The Future City initiative at UCF is a group of researchers who have a vision to synergistically explore the wide-ranging technological advances towards better serving urban residents. The initiative is unique due to its interdisciplinary composition, strong team of reputed experts, access to rapid economic and population growth, and nexus of world-class simulation, space technology and tourism industries co-located in the Central Florida region.
With over 50% of the world’s population living in urban areas, cities need to be as effective and efficient as possible. The smartest cities will combine sensing, communications and management technologies to create urban environments that are adaptable, connected and monitored in real time. The successful application of these advanced technologies in cities requires skills and experience that a leading university like UCF can offer.
The initiative has led to the creation of the smart cities track within the Master of Science in Civil Engineering as well as the Master of Science in Travel Technology and Analytics. The group also hosts a successful seminar series, which can be viewed on YouTube.
Initiative Leads
Shaurya Agarwal, Ph.D.
Director, Future City Initiative
Associate Professor of CECE
Shaurya.Agarwal@ucf.edu
Mohamed Abdel Aty, Ph.D
Founding Director, Future City Initiative
Professor of CECE
m.aty@ucf.edu
Core Members
![Mohamed Abdel-Aty](https://www.cece.ucf.edu/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/Untitled-design-2024-03-27T194635.983.png)
Mohamed Abdel-Aty
Professor
Transportation Engineering
![](https://www.cece.ucf.edu/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/ShauryaAgarwal_August2018-e1732202314550.jpg)
Shaurya Agarwal
Associate Professor
Transportation Engineering
![Necati Catbas](https://www.cece.ucf.edu/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/Untitled-design-2023-12-13T120622.059.png)
Necati Catbas
Professor
Structural
Engineering
![Naveen Eluru](https://www.cece.ucf.edu/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/Untitled-design-2023-12-11T141607.139.png)
Naveen Eluru
Professor
Transportation Engineering
Affiliated Members
![Jiannen Chen](https://www.cece.ucf.edu/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/Untitled-design-2023-12-11T140855.296.png)
Jiannen Chen
Assistant Professor
Environmental Engineering
![](https://www.cece.ucf.edu/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/Enyioha.jpg)
Chinwendu Enyioha
Assistant Professor
Electrical and Computer Engineering
![Samiul Hasan](https://www.cece.ucf.edu/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/Untitled-design-2023-12-11T135817.867.png)
Samiul Hasan
Associate Professor
Transportation Engineering
![](https://www.cece.ucf.edu/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/ArthurHuang-cropped.jpg)
Arthur Huang
Associate Professor
Travel and
Tourism
![Knight](https://www.cece.ucf.edu/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/Untitled-design-18.png)
Woo Hyoung Lee
Associate Professor
Environmental Engineering
![](https://www.cece.ucf.edu/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/hs-MLi.jpg)
Meiqing Li
Assistant Professor
School of Public Administration
![](https://www.cece.ucf.edu/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/img_rawat.jpg)
Rogesh Rawat
Assistant Professor
Computer Science
![Patrick Sun](https://www.cece.ucf.edu/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/Untitled-design-2023-12-11T134434.496.png)
Patrick Sun
Associate Professor
Structural
Engineering
![Haofei Yu](https://www.cece.ucf.edu/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/Untitled-design-2023-12-11T102205.302.png)
Haofei Yu
Associate Professor
Environmental Engineering
![Knight](https://www.cece.ucf.edu/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/Untitled-design-18.png)
Weiwei Zhan
Assistant Professor
Geotechnical
Engineering
Degree Programs
Learn more about our degree program.