Shaping Future Geoscientists: UPES Students Learn from India’s Geological Heritage
For geologists, the entire planet is a classroom - and nature is the greatest teacher. Every outcrop, every layer of rock, and every landscape narrates a story far…
How UPES contributes to sustainable cities and communities
Set in the Himalayan foothills, UPES works to make the towns, villages and campus around it safer, cleaner and more liveable. Its researchers tackle floods, landslides, waste, pollution and traffic, its projects keep Himalayan heritage alive, and it works with villages, residents and city agencies while running a green, walkable campus of its own.
512sustainable cities research publications
2model smart villages near Dehradun
GRIHAnational green building recognition
650 KLDsewage treatment for a zero water discharge campus
1,500+delegates at Sustainability Fair 3.0
We research safer cities
From landslide early warning to smarter waste and electric public transport, UPES research serves Himalayan towns.
We protect heritage
Virtual museums and craft projects record and revive the art and skills of Uttarakhand and the Himalaya.
We build resilience
A safe campus, disaster-management degrees and training prepare people for earthquakes, floods and fires.
We work with communities
Model smart villages, neighbourhood planning and clean-energy projects improve life in nearby villages and towns.
We run a green campus
Green buildings, solar power, water reuse, walkable paths and electric carts make the campus a model of sustainable living.
We open our spaces
The library, cultural spaces and grounds are open to the public for learning, culture and community events.
1Research for safer, cleaner cities
UPES researchers work on the problems Himalayan towns and cities face: floods and landslides, polluted rivers, waste, traffic and the edges where people and wildlife meet.
Impact
UPES research tackles the real problems of Himalayan towns and cities, from landslide warnings to cleaner rivers, smarter waste and better public transport.
512sustainable cities research publications
11,126citations to these papers
21.7citations per paper
3rdlargest SDG area in UPES's intellectual property
- An IoT early-warning system tracks rain, soil, river levels and slope movement to warn communities of floods and landslides.
- UPES has studied Dehradun's air quality and public transport and advised on the city's solid waste management.
- A study designed an autonomous electric public transport system for Dehradun to cut congestion and emissions.
What the research covers
Number of papers on each theme (a paper can appear under more than one).
| Theme | Papers |
|---|---|
| Urban planning and land use | 200 |
| Transport, mobility and electric vehicles | 155 |
| Smart cities, IoT and sensing | 149 |
| Waste management and circular cities | 108 |
| Disasters, climate risk and resilience | 103 |
| Buildings, construction and energy efficiency | 85 |
| Air quality and urban pollution | 63 |
| Culture, heritage and tourism | 38 |
Most cited work
- A Review on Autonomous Vehicles: Progress, Methods and Challenges[26] (Electronics (Switzerland), 2022), cited 533 times.
- An overview of iot sensor data processing, fusion, and analysis techniques[27] (Sensors (Switzerland), 2020), cited 421 times.
- IoT based smart parking system[28] (2016 International Conference on Internet of Things and Applications, IOTA 2016, 2016), cited 404 times.
- Perspective review on Municipal Solid Waste-to-energy route: Characteristics, management strategy, and role in circular economy[29] (Journal of Cleaner Production, 2022), cited 305 times.
- Agro-waste to sustainable energy: A green strategy of converting agricultural waste to nano-enabled energy applications[30] (Science of the Total Environment, 2023), cited 262 times.
The full list of publications, with links, is in the annexure.
Research highlights
- Early warning in the mountains. A 2025 UPES study designed an IoT system that tracks rainfall, soil moisture, ground vibration, river levels and slope movement, uses machine learning to spot danger, and warns communities and officials of flash floods and landslides by SMS, app, siren and dashboard. Source: Research at UPES.
- Rivers and health in Dehradun's slums. A current project measures water quality and microplastic pollution in slum communities along Dehradun's urban rivers, with the health risks they create and ways to treat and clean the water. Source: UPES research projects.
- Smarter urban waste. Researchers from the Sustainability Cluster and School of Computer Science reviewed how AI, smart bins, sensors, robotic sorting, drones and prediction models can make city waste collection cleaner and more efficient (2026). Source: Advancements in waste management: a comprehensive review of Artificial Intelligence applications in smart cities (2026).
