Chapter 1: Roles and Opportunities for Information Technology in Meeting Sustainability Challenges Helynranta Viola Parkkila Vilma

Agenda −Introduction to subject −Opportunities for Information Technology (IT) and Computer Science (CS) −Smart Electric Grid −Sustainable Food Systems −Sustainable and Resilient Infrastructure −Conclusions

Introduction to subject −Focus on how IT can help in achieving a sustainable future −“In what ways and where can computing have measurable, significant impact?” −Areas in which IT and CS can impact positively Built Infrastructure and Systems Ecosystems and Environment Sociotechnical Systems −Illustrative Examples Electric Grid Sustainable Food Systems Sustainable and Resilient Infrastructures

Opportunities for IT and CS −Built Infrastructure and Systems Greenhouse gas (GHG) emission’s reduction More efficient use of energy without harming the indoor air quality Water- and sewage-management systems Planning complex new infrastructures −Ecosystems and Environment Climate Science (simulations and computational modeling) Understanding and evaluating impacts of global climate change −Sociotechnical Systems Help in behavioral assistance and consolidation Progress information Information from personal devices  (scientists/researches and users)

Smart Electric Grid (1/2) −Optimization throughout the power network −Challenges: Increased energy consumption (for example population growth)  A better use of generation facilities  Transportation reliably and safely Current Model of Load-Following Supply  Peak demand  Storage limitations  Renewable energy non-dispatchable Implementing a Supply-Following Model  How to supply energy? Its pricing? Accounting for Externalized Costs  Security and privacy into consideration Demand vs Supply seen at every challenge

Smart Electric Grid (2/2) −Approaches: Demand to match supply, to be even and reduce total demand Instrumentation and modeling to measure and evaluate carbon emissions Homes and Buildings  Visible and integrated energy-management  Methods for control of buildings (design time and during operations) −Role of IT and CS:  More efficient energy consumption through  User interfaces  Tools and models  Energy management

Sustainable Food Systems (1/2) −Challenges: Increasing demand (also due to population growth) Agriculture’s environmental and public health impacts −Approaches: Systems view: Understanding and evaluating the impacts on environment, economy and society Methods for measuring costs, benefits and impacts of agricultural systems Precision Agriculture Information of food’s origins Social Networks for Local Food Sourcing: more effective market for locally produced food

Sustainable Food Systems (2/2) −Role of IT and CS: Information Integration  Sustainable production and consumption of food  Creating databases and analytical software Education and Reform  Access to individuals  Educating of sustainable food choices Systems modeling, prediction and optimization  Efficient food system (no shortages and surpluses of food at any region)  Transportation of food

Sustainable and Resilient Infrastructures (1/2) −Challenges: Cities are different and heterogeneity of structures Disasters: Human-made and natural Development requires long time lines, things change in the meanwhile Preparing areas for potential disasters Frequency of disasters, not always anticipated

Sustainable and Resilient Infrastructures (2/2) −Role of IT and CS: Simulation (disasters), modeling (development of cities) Communication (before-during-after) and citizen participation Performance  More effiecient algorithms for modeling systems is a challenge Managing Uncertainties  Economic conditions, future population etc Indicators of Future Outcomes  Foresee future disasters, changes etc IT Infrastructure Improvements  Resilient (disasters harm the infrastructure)  Improve other infrastructures performance when disasters occur

Conclusions −IT and CS can help in many areas when improving sustainability −Experts, time and resources needed to create efficient tools and methods −Questions ??

Thank you for your attention!