SDG 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities

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.

The figures below cover UPES research publications on sustainable cities and communities from 2021 to 2025 (source: Scopus, October 2026).

512sustainable cities research publications, 2021–2025

11,126citations to these papers

21.7citations per paper

299journal articles and reviews

What the research covers

Number of 2021–2025 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 (Electronics (Switzerland), 2022), cited 533 times.
An overview of iot sensor data processing, fusion, and analysis techniques (Sensors (Switzerland), 2020), cited 421 times.
IoT based smart parking system (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 (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 (Science of the Total Environment, 2023), cited 262 times.

The full list of 704 publications since 2006, with links, is on the sustainable cities research publications page (also available as a spreadsheet).

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.
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.
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).
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.
Evidence 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.

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.

Bar chart of UPES intellectual property rights by Sustainable Development Goal, led by SDG 9, then SDG 7, SDG 11, SDG 3 and SDG 13 — UPES intellectual property mapped to the Sustainable Development Goals.

Sources and further reading

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.

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.
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.
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.
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.
Campus culture. The annual Uurja youth festival, Garba nights and folk music performances celebrate India's regional traditions.

Open to the public

Library. 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.
Heritage online. The AipanVR virtual museum lets anyone explore Kumaoni Aipan art.
Spaces for culture. UPES opens its amphitheatres and Multi Activity Centre for Virasat and other public art, craft and culture events.
Green spaces and grounds. As and when required, UPES also offers its cricket grounds for community events such as the Shaheed Memorial and Champions League tournaments, and for other events.

Sohail Hashmi speaks to students at the Virasat ke Rang talk — Sohail Hashmi at Virasat ke Rang, 15 October 2025.

Students listen to the Virasat ke Rang talk — Students at the talk on Indian art, culture and monuments.

Sources and further reading

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.

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.
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.
Experts for disaster risk. UPES offers an M.Tech in Disaster Management and B.Tech and MBA programmes in fire, safety and health, safety and environment management.
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.
Cleaner neighbourhoods. Through Project Swachhata, students and staff ran cleanliness and waste segregation campaigns that reached 16 government schools and community areas in 2022–23.

Guests on stage at the opening of the Himalaya Calling 2025 global summit at UPES — Himalaya Calling 2025 brought together experts on resilient mountain communities.

Panellists around a boardroom table at the Himalaya Calling 2025 summit — The "Technology for Himalayan Region" session on disaster management and climate-resilient technology.

Screens showing CCTV feeds in the UPES central monitoring room — The central CCTV monitoring room.

Entrance to the Control and Emergency Response Centre at UPES — The Control and Emergency Response Centre.

Sources and further reading

4Sustainable villages and neighbourhoods

UPES works with villages, residents and city agencies to plan and build more sustainable places to live.

2villages developed as model smart villages

1,230NGO partners for community projects

16schools and communities reached by Swachhata, 2022–23

Model smart villages. Since 2022, Project Utthan has helped Dhalani and Koti in Dehradun district with solar lighting, clean cooking, digital classrooms and health camps.
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.
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.
Students in the community. Through the Srijan Social Internship, first-year students work with NGOs on projects such as sanitation facilities and rainwater harvesting.

Sources and further reading

5A sustainable campus

UPES's campuses in the Himalayan foothills are planned to protect the natural landscape and use energy and water carefully.

GRIHAnational green building recognition

100 kWsolar plant, about 8% of campus electricity

650 KLDsewage treatment (350 KLD Bidholi, 300 KLD Kandoli) for a zero water discharge campus

89%water savings through recharge and reuse

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.
Energy. A 100 kW solar plant, 61,500 litres of solar water heating for hostels, LED lighting and a unity power factor.
Water. Sewage treatment plants of 350 KLD at Bidholi and 300 KLD at Kandoli recycle 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.
Building to green standards. Under the UPES Energy, Environment & Sustainability Policy (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).
Greener commuting. The Divestment Policy 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.
Campuses for people on foot. With fossil-fuel vehicles restricted, walkable paths and green spaces connect academic buildings, hostels and food courts.
Housing for students. Hostels on both campuses 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. Non-academic staff work flexible hours around core hours of 10 am to 4 pm.
Courses for city builders. Programmes include the B.Tech in Sustainability Engineering, B.Tech Computer Science with IoT and Smart Cities, and Transportation and Mobility Design.

