Smart Cities and Civic Technologies (SC&CT) Research Center

Fostering and conducting interdisciplinary research on the interaction of human, physical and natural systems and on connecting the interdependencies between them utilizing information science and digital technologies for a sustainable and livable future.

The Smart Cities and Civic Technologies (SC&CT) Research Center aims to foster and conduct interdisciplinary research on the interaction of human, physical and natural systems and on connecting the interdependencies between them utilizing information science and digital technologies to generate actionable knowledge for a sustainable and livable future.

The SC&CT Research Center strives to serve as a research hub at the crossroads of information, physical, human, and natural systems. Our approach is interdisciplinary, focusing on conducting evidence-based, human-centered research. We aim to develop digital solutions that are trusted, inclusive of privacy, security, and rights, while also contributing to the guidance of public policy and communities. Our overarching goal is to foster a sustainable, resilient, and equitable direction.

Center News

  • Annual Report of the Center for 2019 Academic Year: View the annual report
  • Research Abstract Submitted: Paper abstract from Community Energy Project has submitted to Industry Studies Association (ISA) annual conference. January 13, 2019
  • Research Abstract Submitted: Research abstract for the 2nd International Conference on Energy Research and Social Science has been submitted. December 21, 2018
  • Research Poster Wins Second Prize: Community Energy; Technical and Social Challenges, and Integrative Solution Research Poster Won the 2nd Prize at, International Building Physics Conference (IBPC-2018), SyracuseCOE, Syracuse, NY. September 26, 2018

Research Projects

“CNH2-L: Modeling the Dynamics of Human and Estuarine Systems with Regulatory Feedbacks,” Sponsored by University of Maryland Center for Environmental Science. Erdogan, S. (PD/PI).

This project studies the complex interrelationships among socio-economic activity, transportation, land use, land cover, and water quality with feedbacks between the human social-economic system and the environmental system. This project will develop a loosely coupled modeling suite (including an integrated transportation and urban development model Dr. Erdogan’s team has been working to build) for analyzing future scenarios to understand how different trajectories of social, economic and policy changes impact water quality. This will enable officials make informed decisions related to planning for growth, climate change impacts, and restoring the Bay.

“SCC-IRG: Inclusive Toolkit to Improve Urban Mobility Experiences in Public Transportation Across Socioeconomic Status in Baltimore City,” Sponsored by University of Maryland. Erdogan, S. (PD/PI).

This project, aims to create novel methods and provide guidelines for the design, development, deployment and evaluation of a toolkit to identify and mitigate equity issues in Baltimore City’s public transit system (https://balto.umd.edu/). This project will advance the state of the art in privacy, survey design, data analytics, transit equity, data-driven collaboration, and transit simulation and modeling.

Knowledge Requirements, Gaps and Learning Practices in Smart Grid Adoption; An Exploratory Study in U.S. Electric Utility Industry

Ph.D. Dissertation: You Zheng
Advisor: Jason Dedrick, Syracuse University School of Information Studies

Integration of Smart Grid Technologies by Electrical Utilities; Patterns, Motivations and Challenges, Success Factors, Practices and Influence of the Field

Ph.D. Dissertation: Ehsan Sabaghian
Advisor: Jason Dedrick, Syracuse University School of Information Studies

Community Energy: Technical and Social Challenges and Integrative Solutions

Co-Principal Investigators:
Jason Dedrick, Syracuse University School of Information Studies
Elizabeth Krietemeyer, Syracuse University School of Architecture
Tarek Rakha, Syracuse University School of Architecture

Cybersecurity Risks of Dynamic, Two-way Distributed Electricity Markets (SATC)

Co-Principal Investigators:
Jason Dedrick, Syracuse University School of Information Studies
Peter Wilcoxen, Syracuse University Maxwell School,
Steve Chapin, Syracuse University College of Engineering and Computer Science

A Framework for Designing Neighborhood Energy Efficiency through Data Visualization and Calibrated Urban Building Energy Simulation (VIS-SIM)

Co-Principal Investigators:
Jason Dedrick, Syracuse University School of Information Studies
Elizabeth Krietemeyer, Syracuse University School of Architecture
Tarek Rakha, Syracuse University School of Architecture

Data Privacy for Smart Meters and Smart Devices: A Scenario-Based Study

Co-Principal Investigators:
Jason Dedrick, Syracuse University School of Information Studies
Jeffrey Stanton, Syracuse University School of Information Studies

Adoption of Smart Grid Technologies by Electric Utilities

Co-Principal Investigators:
Jason Dedrick, Syracuse University School of Information Studies
Jeffrey Stanton, Syracuse University School of Information Studies
Murali Venkatesh, Syracuse University School of Information Studies

Researchers

The Smart Cities and Civic Technologies (SC&CT) Research Center is a multidisciplinary center at Syracuse University. It includes faculty, students and researchers from the School of Information Studies, where the center is housed, as well as the Maxwell School of Citizenship and Public Affairs, the School of Architecture, the College of Engineering and Computer Science and the School of Law.

