prof. Gerhard Schmitt delivered an introduction at 5pm followed by a keynote from Prof. Leibundgut and then tours of BubbleZERO, located near the Alumni House on the NUS campus.

Location:
NUSS Guild House on the south side of the NUS campus on Kent Ridge Drive. Map of location

Agenda:

4-5pm Welcome networking and discussions with low exergy research team.

5-6pm Presentation

Welcome from Prof Gerhard Schmitt, director of SEC

Introduction to BubbleZERO and low exergy research from Dr Forrest Meggers, Low Exergy Module Coordinator

Keynote from Prof Hansjürg Leibundgut, ETH Zurich Building Systems Group Leader

6-8pm Tours of the BubbleZERO facility across the street from the NUSS Guild House

For more information see the attached PDF and the Future Cities Laboratory Website: www.futurecities.ethz.ch
FOLDER: folder: / bubble zero launch:/

 

 

JANUARY 12-13, 2012: CENSAM 5th Annual Workshop

CENSAM’s Fifth Annual Workshop (January 12-13, 2012), will beheld at the Shaw Foundation Alumni House of the National University of Singapore (please see the attached campus map for your convenience). Please find enclosed a printable version of the program. Do not hesitate to circulate this program to your colleagues who might be interested in joining us at the event.

The program is divided into five sessions including presentations from CENSAM’s principal investigators and researchers, collaborating principal investigators and researchers from Singapore universities, as well as external guest speakers.

The five sessions are:

1. Regional Climate Change

2. The Coastal Environment

3. The Urban Environment

4. The Marine Environment

5. Peat Forests
/ Please find enclosed a printable version of the program. /

 

 

JANUARY 13, 2012: FM and URA

Venue: The URA Centre, Conference Room, 16th storey
Possible agenda:

1. Brief recap on SMART-FM research project (aims, structure of project) (5 mins)

2. Sharing by SMART-FM PIs on progress and preliminary findings of topics of interest to URA (10 mins each):

a) LIVE Singapore! (open platform for collection, processing and visualisation of real-time mobility data)

b) Mobility on demand: Dynamic, Demand-Responsive Transportation Services (e.g. planning for last-mile transportation system, bus service design: combining limited-stop and local bus services)

c) Future ITS (intelligent transportation systems) and architectures (e.g. phone-driven transportation, using mobile phones to predict traffic light schedules)

d) SimMobility: Integrated Microsimulation & Activity-Based Modelling

 

 

JANUARY 13, 2012: SMART ID-IRG WORKSHOP

attached program in folder: / Censam Wrkshop_ID-IRG Wrkshp/