- Public transport for Dehradun. A 2025 study designed an autonomous public transport system for Dehradun using electric trackless trams, sensors and AI to cut congestion and emissions. Source: Design of an Autonomous Public Transportation System in Dehradun, Uttarakhand (2025).
- Research for city policy. The Centre for Energy, Environment and Sustainability Studies researches urban transport, efficient buildings and environmental policy with government and industry. UPES has studied Dehradun's air quality and public transport, advised on the city's solid waste management, contributed research on rural solar micro-grids to a UNDP clean-energy initiative, and supported Government of India research on managing leopard populations near human settlements. Source: Research at UPES.
Patents and intellectual property
UPES holds 2,314+ intellectual property rights, including 813 patents (139 granted), 943 designs and 558 copyrights (December 2025). Mapped against the Sustainable Development Goals, Sustainable Cities and Communities is the third-largest area of the portfolio, after Industry, Innovation and Infrastructure and Affordable and Clean Energy.
This section covers the indicator on research on sustainable cities and communities.
2Culture and heritage
UPES uses research and technology to safeguard the living heritage of Uttarakhand and the Himalaya, and opens its campus to the region's cultural life.
Impact
UPES records and revives the living heritage of the Himalaya, and opens its campus, library and grounds to the region's cultural life.
10Aipan artists documented for a virtual reality museum
~190free learning resources open to everyone
Freepublic access to the library website and cultural spaces
- AipanVR lets anyone explore Kumaoni Aipan art in an interactive virtual museum.
- Projects keep Bhimal fibre craft and Ladakhi weaving alive and earning for artisans.
- UPES co-partners an event at Virasat, Dehradun's annual cultural festival, and hosts art, craft and culture events through the year.
- AipanVR. Researchers worked with 10 Aipan artists in Almora, Nainital and Haldwani to document this Kumaoni ritual floor and wall art, then recreated it in an interactive virtual reality museum so anyone can learn about it. Source: Tera Varna: from Thanjavur art to Aipan VR.
Research paper Aipan VR: A Virtual Reality Experience for Preserving Uttarakhand's Traditional Art Form, School of Design and School of Computer Science, UPES. - Bhimal fibre craft. The Himalayan Institute for Learning and Leadership is documenting the Bhimal (Selu) fibre craft of Karchaa village and designing new products that keep traditional skills alive and earning. Source: Himalayan Institute for Learning and Leadership (HILL).
- Kumaoni Ramlila. Recording heritage includes the traditions that keep hill communities going. Dr Ruchika Rai of the Himalayan Institute for Learning and Leadership received the 2025 INTACH Research Scholarship for her study of the Kumaoni Ramlila, a centuries-old cultural tradition of the Uttarakhand hills, and of how this folk art preserves intangible heritage and supports artisans, communities and livelihoods through performance and craft. Source: UPES R&D Newsletter, January–June 2025, page 33.
- Traditional weaving in Ladakh. Through Project Artisan, UPES works with NGOs and schools to support women weavers and preserve their craft.
- Virasat. UPES invests in arts and culture by co-partnering an important event at Virasat, Dehradun's famous annual cultural festival, run with REACH. It also opens its amphitheatres and Multi Activity Centre for art, craft and culture events through the year. Source: Virasat at UPES.
Source: Virasat at UPES. - Virasat ke Rang. In this talk series, art historian, oral historian and heritage conservationist Sohail Hashmi spoke to Journalism and Mass Communication students on 15 October 2025 about Indian art, culture, monuments and the stories behind them. From 13 to 18 October 2025 the series also brought evenings of conversation and performance celebrating artisans who carry craft and music traditions forward. Source: UPES and REACH: Virasat partnership.
See also: Virasat ke Rang: Sohail Hashmi on Indian art and heritage in Events and activities.
Sohail Hashmi at Virasat ke Rang, 15 October 2025. 
Students at the talk on Indian art, culture and monuments. 
