The Data Driven Environmental Solutions Group will be participating in the upcoming UN-Habitat III Conference in Quito, Ecuador, from October 17-21. Below are some highlights of our activities there. Please follow along on social media @datadrivenyale with #YaleUrban (once the conference starts).
Monday, October 17
Global Air Quality Perceptions
Time: 9:00 – 12:00
Location: Parque Julio Andrade
Throughout the conference, starting Monday, we will be speaking with members of the public and conference attendees about air quality. What better place to talk about air quality than an urban park?
Tuesday, October 18
Side Event: The Global Human Settlement Layer Framework. New, Open and Free Tools for Detailed Assessment of the Human Presence in the Planet, hosted by University of Pennsylvania Institute for Urban Research
Time: 11:00 – 12:00
Location: Main Conference Center R14
Researchers Ryan Thomas and Diego Manya will be presenting research on urban sustainability indicators. What indicators have been used to measure urban areas in the context of sustainability? What data gaps are revealed by analyzing urban indicators? How can we determine what is a good indicator?
A conceptual framework linking urban environmental sustainability and social inclusion
Time: 13:00-14:30
Location: Centro Cultural Benjamín Carrión
Following a brief introduction, by Data Driven Yale researchers Ryan Thomas and Diego Manya, the group will design a cross-cutting indicator that captures two of the three pillars of sustainability. The specific indicator will be determined by the expertise in the room to inform the forthcoming Urban Environmental Performance Index.
Wednesday, October 19
Global Air Quality Perceptions
Time: 9:00 – 12:00
Location: Parque Julio Andrade
We will be back in the park Wednesday to have more conversations about air quality perceptions around the world.
What our team will be following in Quito:
Ryan Thomas, Research Associate
“My work with Data Driven Yale has built on the research of other team members reviewing urban sustainability indicators. We have found that these indicators suffer from data gaps, lack scientific basis, and do not integrate the three pillars of sustainability. I will be attending events focused on urban governance, economic development, and sustainability in developing countries. I am interested in learning how other researchers and urban planners have either evaluated or successfully implemented projects that satisfy all three pillars of environmental, social, and economic sustainability.”
Area of expertise: performance evaluation; urban planning; technology
Diego Manya, 1st-year MEM candidate, Yale School of Forestry and Environmental Studies
“I’m focusing on the development of an urban environmental performance index using the city of Quito as a case study and with the objective to eventually expand it to other cities. I will be attending events focused on environmental policy development and evaluation, particularly those related to Latin America. I’m interested in how can this new index, and environmental data in general, can affect the policy design process and improve their outputs.”
Areas of expertise: solid waste management; performance management; urban indicators
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