ICT Applications for Sustainable Environmental Protection

ongoing

ICT AppliCaTions for sustaInable enVironmental protEction (ACTIVE) project is focused on capacity building by training multidisciplinary engineers on using information and communication technologies (ICT) for mitigating the environmental and climatic issues faced by the urban and rural areas of Pakistan. Many universities offer bachelor and master degrees on ICT engineering topics or environmental sciences, but using different approaches: ICT engineers are trained for the design and implementation of ICT technologies with little or none knowledge of environmental aspects, so it’s difficult for them to deal with this kind of applications. On the other hand, environmental sciences and engineering degrees are focused on those topics, with a basic use of ICT tools, but digital technologies could have a higher and disruptive impact on environment management, requiring more advanced knowledge and skills in ICT. The main objective is to address this particular need, with capacity building activities to train highly qualified ICT engineers with a good background on environmental science. This can be achieved with partner universities by offering a master degree and expert courses on different promising technologies (machine learning, artificial intelligence, remote sensing, IoT and sensor networks, wireless communication, embedded systems, etc.) applied to environmental issues and climate change in Pakistan. The four university partners in Pakistan are geographically located in different areas of the country, facing different problems: from air pollution in big cities (Karachi) to water use at Indus river, Bolochistan agriculture needs or Rawalpindi location, near mountains at north of the country, which provides a unique collaboration opportunity in areas with different degree of economic development. Also, we will propose to create four research centres with focus in local problems to offer practical training and to contribute to mitigate environmental challenges.