UPES on LinkedIn, 18 October 2025: Virasat ke Rang brought together voices from music, visual art and heritage storytelling. - Campus culture. UPES celebrates the region's culture on campus too: the annual Uurja youth festival, Garba nights and folk music performances celebrate India's regional traditions. Source: Campus life at UPES.
See also: The School of Liberal Studies and Media, UPES, hosted Shab Setu on Hindi Diwas to reflect on the role of in Events and activities.
Student author Aditya Vats launches his book Making and Remaking of Uttarakhand at Raj Bhavan (see Events and activities).
Open to the public
- Library. The library is open to the public as well: the UPES Library website is open to everyone, with a curated portal of about 190 free open educational resources, links to SWAYAM and NPTEL courses, and UPES PhD theses deposited in the national ShodhGanga repository. The library's fair-use guidelines also list onsite visitors among the authorised users of its licensed e-books, journals and databases. Source: UPES Library, Open Educational Resources, fair-use guidelines.
Reading areas in the UPES library. - Heritage online. Museum access does not need a visit: the AipanVR virtual museum lets anyone explore Kumaoni Aipan art. Source: Tera Varna: from Thanjavur art to Aipan VR.
- Spaces for culture. As public exhibition and performance spaces, UPES opens its amphitheatres and Multi Activity Centre for Virasat and other public art, craft and culture events. Source: Virasat at UPES.
Source: Virasat at UPES. - Green spaces and grounds. UPES shares its open grounds with the community. As and when required, it offers its cricket grounds for community events such as the Shaheed Memorial and Champions League tournaments, and for other events. The Shaheed Memorial T-20 Cricket Tournament, started in 2014 with eight teams, had grown to 20 government and public sector teams by 2020 and supports the families of fallen soldiers through Project Naman. Source: Student facilities, Sports and Fitness.
The UPES cricket ground. 
Source: Project Naman.
This section covers the indicators on public access to buildings, public access to libraries, public access to museums and exhibition spaces, public access to green spaces, contribution to local arts and recording and preserving cultural heritage.
3Resilient communities
In a region exposed to earthquakes, floods and landslides, UPES builds safety into its campus and trains the professionals who keep communities safe.
Impact
UPES builds safety into its own campus and trains the professionals who keep Himalayan communities safe from disasters.
250CCTV cameras feeding a 24-hour control room
2022Safety and Disaster Management Cluster set up
16schools and communities reached by Project Swachhata
- Seismic-resistant design, slope stabilisation and regular evacuation drills protect students and staff.
- Degree programmes in disaster management and health, safety and environment train future experts.
- Himalaya Calling 2025 brought experts together on disaster resilience for mountain communities.
- Round-the-clock safety. About 250 CCTV cameras feed a central control room staffed 24 hours a day, alongside a Control and Emergency Response Centre, a fire hydrant network with automatic detection, and access control at the gates. Source: Student facilities, Bidholi and Kandoli campuses, Safety and Security.
The central CCTV monitoring room. 
The Control and Emergency Response Centre. - A safe campus. Seismic-resistant design, slope stabilisation and drainage protect buildings, while regular fire and earthquake evacuation drills, alarms, sprinklers and assembly points prepare students and staff. The campus medical team coordinates disaster-management drills.
Source: UPES Health Facilities Report, section 12. 
Campus security staff train in first aid and CPR at the Kandoli campus. - Experts for disaster risk. Resilient communities need trained people to manage disaster risk, and UPES prepares them through an M.Tech in Disaster Management and B.Tech and MBA programmes in fire, safety and health, safety and environment management. Source: B.Tech Fire and Safety Engineering.
- Safe, Resilient and Sustainable Cities. The Safety and Disaster Management Cluster, set up in 2022, runs training in first aid, fire safety and emergency response, and held a symposium on safe, resilient and sustainable cities in October 2022.
- Technology for the Himalaya. At Himalaya Calling 2025, UPES hosted researchers, entrepreneurs and policy thinkers on disaster management, climate-resilient technology and infrastructure for mountain communities. A panel on strengthening disaster resilience in the Himalaya brought together experts including Prof Ajay Gairola and Piyoosh Rautela. Source: UPES R&D Newsletter, July–December 2025, page 19.
