CiTyAI lab launched
The CiTyAI lab was formally launched on Tuesday 2 June as one of the eight Delft AI labs. The Lab is a joint initiative in which the faculties of TPM and CITG will develop AI to gain insights into the attractiveness, quality of life and accessibility of the urban environment, and their impact on human behaviour. The CiTyAI lab aims to improve the living environment in the city. TPM researcher Sander van Cranenburgh is the initiator of this AI lab.
Knowledge gap
Van Cranenburgh: “In the CiTyAI Lab we want to bring together AI and behavioural theory to measure less tangible things such as attractiveness, safety, quality of life and accessibility, and to understand their effects on behaviour. Because these issues are so difficult to measure, they are only included to a limited extent in current policy practice. However, we think they are very important. A better understanding of these issues therefore offers all kinds of opportunities to create better living environments. There is still a major knowledge gap here, which we are now jumping into with this Lab”. The two faculties each contribute their expertise and thus give the Lab a unique flavour. “TPM contributes knowledge about the development of AI methods to investigate behaviour and CITG contributes knowledge about transport systems, networks and data analysis. At EPFL, DTU and Stanford there are also AI labs that partly overlap with our research lab, but what makes the CiTyAI Lab unique is that we bring together AI and behavioural theory and apply it to the city”.
Difference CiTyAI Lab and TPM AI Lab
The CiTyAI Lab is different from the TPM AI Lab. “The latter has a more facilitating role, brings together researchers working with AI, develops an AI strategy for TPM, but does not conduct any research. The CiTyAI Lab will conduct its own research. Four PhD candidates will also be hired for five years. The extra year is being used to give a big boost to AI in education, ”says Van Cranenburgh.
“We want to create a Lab with a unique character with scientific impact and in which we collaborate with cities to achieve social impact. AI not only brings a lot of added value to the private sector, but can also be used more than is currently the case to create added value in public space. There is still plenty of opportunity. We are eager to contribute to this.
More information
Sander van Cranenburgh, Maarten Kroesen and Remco Verzijlbergh are involved in the CiTyAI Lab from the faculty of TPM. At CITG, Oded Cats, Simeon Calvert and Hans van Lint are active in the Lab.
