Talks and Workshops

As a result of rapid population growth, which has displaced key agricultural resources as its urban area sprawls, and led to lacking or inadequate civil infrastructure systems (e.g., transportation, energy, communications, water supply, waste management systems) and resource bases (e.g., clean air and water, natural habitats) to support this population growth, the Atlanta Metropolitan Region (AMR) exemplifies some of the best and worst current development practices, similar in nature to those facing urban areas around the world. In response to the challenges it faces, the AMR has been implementing a diverse suite of efforts to address concerns of urban sprawl and its impact: smart growth initiatives, green buildings, sustainable design and development, and contaminated property redevelopment.

This workshop will present, interactively, practical lessons learned from a multi-disciplinary effort of the Center for Sustainable Urban Revitalization (CSUR) at Georgia Tech that uses the AMR as a living laboratory. CSUR integrates distinct areas of expertise in land-use planning, environmental science and engineering, sustainable design and construction, energy systems, legal and policy issues, and economic development into a unique, holistic program that facilitates the transfer of university-based knowledge, experience, and technologies to urban development stakeholders to promote sustainability principles. Through viable, intelligent and sustainable growth in the central urban core and surrounding suburban communities, while striving to preserve the natural environment, CSUR envisions a sustainable urban environment in which human and social capitals improve in richness and quality, while the quality and quantity of available natural capital is maintained and enhanced.