See also: Strengthening disaster resilience in the Himalaya in Events and activities.
Himalaya Calling 2025 brought together experts on resilient mountain communities. 
The "Technology for Himalayan Region" session on disaster management and climate-resilient technology. - Cleaner neighbourhoods. Clean, healthy neighbourhoods are better able to cope with shocks. Through Project Swachhata, students and staff ran cleanliness and waste segregation campaigns that reached 16 government schools and community areas in 2022–23. Source: Social impact at UPES.
This section covers the indicator on disaster resilience and campus safety.
4Sustainable villages and neighbourhoods
UPES works with villages, residents and city agencies to plan and build more sustainable places to live.
Impact
UPES works hand in hand with villages, residents and city agencies to make the places around it more sustainable to live in.
2villages developed as model smart villages
1,230NGO partners for community projects
16schools and communities reached by Swachhata
- Through Project Utthan, Dhalani and Koti are being developed as model smart villages, with a focus on healthcare, education and livelihoods.
- UPES helped a Dehradun residents' association prepare a smart city proposal and works with Dehradun Smart City Limited.
- Revived watermills bring clean energy and income to hill villages.
- Model smart villages. Project Utthan is developing the villages of Dhalani and Koti in Dehradun district as model smart villages, with a focus on healthcare, education and livelihoods. They are the first of many villages planned under the project. Source: Project Utthan.
- A smarter neighbourhood. In 2022 UPES faculty and students helped the Jal Vayu Vihar Residents Welfare Association in Dehradun prepare a smart city proposal covering street lighting, rainwater harvesting and digital community services. UPES also works with Dehradun Smart City Limited on research, internships and knowledge exchange. Source: UPES contracts and MoUs, February–September 2022.
- Clean power for hill villages. With the Khadi and Village Industries Commission, Project UK is reviving traditional watermills to generate clean energy and income in hill communities.
- Better village schools. UPES has improved toilets, drinking water and solar power in adopted government schools.
- Green livelihoods for women. Project Vikalp's self-help groups make pencils from recycled paper, crafts and medicinal plant products, and at the Waste-Paper Recycling Laboratory, women from indigenous communities turn campus waste paper into sheets, pencils, jewellery and stationery. Source: Social impact at UPES.
- Students in the community. Through the Srijan Social Internship, first-year students work with NGOs on projects such as sanitation facilities and rainwater harvesting.
Source: Srijan Social Internship.
This section covers the indicator on working with local authorities and communities on planning.
5A sustainable campus
UPES's campuses in the Himalayan foothills are planned to protect the natural landscape and use energy and water carefully.
Impact
UPES campuses are planned around people on foot, green space and careful use of energy and water.
GRIHAnational green building recognition
100 kWsolar plant on campus
650 KLDsewage treatment, zero water discharge
89%water savings through recharge and reuse
- Fossil-fuel vehicles are restricted on campus, and electric carts and walkable paths connect buildings.
- A shuttle links both campuses with Dehradun city.
- Hostels house students close to class, and Project Protsaahan scholars live in hostels free of charge.
- Green design. UPES received GRIHA recognition, India's national green building rating, presented at Vigyan Bhawan, New Delhi. Topsoil was saved and reused, the terrain and green cover preserved, and CFC- and HCFC-free refrigerants and insulation used. In May 2025 Green Mentors accredited the Kandoli campus as a Green University at Platinum level for 2025–2028. UPES first received the GRIHA award for its green campus in 2015 and was re-certified with a 4-star GRIHA rating on 9 June 2025. Source: UPES green campus initiative (Elets Digital Learning).
GRIHA 4-star re-certification, 9 June 2025 (more). 
Green University accreditation (Platinum), Kandoli campus, Green Mentors, May 2025. - Energy. A 100 kW solar plant, 61,500 litres of solar water heating for hostels, LED lighting and a unity power factor. Energy audits of both campuses under the Green University Audit 2025–28 certified that they meet energy-use standards for learning spaces with the least impact on the environment. Source: Solar energy and energy efficiency at UPES, Student facilities, Utilities.
Solar photovoltaic panels on campus (more). 
