Research & Innovation
CityVerve is a £10m investment from The Department for Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS) to demonstrate the Internet of Things in Manchester City Region.
The CityVerve Project aims to test better services using the Internet of Things (IoT) technology. The Internet of Things adds sensors and data analysis to urban equipment like streetlamps, vehicles or home heating equipment. These ‘smart’ improvements will help deliver more personal, efficient and flexible products and services. The collaborative research and development project will draw on expertise from the School of Architecture (Faculty of Art and Design) and the Schools of Computing and Engineering (Faculty of Science and Engineering).
MMU has three investigators involved – two from the Manchester School of Art looking at the ‘Culture’ strand of the bid and one from the School of Computing exploring ‘Energy’ use cases.
Ulysses Sengupta leads research activity from the faculty of Art and Design and is the head of the Centre for Complexity Planning & Urbanism (CPU) which he runs with Rob Hyde. The focus of his research addresses co-evolution between ICT and future urban transformation within Manchester and with a focus on the Manchester Corridor.
The largest single strand of research within MMU focuses on Innovative Digital Tools to Enable Greener Travel
This research is undertaken by CPU and will include research, development, design, evaluation and publication of a research methodology and custom made digital tool ‘Green Travel Planner’ that aims to encourage more sustainable choices for citizens in day-to-day use and develop an evidence based usage map of Manchester for improved transport planning and policy decisions. The research will result in a comprehensive review and innovative approach to developing the next generation of travel planning applications, and how these can better focus on user engagement, behavioural change and evidence based planning for sustainable/greener transport choices.
Research, development, design, evaluation and publication of a research methodology and custom made digital tool ‘Green Travel Planner’ to encourage:
1. More sustainable choices for citizens in day-to-day use.
2. An evidence based usage map of Manchester for improved public transport planning and policy decisions.