Sources and further reading

6Bringing people together

UPES convenes government, industry, researchers and communities to work on sustainable development.

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.
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.

Sources and further reading

Events and activities

21 events from UPES schools and departments support this goal. Most link to the original LinkedIn post.

School of Advanced Engineering · 15 -16 September 2025

Get ready to drive into the future of mobility!

We are thrilled to announce our distinguished speakers for the Workshop on Advances in Automotive Industry (WAAI’25). Along with expert talks, participants who…

SDG 4SDG 11

Source	Type	Used in
UPES R&D Newsletter, July–December 2025	PDF	1. Research for safer, cleaner cities 3. Resilient communities
UPES Health Facilities Report	PDF	3. Resilient communities
UPES contracts and MoUs, February–September 2022	PDF	4. Sustainable villages and neighbourhoods
UPES research projects	Website	1. Research for safer, cleaner cities
UPES and SDG 7: research centres	Website	1. Research for safer, cleaner cities 5. A sustainable campus
How UPES is contributing to the SDGs	Website	1. Research for safer, cleaner cities 2. Culture and heritage 3. Resilient communities 4. Sustainable villages and neighbourhoods 5. A sustainable campus
Himalayan Institute for Learning and Leadership (HILL)	Website	2. Culture and heritage
Virasat at UPES	Website	2. Culture and heritage
UPES and the SDGs	Website	3. Resilient communities 4. Sustainable villages and neighbourhoods
B.Tech Fire and Safety Engineering	Website	3. Resilient communities
UPES and SDG 11	Website	3. Resilient communities 4. Sustainable villages and neighbourhoods 5. A sustainable campus
UPES green campus initiative	News article	5. A sustainable campus
UPES hosts 3rd Sustainability Fair	News article	6. Bringing people together
Sustainability Fair 3.0	Website	6. Bringing people together
UPES Sustainability Fair 2.0	News article	6. Bringing people together
The RISE Centre at UPES launches sustainability programme	News article	6. Bringing people together
RISE Centre at UPES	Website	6. Bringing people together
UPES sustainable cities research publications: full list	Publication list	1. Research
UPES Library	Website	2. Culture and heritage
UPES Library Open Educational Resources	Website	2. Culture and heritage
E-resource licence agreements and fair-use guidelines	Website	2. Culture and heritage
UPES Energy, Environment & Sustainability Policy, 2025	PDF	5. A sustainable campus
UPES Divestment Policy	PDF	5. A sustainable campus
Climate Action Plan, RISE Centre	PDF	5. A sustainable campus
UPES Student Support	Website	5. A sustainable campus
UPES Principles of Engagement: HR policies	PDF	5. A sustainable campus

1Research for safer, cleaner cities

What the research covers

Most cited work

Research highlights

Patents and intellectual property

2Culture and heritage

Open to the public

3Resilient communities

4Sustainable villages and neighbourhoods

5A sustainable campus

6Bringing people together

Events and activities

Get ready to drive into the future of mobility!

Welcoming brilliance, one frame at a time.

Advancing Teaching Excellence: Faculty Development at UPES

Shaping Future Geoscientists: UPES Students Learn from India’s Geological Heritage

Celebrating Culture Through the Words of Our Student-Author

#Global Voices, Local Impact !

Designing the Future, Together

UPES at the Forefront of Design Education.

Phase 1 of the Faculty Development Programmer (FDP) on Case Writing & Publishing successfully wrapped up!

Proud to share!

Beyond Awareness: UPES Health Sciences Students Explore Sustainability in Action

Greetings from the Moot Court Committee, School of Law, UPES !

The Student Committee for Constitutional Law and Human Rights (SCLHR), School of Law, UPES, celebrated…

The Legal Aid Clinic at UPES School of Law is thrilled to unveil an exciting opportunity for all budding…

The School of Liberal Studies and Media, UPES, hosted Shab Setu on Hindi Diwas to reflect on the role of…

Where Algorithms Meet Awaaz | KALRAV 2026

Empowering Change: Shaping Leaders in Harmony with Life – School for Life Ambassadors Programme

Beyond the Balance Sheet: Why #CEOs Champion #Liberal Arts for #Leadership Roles

The School of Liberal Studies and Media, UPES, hosted Shabd Setu on Hindi Diwas to reflect on the role of…

Strengthening disaster resilience in the Himalaya

Virasat ke Rang: Sohail Hashmi on Indian art and heritage

All sources