Energy audit certificate, Bidholi campus, Green University Audit 2025–28. The Kandoli campus received the same certificate. - Water. A sewage treatment system with a capacity of 650 kilolitres a day recycles wastewater for horticulture, and rainwater harvesting pits with flow meters recharge groundwater.
- Clean mobility. Walkable paths and green spaces, plus student-built clean transport such as the U-BAHN electric cart with an 85 Ah battery and IoT tracking, an electric bike and a solar tree that lights and charges devices. Source: Sustainable commuting at UPES.
Electric carts for getting around campus (more). - Building to green standards. Under the UPES Energy, Environment & Sustainability Policy[16] (2025), all new buildings and renovations must follow the Energy Conservation Building Code and National Building Code, use GRIHA or IGBC green-building ratings where feasible and specify energy-efficient equipment (§5.1.1).
Source: UPES Energy, Environment & Sustainability Policy, 2025, clause 5.1.1. - Greener commuting. The Divestment Policy[17] commits UPES to electric carts and battery-operated vehicles for getting around campus and to restrictions on fossil-fuel vehicles on campus, and the 2025 policy encourages carpooling, cycling and battery-powered vehicles (§5.4). A shuttle links the Bidholi and Kandoli campuses with Dehradun city, and the Climate Action Plan includes electrifying campus service vehicles and promoting greener commuting. UPES also runs carpool programmes and offers EV charging stations and preferential parking for electric vehicles. Source: Sustainable commuting at UPES.
Source: UPES Divestment Policy, page 1. 
Source: UPES Energy, Environment & Sustainability Policy, 2025, clause 5.4. - Campuses for people on foot. With fossil-fuel vehicles restricted, walkable paths and green spaces connect academic buildings, hostels and food courts. Source: Sustainable commuting at UPES, Student facilities, Green Campus.
Green spaces between campus buildings. - Housing for students. UPES provides housing close to class: hostels on both campuses, with a total capacity of around 3,200 students, house students close to their classes, with meals included in the hostel fee, and Project Protsaahan scholars live in hostels free of charge.
- Flexible working. UPES supports flexible working: non-academic staff work flexible hours around core hours of 10 am to 4 pm: under the Work Norms Policy, their eight-hour day can start between 8 am and 10 am and end between 4 pm and 8 pm.
- Courses for city builders. The campus also trains the people who will plan sustainable cities. Programmes include the B.Tech in Sustainability Engineering, B.Tech Computer Science with IoT and Smart Cities, and Transportation and Mobility Design.
This section covers the indicators on promoting sustainable commuting, remote and flexible working, affordable housing for students and staff, pedestrian priority on campus and building to sustainable standards.
6Bringing people together
UPES convenes government, industry, researchers and communities to work on sustainable development.
Impact
UPES brings government, industry, researchers and communities together to work on sustainable development.
1,500+delegates at Sustainability Fair 3.0, April 2025
1,500+schoolchildren reached during Sustainability Fair 2023
2024RISE Centre launched with Aspire Impact
- The Sustainability Fair brings industry, government and researchers to campus every year.
- The RISE Centre leads UPES's climate work and trains professionals in ESG and net-zero strategy.
- Sustainability Fair. Organised by the School of Advanced Engineering, the fair brought more than 1,000 participants from industry, government and research in 2023, when students also reached more than 1,500 schoolchildren with awareness activities. The third edition in April 2025 drew more than 1,500 delegates, including policymakers, industry leaders and international researchers. Source: Sustainability Fair 3.0, Pioneer Edge, Garhwal Post on Sustainability Fair 2.0.
Sustainability Fair 3.0, April 2025. - RISE Centre. Launched with Aspire Impact in September 2024, it leads UPES's climate work and, with Mahindra University, trains professionals in ESG, net-zero and carbon-neutrality strategy. Source: RISE Centre at UPES, GUS news.
This section covers the indicator on collaboration on sustainable development.
Events and activities
6 events on heritage, culture, disaster resilience and sustainability show this goal in action.
