The concept of a “Smart City” reflects that ICT is increasingly integrated in all areas of urban development and urban living. It is also a reflection of how ICT is being designed with sustainability purposes.

The course will provide knowledge about the concept of Smart Cities and their relation to climate mitigation strategies. These strategies are geared toward the municipalities themselves, as well as urban actors across all city sectors, including companies, property owners, utilities, households, etc.

This course is project-based with a multidisciplinary approach, including environmental, technological, economic and social aspects. The basic aim of the course is to, on a system level, investigate and explore the potentials of the concept of “Smart Cities” in relation to the challenges associated with mitigation strategies for the cities of today and tomorrow.

After passed course the student should be able to:

·        Describe and explain concepts of “Smart Cities” based on scientific literature and reports from case studies.

·        Describe and discuss the mitigation challenges for the cities today and in the future.

·        Investigate, analyze and explore “Smart City“ concepts and solutions in relation to the climate mitigation challenges for important urban development sectors, such as transportation, buildings, consumption, lifestyle, energy production, waste management, water management, etc.

·        Complete a “Smart City” team-based project, related to climate mitigation on an urban level together with a relevant stakeholder such as a waste company, the municipality, or a local energy or water utility.

·        In a written and oral form present the result from a project work in a scientifically acceptable form.

The course activities include lectures, practical activities (discussion seminars and computer labs), study visits and group project work.

This year’s course will be conducted in a hybrid format, using both digital and campus-based learning activities. The objectives will be reached through engaging students in following learning activities:

• Lectures
• intro lecture
• 12 subject lectures, 2 hours each
• Study visits
• 2 study visits (2 hours each)
• preparatory and data crowdsourcing assignments
• discussion seminar (2 hours)
• Individual home assignment 
• Literature review
• 2 written essays
• 3 peer-reviews
• 2 literature discussion seminars (2 hours each)
• Computer laboratories
• 3 self-paced labs
• 4 Q&A lab sessions (2 hours each)
• lab quiz
• Group project work
• Intro and kick-off (4 hours each)
• Group project work
• Project proposals, time plan, weekly tracking
• 2 meetings with supervisors (1 hour each)
• Presentation and poster
• Report and group peer-review

No course literature is mandatory. Recommended reading is provided by each lecturer via respective modules in Canvas and is highly recommended for the preparation of the Literature Review and Group Project Work.

• R & RStudio (free for non-commercial use)
• Tableau Desktop (free student license can be requested directly from the website or provided in the class)

Students at KTH with a permanent disability can get support during studies from Funka:

Funka - compensatory support for students with disabilities

A, B, C, D, E, FX, F

• FLT2 - Study visit, 0.5 credits, Grading scale: P, F
• LIT1 - Literature Assignment, 2.0 credits, Grading scale: P, F
• NÄR1 - Attendance, 1.0 credits, Grading scale: P, F
• PRO1 - Project, 4.0 credits, Grading scale: A, B, C, D, E, FX, F

Based on recommendation from KTH’s coordinator for disabilities, the examiner will decide how to adapt an examination for students with documented disability.

The examiner may apply another examination format when re-examining individual students.

• All members of a group are responsible for the group's work.
• In any assessment, every student shall honestly disclose any help received and sources used.
• In an oral assessment, every student shall be able to present and answer questions about the entire assignment and solution.