Baguio City Engineering Research Agenda for Climate Action

To position Baguio’s engineering schools as leaders in addressing climate challenges and sustainable urban development, aligned with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and in collaboration with the city government.

Key Research Themes

1. Climate Resilient Urban Infrastructure

   • Focus: Developing infrastructure designs resistant to floods, landslides, and extreme weather events.

   • SDG Alignment: SDG 9 (Industry, Innovation, and Infrastructure), SDG 11 (Sustainable Cities and Communities).

   • Activities:

     • Modeling urban drainage systems under increased precipitation scenarios​.

     • Design prototypes for flood and landslide-resistant housing in vulnerable zones.

2. Renewable Energy and Climate Finance

   • Focus: Renewable energy systems and financing mechanisms for urban resilience.

   • SDG Alignment: SDG 7 (Affordable and Clean Energy), SDG 13 (Climate Action).

   • Activities:

     • Research on cost-effective solar systems for municipal buildings​.

     • Exploring climate finance instruments to fund renewable projects.

3. Smart Urban Systems

   • Focus: Integrating IoT and AI for urban planning and disaster risk reduction.

   • SDG Alignment: SDG 11 (Sustainable Cities and Communities), SDG 17 (Partnerships for the Goals).

   • Activities:

     • Develop AI-based early warning systems for landslides and floods.

     • Pilot IoT networks for real-time monitoring of urban heat islands​.

4. Water Resource Management

   • Focus: Ensuring sustainable water supply and management amidst changing precipitation patterns.

   • SDG Alignment: SDG 6 (Clean Water and Sanitation), SDG 13 (Climate Action).

   • Activities:

     • Research on water recycling technologies for urban households.

     • Develop strategies for rainwater harvesting in schools and city buildings.

5. Urban Heat Island Mitigation

   • Focus: Strategies to reduce urban heat through green engineering solutions.

   • SDG Alignment: SDG 11 (Sustainable Cities and Communities), SDG 13 (Climate Action).

   • Activities:

     • Assess the feasibility of urban green roofs and walls​.

     • Analyze the impact of vegetation restoration on city temperatures.

6. Sustainable Tourism Infrastructure

   • Focus: Engineering solutions for environmentally sustainable tourism.

   • SDG Alignment: SDG 12 (Responsible Consumption and Production), SDG 8 (Decent Work and Economic Growth).

   • Activities:

     • Eco-friendly accommodations and transport solutions for Baguio’s tourist influx​.

Interdisciplinary Collaboration and Co-creation Activities

1. City Government Partnerships

   • Establish annual workshops to align research projects with the city's climate resilience goals.

   • Co-develop funding proposals for green engineering projects.

2. Community-Engaged Research

   • Pilot community-driven urban resilience solutions in partnership with local stakeholders.

   • Include indigenous knowledge in sustainable design practices​.

3. Education and Public Awareness

   • Host public forums and seminars on climate-resilient engineering solutions.

   • Incorporate climate education modules in university curricula.

4. Data Sharing Platforms

   • Develop a shared data repository on climate risks and resilience metrics​.

   • Use GIS-based mapping tools to visualize flood and landslide-prone areas​.

5. International Collaboration

   • Partner with global institutions for knowledge exchange and joint research.

   • Engage in regional initiatives under Southeast Asian frameworks like CORDEX​.

Anticipated Outcomes by 2035

• Development of cost-effective, scalable engineering solutions to mitigate Baguio’s climate risks.

• Strengthened university-industry-government collaboration for urban resilience.

• Enhanced contribution to national and global SDG targets through focused local action.