Celebrating Culture Through the Words of Our Student-Author
Our student final year student Aditya Vats has made us proud with the launch of his book " Making and Remaking of Uttarakhand ” at Raj Bhavan, graced by the Retd. Lt.…
Featured in 2. Culture and heritage: Campus culture
Beyond Awareness: UPES Health Sciences Students Explore Sustainability in Action
The School of Health Sciences and Technology at UPES recently hosted a thought-provoking session titled “Reimagining Responsibility: Volunteerism, Circular…
The School of Liberal Studies and Media, UPES, hosted Shab Setu on Hindi Diwas to reflect on the role of
The School of Liberal Studies and Media, UPES, hosted Shab Setu on Hindi Diwas to reflect on the role of language as a bridge between people, ideas, and cultures.…
Featured in 2. Culture and heritage: Campus culture
Strengthening disaster resilience in the Himalaya
A panel with Prof Ajay Gairola, Piyoosh Rautela and other experts on making Himalayan communities more resilient to disasters.
Featured in 3. Resilient communities: Technology for the Himalaya
Virasat ke Rang: Sohail Hashmi on Indian art and heritage
The art historian and heritage conservationist spoke to Journalism and Mass Communication students about art, culture, monuments and heritage.
Featured in 2. Culture and heritage: Virasat ke Rang
Our contribution to the UN SDG 11 targets
Goal 11 has ten targets agreed by the United Nations for 2030. UPES contributes to nine of them through its research, campus, heritage work and partnerships with communities and city agencies.
Impact
UPES activity reaches nine of the ten Goal 11 targets, with its deepest impact on heritage, disaster resilience, cleaner cities and participatory planning.
9 of 10UN targets under Goal 11 that UPES contributes to
4targets with sustained programmes and measurable results
Where we make the biggest difference
Targets where UPES runs sustained programmes with measurable results.
11.4
UN target 11.4Strengthen efforts to protect and safeguard the world's cultural and natural heritage.
What UPES does
- AipanVR, a virtual museum of Kumaoni Aipan art created with 10 artists.
Report 2: Culture and heritage → - Documenting Bhimal fibre craft and supporting Ladakhi women weavers.
Report 2: Culture and heritage → - Co-partnering Virasat, Dehradun's annual cultural festival.
Report 2: Culture and heritage →
11.5
UN target 11.5Significantly reduce deaths and losses caused by disasters, with a focus on protecting the poor and people in vulnerable situations.
What UPES does
- An IoT early-warning system for flash floods and landslides.
Report 1: Research for safer, cleaner cities → - Degree programmes and training in disaster management, fire safety and emergency response.
Report 3: Resilient communities → - Seismic-resistant design and regular evacuation drills on campus.
Report 3: Resilient communities →
11.6
UN target 11.6Reduce the adverse environmental impact of cities, including air quality and waste management.
What UPES does
- Research on smart urban waste collection and Dehradun's air quality.
Report 1: Research for safer, cleaner cities → - Cleanliness and waste segregation campaigns in 16 schools and communities.
Report 3: Resilient communities → - A zero water discharge campus with 650 KLD sewage treatment.
Report 5: A sustainable campus →
11.3
UN target 11.3Enhance inclusive and sustainable urbanisation and participatory planning.
What UPES does
- A smart city proposal prepared with a Dehradun residents' welfare association.
Report 4: Sustainable villages and neighbourhoods → - Research, internships and knowledge exchange with Dehradun Smart City Limited.
Report 4: Sustainable villages and neighbourhoods → - Research on urban planning and land use.
Report 1: Research for safer, cleaner cities →
Where we also contribute
Targets supported through specific projects, facilities and research.
11.1
UN target 11.1Ensure access for all to adequate, safe and affordable housing.
What UPES does
- Hostels on both campuses, with free housing for Project Protsaahan scholars.
Report 5: A sustainable campus →
11.2
UN target 11.2Provide access to safe, affordable, accessible and sustainable transport systems.
What UPES does
- A shuttle linking both campuses with Dehradun, and electric carts on campus.
Report 5: A sustainable campus → - A design for autonomous electric public transport in Dehradun.
Report 1: Research for safer, cleaner cities →
11.7
UN target 11.7Provide universal access to safe, inclusive and accessible green and public spaces.