Sevgi Erdoğan, Director of the Smart Grid Research Center, School of Information Studies

Ehsan Sabaghian, Manager of the Smart Grid Research Center, School of Information Studies

Jeffrey Stanton, School of Information Studies

Murali Venkatesh, School of Information Studies

Angela Ramnarine-Rieks, School of Information Studies

Jeff Hemsley, School of Information Studies

Peter Wilcoxen, Maxwell School of Citizenship and Public Affairs

Sara Eftekharnejad, College of Engineering and Computer Science

Bess Krietemeyer, School of Architecture

Keli Perrin, Syracuse University College of Law

Bing Dong, College of Engineering and Computer Science

Nina Sharifi, School of Architecture

Carlos E. Caicedo Bastidas, School of Information Studies

Lee W. McKnight, School of Information Studies

Md Tariqul Islam ‘Pavel’, School of Information Studies

You Zheng, City University of New York

Steve Chapin, Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory

Tarek Rakha, Georgia Tech School of Architecture

Cynthia Frantz, Oberlin College

Aditi Shrivastava, School of Information Studies

Shreyas Sadagopan, School of Information Studies

Shripad Laddha, School of Information Studies

Patrick Prioletti, School of Information Studies

  • Prasan Krishnan Karthikeyan, G’19
  • Stephanie Haller, G’19
  • Akshat Sharma, G’18
  • Priya Matnani, G’18
  • Terrence Andersen, G’17
  • Sheida Soleimani, G’17
  • Wachiraphan Charoenwet, G’16
  • Lakshya Bhat, G’17
  • Rakesh Balakrishnan, G’15
  • Mahin Sheth, G’16
  • Camila Andino ’20
  • Sarah Ritchey ’18
  • Beilei Ren ’18

Publications

Our full list of center publications, including research articles, projects, conference posters and presentations, and Ph.D. dissertations.

Smart Grid Research Center Annual Report

Ph.D. Dissertation Proposal: Integration of Smart Grid Technologies by Electrical Utilities: Patterns, Motivations and Challenges, Success Factors, Practices and Influence of the Field, (2 September 2018), Ehsan Sabaghian, Advised by; Jason Dedrick, iSchool, Syracuse University, Syracuse.

Conference Presentation: Community Energy; Technical and Social Challenges, and Integrative Solution, International Building Physics Conference (IBPC-2018), SyracuseCOE, Syracuse, NY. Won the 2nd Prize.

Conference Poster: Community Energy; Technical and Social Challenges, and Integrative Solution, SyracuseCOE Innovation Showcase (2018), Syracuse, NY.

Project: Cybersecurity Risks of dynamic, two-way distributed electricity markets (SATC). Co-Principal investigators: Jason Dedrick, Syracuse University, School of Information Studies, Peter Wilcoxen, Maxwell School, Syracuse University, Steve Chapin, College of Engineering and Computer Science Syracuse University.

Conference Poster: A Framework for Designing Neighborhood Energy Efficiency through Data Visualization and Calibrated Urban Building Energy Simulation (VIS-SIM), New York Green Building Conference (2017), SyracuseCOE, Syracuse, NY. Won the 1st Prize.

Ph.D. Dissertation: Knowledge Requirements, Gaps and Learning Practices in Smart Grid Adoption: An Exploratory Study in U.S. Electric Utility Industry, (17 April 2017), You Zheng, Advised by: Jason Dedrick, iSchool, Syracuse University, Syracuse, NY.

Conference Presentation: Consumer Perception of Smart Meter Data Privacy, (30 October 2016), Jason Dedrick and Angela Usha Ramnarine-Rieks, Grid of Future Symposium, Philadelphia, PA.

Project: Data Privacy for Smart Meters and Smart Devices: a Scenario-Based Study. Co-Principal investigators: Jason Dedrick, Syracuse University, School of Information Studies, Jeffrey Stanton, Syracuse University, School of Information Studies.

Research Paper: Dedrick, J., Venkatesh, M., Stanton, J. M., Zheng, Y., & Ramnarine-Rieks, A. (2015). Adoption of Smart Grid Technologies by Electric Utilities: Factors Influencing Organizational Innovation in a Regulated Environment, Electronic Markets, 25(1), 17-29.

Conference Presentation: Adoption of Smart Grid Technologies; Results of a Survey of U.S. Electric Utilities, (11-13 October 2015), Jason Dedrick & You Zheng, Grid of Future Symposium, Chicago, IL.

Conference Presentation: Learning Strategies in Smart Grid Adoption: an Exploration Study in the U.S. Electric Utility Industry, (March 2015), You Zheng, iConference, Newport Beach, CA.

Brown-Bag Talk: Smart Grid Adoption in a Regulated Industry; Comparative Case Studies of Electric Utilities, (2014), Jason Dedrick, Brown-Bag Talk, iSchool, Syracuse University.

Conference Presentation: Smart Grid Adoption in a Regulated Industry; Comparative Case Study of Electric Utilities, (30 May 2013), Jason Dedrick & You Zheng, Industry Studies Association (ISA) Conference, Kansas City, Kansas.

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