University news

A new research centre based at the University of Glasgow is setting out to develop the ‘cognitive’ cities of the future which will revolutionise urban life.
 
The Centre for Integrated Sensing and Communication Enabling Cognitive Cities, or ISAC³, aims to harness the vast amounts of data which will be gathered by 6G communications technologies to create cities which are healthier, safer and more sustainable for residents.
 
Unlike the current generation of smart cities, which provide real-time data on city systems, cognitive cities will harness the power of AI to analyse data collected by advanced sensors placed around cities, as well as through peoples’ mobile devices, to enable city systems to become predictive rather than reactive.
 
The data gathered and processed by cognitive city systems will give urban spaces a level of sensory ability akin to a living organism, where sensing, communications and action can all act in parallel to respond to problems.
 
New digital technologies driven by complex algorithms will help city decisionmakers identify and prevent common urban problems like gridlock, poor air quality, or failing infrastructure before they happen.
 
Meanwhile, data gathered by next-generation mobile devices about their users’ wellbeing could help identify the early stages of serious health problems and direct them towards medical assistance to prevent worsening of their condition.

https://youtu.be/wHvnE4siK6Y
 
ISAC³ unites the University’s experts in engineering, computing science, cybersecurity, public health, innovation, business, social science and urban planning under a single banner.
 
They will work with industry and academic partners, local and national governments and civic partners to establish a roadmap for the development of cognitive cities and develop research projects which can be translated into real-world applications.
Professor Qammer H. Abbasi, Founding Director of ISAC³ and Professor at the University of Glasgow’s James Watt School of Engineering, brings extensive experience in next-generation communications, integrated sensing and interdisciplinary research and policy leadership.
 
He said: “Cities around the world are facing a series of challenges, including population growth, the effects of climate change, cybersecurity threats, and the urgent need for decarbonisation. 
 
“Next-generation technologies like real-time data collection, advanced communications, quantum-secured infrastructure, Cyber physical systems and artificial intelligence-driven analytics will provide the tools required to turn urban spaces into cognitive cities.
 
“The University of Glasgow has expertise in all of these areas, and bringing together those researchers under the banner of ISAC³ will help to encourage groundbreaking new interdisciplinary collaborations.
 
“The aims of ISAC³ align closely with UK and Scottish Government priorities in future communications, AI, semiconductor.  quantum technologies, and net zero goals, and will help position Glasgow at the forefront of next-generation urban technology development.”
 
Professor Frances Mair, head of the University of Glasgow’s School of Health & Wellbeing, is one of ISAC³’s leading collaborators. She said: “Cities are becoming more digital, but health and wellbeing services are often among the last to take advantage of the benefits of technological advances. ISAC³ will help to put these services into the heart of city planning and bring technologists and health experts together in a way that finally moves us beyond simply reacting to illness.
 
“Instead, we can use real-time information to spot early signs of risk, support people before problems escalate, and make it easier to access services. In the future, we could see ISAC technology quietly working in the background to keep communities healthier, safer, and more supported.”
 
Nuran Acur, Professor of Innovation Management at the University of Glasgow’s Adam Smith Business School, is playing a key role in ISAC³. She said: One of the Centre’s major strengths is that we bring together researchers, industry, public services, and society through a responsible innovation and quadruple helix approach, where ideas are driven by societal, policy, and organisational needs and co-created with those who will ultimately use and be affected by them.
 
“By collaborating so early in development, we co-create technologies that are practical, cost-efficient, socially responsible, and ready to be deployed at the scale cities, organisations, and communities actually need.”
 
Professor Muhammad Imran, Head of the James Watt School of Engineering at the University of Glasgow, said: “We are delighted to host ISAC³ within the James Watt School of Engineering; the Centre reflects the strength of its leadership and interdisciplinary team, and exemplifies our commitment to world-leading research with real societal impact.”
 
In the Centre’s first year, researchers will host workshops and webinars bringing together international leaders in integrated sensing, communication and computing to develop a deployment roadmap for prototype technologies. A key focus for the roadmap will be balancing the development of innovative systems with robust protection for the data collected from city sensors and mobile devices.
 
The Centre’s researchers will use the University's campus as a testbed to put those prototypes through their paces, in partnership with industry partner including BT, Virgin Media O2, Ericsson, Interdigital and Neutral Wireless Ltd.
 
Mallik Tatipamula, CTO of Ericsson Silicon Valley, said: “Cities worldwide are facing shared pressures, from climate volatility and sustainable mobility to public safety and seamless connectivity. The cities that succeed will be those that can sense, interpret, and respond to their environments in real time.
 
“The work being led by ISAC³ in Glasgow has the potential to shape how cities evolve globally. By advancing integrated sensing, computing and communication, the Centre is moving us beyond connected cities towards truly cognitive urban systems that can scale internationally and redefine how future societies function.”
 
The Centre will also collaborate with academic partners institutions globally and locally including the Universities of Manchester, Leicester and Strathclyde, Queen Mary University of London, Kings College London and Imperial College London. 

First published: 9 February 2026