What UPES does
- Walkable paths and green spaces across campus.
Report 5: A sustainable campus → - Cricket grounds offered for community events such as the Shaheed Memorial tournament.
Report 2: Culture and heritage →
11.a
UN target 11.aSupport positive economic, social and environmental links between urban, peri-urban and rural areas.
What UPES does
- Model smart villages at Dhalani and Koti.
Report 4: Sustainable villages and neighbourhoods → - Revived watermills that bring clean energy and income to hill villages.
Report 4: Sustainable villages and neighbourhoods →
11.b
UN target 11.bAdopt and implement integrated policies and plans towards resilience and disaster risk reduction.
What UPES does
- A Safety and Disaster Management Cluster and a symposium on safe, resilient and sustainable cities.
Report 3: Resilient communities → - University policy requiring green building standards for all new buildings.
Report 5: A sustainable campus →
UN target wording is summarised. The full official text is on the United Nations SDG 11 page[35].
Indicators and where they are reported
Each SDG 11 indicator, and the report on this page that covers it.
| Indicator | Report |
|---|---|
| Research on sustainable cities and communities | Report 1: Research for safer, cleaner cities |
| Public access to buildings | Report 2: Culture and heritage |
| Public access to libraries | Report 2: Culture and heritage |
| Public access to museums, exhibition spaces and works of art | Report 2: Culture and heritage |
| Public access to green spaces | Report 2: Culture and heritage |
| Contribution to local arts | Report 2: Culture and heritage |
| Recording and preserving intangible cultural heritage | Report 2: Culture and heritage |
| Working with local authorities on planning and development | Report 4: Sustainable villages and neighbourhoods |
| Promoting sustainable commuting | Report 5: A sustainable campus |
| Remote and flexible working | Report 5: A sustainable campus |
| Affordable housing for students and staff | Report 5: A sustainable campus |
| Pedestrian priority on campus | Report 5: A sustainable campus |
| Building to sustainable standards | Report 5: A sustainable campus |
Links and sources
- UPES research projectshttps://www.upes.ac.in/research/projects
- UPES R&D Newsletter, July–December 2025https://upeswebsitecdn-prod-hphqfhc0b8h2ffhf.a02.azurefd.net/drupal-data/2026-05/UPES%20R%26D%20News%20Letter%20July-Dec%202025.pdf
- UPES and SDG 7: research centreshttps://www.upes.ac.in/sustainable-development-goals/07
- How UPES is contributing to the SDGshttps://www.upes.ac.in/blog/liberal-studies/how-upes-is-contributing-to-sdgs
- Himalayan Institute for Learning and Leadership (HILL)https://www.upes.ac.in/hill
- UPES Libraryhttps://library.ddn.upes.ac.in/
- UPES Library Open Educational Resourceshttps://library.ddn.upes.ac.in/oer_new.html
- E-resource licence agreements and fair-use guidelineshttps://library.ddn.upes.ac.in/guideline.html
- Virasat at UPEShttps://www.upes.ac.in/industry-connect/virasat
- UPES and the SDGshttps://www.upes.ac.in/sustainable-development-goals
- B.Tech Fire and Safety Engineeringhttps://www.upes.ac.in/school-of-advanced-engineering/btech-engineering/fire-and-safety-engineering
- UPES and SDG 11https://www.upes.ac.in/sustainable-development-goals/11
- UPES Health Facilities Report (PDF)https://upeswebsitecdn-prod-hphqfhc0b8h2ffhf.a02.azurefd.net/drupal-data/2026-09/UPES_Health_Facilities_Report.pdf
- UPES contracts and MoUs, February–September 2022 (PDF)https://upeswebsitecdn-prod-hphqfhc0b8h2ffhf.a02.azurefd.net/drupal-data/2025-04/3%20Contracts-%20MoUs%20w.e.f.%2022%20February%202022%20to%207%20September%202022.pdf
- UPES green campus initiative (Elets Digital Learning)https://digitallearning.eletsonline.com/2013/04/green-campus-initiative/
