IIIT Bangalore and University of Toronto Collaborate on AI-Driven Urban Solutions

Bengaluru, January 31, 2025 – The International Institute of Information Technology Bangalore (IIIT-B) and the University of Toronto have announced a groundbreaking collaboration aimed at enhancing urban infrastructure and quality of life through AI-driven solutions. This partnership focuses on integrating AI into governance for better management of water resources, urban mobility, waste disposal, and climate adaptation1.

The collaboration was highlighted at the recent ‘AI and the City – Understanding Applications in Urban Environments’ conference, organized by IIIT-B’s Centre for Information Technology and Public Policy (CITAPP) in collaboration with the University of Toronto’s School of Cities and the University of Toronto India Foundation (UTIF). The event brought together researchers, technologists, and industry experts from 22 institutions across 11 countries2.

Key Highlights of the Collaboration

• AI for Water and Climate Resilience: IIIT-B’s Professor Sachit Rao demonstrated how AI-based techniques can map and monitor Bengaluru’s water bodies, track flooding using satellite data, and assist policymakers in planning flood mitigation strategies.
• Urban Heat Islands: Researchers at CITAPP presented AI applications for monitoring urban heat islands, using predictive modelling and local climate zone analysis.
• Cybersecurity for Smart Cities: Adjunct Professor Roland Hass showcased AI-driven cybersecurity solutions to protect interconnected smart city systems.
• Interdisciplinary Approach: The collaboration emphasizes the importance of cross-disciplinary knowledge exchange to create effective, context-specific urban governance models.

The initiative aims to develop solutions for Bengaluru first, with plans to replicate them across other major Indian cities like Chennai, Hyderabad, Mumbai, and Delhi. This collaboration is expected to pave the way for innovative AI-driven urban solutions that can significantly improve infrastructure and sustainability in high-growth cities1.