Advanced Information Systems Technology Program
Assessment of Urban Heat Island Risks, Impacts, and Resiliency Solutions
$50,000
March 22, 2024–March 21, 2026
Reginald Blake – Associate Provost and Dean of Curriculum and Research
Hamidreza Norouzi – Construction Management/Civil Engineering Department
New York City College of Technology is set to develop an urban heat island system designed to enable city residents to investigate the complex dynamics between heatwave risks and neighborhood-level hazards. This initiative will integrate satellite remote sensing data, ground measurements, socioeconomic intelligence, and urban system analytics. In line with NASA’s mission, our research project is committed to asking pivotal questions and seeking innovative solutions that foster complex problem-solving through agility and resilience. The primary aim of our research is to bolster emergency preparedness and extend its application across diverse urban neighborhoods and other municipalities. We plan to do this by crafting an information system to deepen our understanding of the urban heat island effect and its impacts on local urban environments – their climate hazards, residential areas, vital transportation networks, and public health. These components will be studied in the context of both present and anticipated future climate scenarios, as well as adaptive strategies. In our assessments, we will evaluate risks associated with individual safety and community livelihoods as neighborhood inhabitants take part in everyday activities—ranging from commuting and working to using green spaces within the complex, heterogeneous, and ever-evolving urban landscape.
NASA Minority University Research and Education Project Partnership Annual Notification (MUREP/MPLAN) /HeroX
Geocrete for fully deployable in-situ construction
08/15/2023–08/14/2025
$49,150
Akm Rahman – Mechanical Engineering Technology Department
One of the big challenge NASA is going to face in the space habitation program is the types and origins of materials and methods for sustainable construction under the extreme environment. This project is designed and proposed to address this challenge by non-traditional and time-saving construction method with locally resources raw-materials. This project will also utilize the opportunity of extreme upper-end thermal conditions on the Moon surface. As geo-polymerization process require significantly less amount of water, this project is aimed at developing a viscus-flow channel for contour construction. Simultaneously, dry sintering technique (Geo-sintering) is aimed at fabricating geopolymer blocks at various temperatures and pressure. Development of a Geo-sintered blocks through this project is aimed at deploying at the landing pad and base for contoured construction using additive manufacturing.
NASA Minority University Research and Education Project Partnership Annual Notification (MUREP/MPLAN)
Utilizing PEGDA for Sustainable Seed Growth: Microgreens in Space
7/01/2024–12/31/2024
$49,911
Ozlem Yasar – Mechanical Engineering Technology Department
Akm Rahman – Mechanical Engineering Technology Department
The objective of this research is to address the challenges of microgreen cultivation using minimum amount of water in space. Microgreen fragility, degradation speed, and limited water resources are substantial barriers for astronauts. In order to address these challenges, we aim to cultivate microgreens inside a hydrogel, a soilless medium, to minimize water usage. We propose using Polyethylene Glycol Diacrylate (PEGDA), a biocompatible polymer, to fabricate the hydrogel matrices that provide the required moist environment for microgreens. Hydrogels will be fabricated using photolithography. In the fabrication process, the microgreen seeds will be encapsulated within the hydrogel matrix. To help seeds to germinate within the hydrogels, the required nutrients will be provided internally through inbuilt 3D flow channels which will enable nutrient diffusion through the hydrogel to provide the best growth conditions. This research will be a collaborative work between two MSIs, CUNY and CSU, Chico. The investigators and students will conduct fundamental research to address NASA’s microgreen production challenges and enhance resource utilization in space habitation.