- UPES Energy, Environment & Sustainability Policy, 2025 (PDF)documents/upes-energy-environment-sustainability-policy.pdf
- UPES Divestment Policy (PDF)documents/upes-divestment-policy.pdf
- Climate Action Plan, RISE Centre (PDF)https://upeswebsitecdn-prod-hphqfhc0b8h2ffhf.a02.azurefd.net/drupal-data/2025-10/Climate%20Action%20Plan-RISE%20Center.pdf
- UPES Student Support (shuttle and hostels)https://www.upes.ac.in/student-space/student-support
- UPES Principles of Engagement: HR policies (PDF)https://upeswebsitecdn-prod-hphqfhc0b8h2ffhf.a02.azurefd.net/drupal-data/2026-09/Upes%20PoE%2025-09-2026.pdf
- UPES hosts 3rd Sustainability Fair (Pioneer Edge)https://www.pioneeredge.in/upes-hosts-3rd-edition-of-sustainability-fair-3-0/
- Sustainability Fair 3.0https://www.upes.ac.in/events-and-activities/sustainability-fair
- UPES Sustainability Fair 2.0 (Garhwal Post)https://garhwalpost.in/upes-sustainability-fair-2-0-advocates-global-well-being/
- The RISE Centre at UPES launches sustainability programme (GUS news)https://www.globaluniversitysystems.com/news/institutions/the-rise-centre-at-upes-launches-sustainability-programme
- RISE Centre at UPEShttps://www.upes.ac.in/rise
- A Review on Autonomous Vehicles: Progress, Methods and Challengeshttps://doi.org/10.3390/electronics11142162
- An overview of iot sensor data processing, fusion, and analysis techniqueshttps://doi.org/10.3390/s20216076
- IoT based smart parking systemhttps://doi.org/10.1109/IOTA.2016.7562735
- Perspective review on Municipal Solid Waste-to-energy route: Characteristics, management strategy, and role in circular economyhttps://doi.org/10.1016/j.jclepro.2022.131897
- Agro-waste to sustainable energy: A green strategy of converting agricultural waste to nano-enabled energy applicationshttps://doi.org/10.1016/j.scitotenv.2023.162667
- Shaping Future Geoscientists: UPES Students Learn from India’s Geological Heritage (LinkedIn post)https://www.linkedin.com/posts/upes-soae_geological-field-excursion-activity-7402688143042252800-4RaV
- Celebrating Culture Through the Words of Our Student-Author (LinkedIn post)https://www.linkedin.com/posts/school-of-business-upes_upes-upesschoolofbusiness-upesstudents-activity-7368862288390332416-4psy
- Beyond Awareness: UPES Health Sciences Students Explore Sustainability in Action (LinkedIn post)https://www.linkedin.com/posts/school-of-health-sciences-technology_goonj-activity-7446769308992454657-Ku-k
- The School of Liberal Studies and Media, UPES, hosted Shab Setu on Hindi Diwas to reflect on the role of (LinkedIn post)https://www.linkedin.com/posts/solsm-upes_hindi-diwas-activity-7373390458208792576-Q7ck
- United Nations SDG 11 pagehttps://sdgs.un.org/goals/goal11
Supporting documents
These documents support the evidence in this report.
- UPES Energy, Environment & Sustainability Policy, 2025 (PDF). Evidence for building to green standards (§5.1.1) and environmentally friendly transport such as carpooling, cycling and battery-powered vehicles (§5.4).
- UPES Divestment Policy (PDF). Evidence for electric carts and battery-operated vehicles on campus and restrictions on fossil-fuel vehicles.
- GRIHA rating and green audits at UPES. Evidence for the 4-star GRIHA re-certification of June 2025, the 2015 GRIHA award and third-party green audits.
- Solar energy and energy efficiency at UPES. Evidence for the 100 kW solar plant, 61,500 litres a day of solar water heating and LED-only lighting.
- Sustainable commuting at UPES. Evidence for electric carts, shuttles, carpooling, EV charging, preferential parking, bicycle parking and walkways.
Annexure: sustainable cities research publications
The full list of UPES sustainable cities research publications indexed in Scopus, with a link to each paper.
709sustainable cities research publications
14,000citations to these papers
19.7citations per paper