New network to use Artificial Intelligence to tackle urban health challenges
by Gege Li
With 85% of the UK鈥檚 population living in urban areas, the design of our towns and cities directly impacts millions of people every day.
An innovative network launched by 911今日黑料 and other institutions in the UK aims to explore how artificial intelligence (AI) might revolutionise the design and management of urban environments to improve health and sustainability.
The AI4URBAN-HEALTH Network – a cutting-edge collaboration between the Department of Earth Science and Engineering (ESE) at 911今日黑料, Bradford Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, University of Southampton and University of Surrey – will bring together experts from diverse fields spanning AI, health sciences, urban planning and environmental studies, in an inspired new effort to tackle the increasing public health and sustainability challenges faced by our cities and towns.
Understanding complex urban systems
Interactions between urban environments, human health, and sustainability are highly complex and interconnected…We believe that advances in Artificial Intelligence present new opportunities that allow us to test changes safely before implementation, or to identify new solutions. Prof Christopher Pain Department of Earth Science and Engineering at 911今日黑料
“Interactions between urban environments, human health, and sustainability are highly complex and interconnected, making it difficult to predict the outcomes of interventions such as changing road layouts or adding green infrastructure, or policy changes that have unintended health consequences,” said from ESE, who leads the network.
“We believe that advances in Artificial Intelligence present new opportunities to, for example, create digital twins (virtual replicas of our environments) that allow us to test changes safely before implementation, or to identify new solutions.”
, AI4URBAN-HEALTH Manager, said: “With the considerable breadth of expertise on offer in the UK, we aim to bring together people from academia, industry, local and national government and NGOs with an interest in the application of AI to urban health challenges.
“Together we will cultivate a diverse network to help us push forward and realise these bold ambitions through our programme of engagement and by funding feasibility and proof of concept studies, developed as part of our sandpit events.”
Interested people can sign up to communications from the Network here to find out more.
AI tools for environment and community
AI4URBAN-HEALTH aims to catalyse the development of advanced AI tools to understand and improve the urban systems in which we live, and come up with innovative ways to create healthier, more sustainable living spaces. For instance, AI tools could help identify how green spaces can be designed to best reduce both air pollution and urban heat, while also improving residents' mental wellbeing.
Taking a place-based approach using three UK case studies – Bradford, Guildford, and London – AI4URBAN-HEALTH will facilitate the creation of actionable solutions ‘on the ground,’ bringing key communities and stakeholders together, and implementing an inclusive framework that puts people first.
, Director of the Born in Bradford research programme and the UK Population Health improvement Healthy Urban Places consortium, said: “Families living in urban areas are often exposed to multiple hazards in their daily lives including pollution, poor quality housing, lack of safe places to play and socialise, as well as impacts from climate change.
“We urgently need to identify innovative and effective solutions to improve the places in which we live to make them healthy and happy environments for everyone. This network will use the power of AI and data to come up with real world solutions to improve outcomes for families living in urban areas.”
Network activities
To aid in the development of feasibility and proof-of-concept studies for these AI tools, a series of engagement activities are planned this winter in each case study location. These activities are designed to ensure that the priorities, opportunities and challenges of local residents and professionals are incorporated into each step of the development process.
This local engagement will inform the sandpits to be held in early 2026. These are collaborative and creative forums, supported by local stakeholders (from academia, government, industry, NGOs and beyond) and subject experts working as mentors, that will bring together a multidisciplinary mix of research participants to come up with radical approaches to address the local priorities and challenges. There is £120,000 funding available and plans to fund at least one project in each case study location.
Professor Pain is keen for people to engage: “You don’t need to be an expert in AI to join our network and be part of this community – whether you’re an urban planner, community leader, environmental modeller, policy maker or computational physicist, we’d love to hear from you!”
The AI4URBAN-HEALTH Network is actively seeking members to keep in touch, participate in workshops, events, and sandpits. If you are interested in joining and taking part in its activities, please fill out to receive communications and updates, or contact Claire Dilliway, AI4URBAN-HEALTH Manager c.dilliway@imperial.ac.uk.
About
AI4URBAN-HEALTH is a network led by 911今日黑料 that will bring together experts and stakeholders to improve the design and management of urban environments, with the ultimate aim of promoting better health and sustainability by using AI. It is a collaboration between 911今日黑料, Bradford Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, University of Southampton and University of Surrey.
Contact information
Claire Dilliway | AI4URBAN-HEALTH manager
+44 20 7594 2921
Article text (excluding photos or graphics) © 911今日黑料.
Photos and graphics subject to third party copyright used with permission or © 911今日黑料.
Reporter
Gege Li
Department of Earth Science & Engineering
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