Introduction

The world is urbanizing at a very fast rate. In the EU, 75% of the population currently lives in cities, and in the Netherlands, this percentage is even higher at 92%.

Cities play a pivotal role in achieving climate neutrality by 2050, the goal of the European Green Deal. Therefore, the EU has a mission to deliver 100 climate-neutral and smart cities by 2030 (European Commission, 2021).

About the research group

On 28 April 2022, the European Commission announced the 100 cities participating in the EU Smart Cities Mission, including The Hague, Rotterdam, Amsterdam, Utrecht, Groningen, Eindhoven and Helmond in the Netherlands.

The research group Future Urban Systems develops and valorizes practical knowledge and proven solutions for local authorities and companies through applied research and education. The research group enhances and demonstrates ways to accelerate energy transition, climate adaptation and circular economy in neighbourhoods and urban areas by harnessing the power of data analytics and digital transformation.

Researchers, lecturers and students are the driving force of the research group Future Urban Systems. They work together to realize impacts through inclusive approaches for the adoption of sustainable energy systems for cities, nature-inspired design strategies for resilient cities in climate change, and evidence-based methods for emission-neutral buildings, civil infrastructures and areas in the cities.

dr. Rizal Sebastian

About the professor

Dr. Rizal Sebastian

Rizal Sebastian studied architecture and building technology in Bandung (Indonesia) and earned a master’s degree in construction management in London (UK). In 2007, he obtained his PhD at the TU Delft with a dissertation on managing collaborative design. He has acquired knowledge, experience, and an international network in developing and applying digital technologies for the improvement of construction quality and processes. In the past 23 years, he has combined research and practice. Until recently, he was scientific lead for digitalisation in construction and infrastructure, and manager of European research projects at TNO. Prior to this, he worked as a building engineer, project manager, and advisor at a large engineering firm, and as R&D director at an ICT company. In his free time, he can be found on a tennis court, or playing on his guitar. And when Formula 1 is on, he is glued to the television.

Rizal is curious by nature and is energised by collaboration within national and international innovation programmes. He, therefore, plans to actively seek out collaboration with other research groups, centres of expertise and universities, and to strengthen the coherence between research and the education programmes in the Built Environment. Together we can make a greater impact, after all. Knowledge that is acquired within the research group will make its way to the industry, through the lecturers and students.

For Rizal, this starting period focuses on the formulating of a common research vision, and he would like to involve as many people as possible in that endeavour. He consolidates every contributed idea into a framework in order to be able to place ‘the egg of FUS’ on the table, when the time is right. Do you want to exchange ideas about the (future of the) built environment with him? Send a message via LinkedIn, send an email to r.sebastian@hhs.nl, or find Rizal in person.

Publicaties: ResearchGate en ORCID
r.sebastian@hhs.nl

LinkedIn profiel

A city is not a city without the people. You can’t separate the built environment from the social environment. A city is both.

Team

dr. Rizal Sebastian

Dr. Rizal Sebastian

Lector Future Urban Systems

Dr. Rizal Sebastian
Lector Future Urban Systems
Go to Dr. Rizal Sebastian
Lucas Mastenbroek

Lucas Mastenbroek Msc.

Management Assistant

Lucas Mastenbroek Msc.
Management Assistant

Lucas plays a role in the development of prototypes for Digital Experience Centers to promote digitization within the built environment.

Go to Lucas Mastenbroek Msc.
Cees Verweij

Cees Verweij

Cees Verweij

Cees is a lecturer of the built environment programmes. Within FUS, he is the explorer of new ideas and he helps link education and research.

Publications: ResearchGate

c.verweij@hhs.nl

 

 

Go to Cees Verweij
Jacco Bruil

Jacco Bruil

Jacco Bruil

Jacco is a teacher in construction technology. His research regards climate adaptation solutions to heat stress, rising water levels and urban heat islands.

Go to Jacco Bruil
Fred Zoller

Fred Zoller

Fred Zoller

Fred contributes to the development of the new approach to energy transitions at the neighbourhood level with the direct involvement of residents.

f.c.m.zoller@hhs.nl

Go to Fred Zoller
Helen van Broekhuijsen

Helen van Broekhuijsen

Helen van Broekhuijsen

She has knowledge and experience in structural engineering, restoration and renovation. At FUS, she conducts research on circular transformations.

Go to Helen van Broekhuijsen
Maikel Maloncy

Dr. Maikel Maloncy

Dr. Maikel Maloncy

Maikel’s research topic in the Future Urban Systems Research group is on improving Water management in Developing Countries: Case study Accra, Ghana.

Go to Dr. Maikel Maloncy
Atasi Bhattacharjee

Atasi Bhattacharjee

Atasi Bhattacharjee

Her research offers environment-friendly digital solutions for the development of a regenerative community incorporating energy and resource efficiency. 

Go to Atasi Bhattacharjee
Noelle Choong

Noelle Choong

Noelle Choong

Noelle contributes to the development of a prototype for a Digital Experience Center to promote digitization in the built environment.

nbychoong@hhs.nl

Go to Noelle Choong
Sabine Eijlander

Sabine Eijlander

Sabine Eijlander

Sabine supervises students in the project Loswal 'De bonnen’ and is responsible for the Summer School module 'Sustainable cities'.

Publications: ResearchGate

s.l.eijlander@hhs.nl

Go to Sabine Eijlander
Laura Stevens

Dr. ir. Laura Lee Stevens

University Lecturer THUAS

Dr. ir. Laura Lee Stevens
University Lecturer THUAS

Laura works on combining education with research to internalize the learning and application of strategies in nature to design solutions for the built environment.

Go to Dr. ir. Laura Lee Stevens

Projects

Energy transition LV

Like all Dutch municipalities, Leidschendam-Voorburg has the task of letting go of the gas grid. Knowledge center Mission Zero was asked to help think about the realization of this issue from multiple perspectives.
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NEWRAIL

The Dutch municipality of Horst on the Maas and ProRail are keen to stimulate the generation of renewable energy. As partners in NEWRAIL (Noise Energy Wall Rail America in Limburg), they are testing innovations that will deliver high energy yields.
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Publications

Rapport

Developing a standardised approach of Asset Lifecycle Information Modelling for Semantic Digital Twins in the built environment

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News

5 June 2023

Building smart, inclusive cities with Dr Rizal Sebastian

Research

When it comes to sustainability, an area where we can make a significant impact is the urban environment, according to…
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29 March 2023

Head of research group Dr Rizal Sebastian focuses on sustainable, liveable cities

Research

It should be a reality in less than 10 years. Then we will live in climate-neutral cities that run on renewable energy…
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7 March 2023

The Hague University of Applied Science proud partner cooperation 4TU.Bouw

Research

For the theme 'digitization in the built environment' The Hague University of Applied Sciences has become a…
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