Welcome to CS3 Innovation Summit-24
Join us for conversations around advancing community-driven, hyperlocal smart city technology. We will bring together government, academic, community, and industry experts to discuss technical innovations and policy considerations for implementing smart streetscapes.
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Agenda
Explore the future of smart city technology with thought-provoking sessions, a student pitch competition, and the Accelerator Demo Day.
This is an invitation-only event. Contact us at streetscapes@columbia.edu to find out more.
Check-In & Breakfast (8:00 AM - 9:00 AM)
Welcome by Center Director (9:00 AM - 9:15 AM)
Keynote Address and “Fireside Chat” (9:15 AM - 10:00 AM)
Hear from Jumbi Edulbehram about harnessing AI in smart streetscape technology, followed by a conversation about the future of AI in CS3 applications with CS3 Applications Research Lead Jorge Ortiz.
Panel: Privacy & Security in Smart Streetscape Technology (10:00 AM - 10:45 AM)
Rachel Cummings, Data Privacy Researcher at Columbia University and Sal Stolfo, Machine Learning & Security Researcher at Columbia University, will discuss translating data privacy and security research into accepted standards and policy with Kenji Yoshihira, Director of US Ecosystem Innovation at NEC Laboratories America, Inc and Ruben Beltran, Chief of Information Technology, NYPD.
Break (10:45 AM - 11:00 AM)
Student Pitch Session 1 (11:05 AM - 11:25 AM)
State-of-the-Art Lightning Talks: Applications, Computer Vision, Digital Twins, & Testbed Infrastructure (11:25 AM - 12:25 PM)
Smart streetscape applications with Brian Smith, Director of the Computer-Enabled Abilities Laboratory (CEAL) at Columbia University; Computer vision with Carl Vondrick, Computer Vision and Machine Learning Researcher at Columbia University; Digital twins with Sharon Di, Travel Behavior & Transportation Systems Researcher at Columbia University; and testbed infrastructure from Jason Hallstrom, CS3 Deputy Director and Chief Research Officer at Florida Atlantic University.
Lunch Break & Student Research Poster Session (12:25 PM - 1:25 PM)
Accelerator Demo Day (1:25 PM - 2:55 PM)
Break (2:55 PM - 3:15 PM)
Student Pitch Session 2 (3:15 PM - 3:35 PM)
Panel Discussion: How Urban Testbeds Drive Innovation (3:35 PM - 4:20 PM)
CS3 Director & Principal Investigator, Andrew Smyth, will discuss urban testbeds as drivers for community engagement and co-design with Barbara Askins, President & CEO of 125th Street Business Improvement District in Upper Manhattan (Harlem), New York City, Christopher Roog, Executive Director of the Community Redevelopment Agency for the City of West Palm Beach, Florida, Paul Rothman Director, Smart Cities + IoT @ NYC Office of Technology and Innovation and William Kenworthey, Principal & Regional Leader of Planning & Urban Design, HOK.
Closing Remarks (4:20 PM - 4:40 PM)
Industry Advisory Board Reception & Meeting (5:00 PM)
CS3 Industry Advisory Board members will receive a separate invitation
Speakers
Jumbi Edulbehram, PhD
Global Business Development, Smart Cities & Spaces, NVIDIA
Jumbi Edulbehram oversees global business development for Smart Cities and Spaces at NVIDIA, where he is responsible for driving the adoption of AI solutions for spatial intelligence. Throughout his career, Jumbi has been on the forefront of technological advancements for enhancing safety and operational efficiency in our cities and large public spaces such as airports, seaports and stadiums. At NVIDIA he works with a large ecosystem of partners that provide a broad range of applications for instrumenting smarter cities and spaces. Jumbi is passionate about helping cities address efficiency, equity and sustainability by capitalizing on transformational AI technologies.
Sal Stolfo
Computer Scientist, Machine Learning & Security, Columbia University
Stolfo is regarded as creating the area of machine learning applied to intrusion detection and has created several anomaly-detection algorithms and systems addressing some of the hardest problems in securing computer systems. Of particular note is his interest in detecting zero-day attacks and credential theft. Stolfo is also co-inventor of a novel technology that automatically injects intrusion detection functionality into arbitrary special-purpose embedded devices. Stolfo has been granted over 109 patents. He is a Fellow of the IEEE and ACM. Stolfo received a BS in Computational Information Sciences from Brooklyn College, CUNY, in 1975 and a PhD in Computer Science from Courant Institute, New York University, in 1979.
Rachel Cummings
Data Privacy, Industrial Engineering & Operations Researcher, Columbia University
Dr. Rachel Cummings is an Associate Professor of Industrial Engineering and Operations Research and (by courtesy) Computer Science at Columbia University, where she is also a member of the Data Science Institute and co-chairs the Cybersecurity Research Center. She is also a Fellow at the Center for Democracy & Technology. Before joining Columbia, she was an Assistant Professor of Industrial and Systems Engineering and (by courtesy) Computer Science at the Georgia Institute of Technology. Her research interests lie primarily in data privacy, with connections to machine learning, algorithmic economics, optimization, statistics, and public policy.
Paul Rothman
Director, Smart Cities + IoT @ NYC Office of Technology and Innovation
As Director of Smart Cities + IoT within the New York City Office of Technology and Innovation, Paul Rothman provides technical leadership and coordination for the development and integration of technologies, systems, and policies for the continuous modernization of IoT technology and related civic issues to meet the public’s evolving needs. In addition, Paul works with agencies, academic institutions, and communities to pilot and evaluate innovative technologies and concepts to address City challenges. Paul is a graduate of New York University with a bachelor’s degree in music technology and a master’s degree from the Interactive Telecommunications Program (ITP), where he was previously an adjunct instructor.
Andrew Smyth
CS3 Director & Principal Investigator, Columbia University
Andrew Smyth specializes in infrastructure monitoring, using sensor information to determine the condition and performance of critical infrastructure. Recently, his interest in sensor network monitoring expanded to include large fleets of vehicles in urban environments. Smyth is the Director & Principal Investigator for the Center for Smart Streetscapes at Columbia University and the co-chair of the Smart Cities Center at Columbia University's Data Science Institute. Smyth's research interests include the development of data fusion and system identification algorithms to derive maximum information from large heterogeneous sensor networks monitoring dynamical systems, nonlinear system dynamical modeling and simulation, and natural hazards risk assessment.
Christopher Roog
Executive Director Community Redevelopment Agency, West Palm Beach, Florida
Christopher Roog is the Executive Director of the Community Redevelopment Agency for the City of West Palm Beach. Chris was promoted in 2020 after successfully managing economic development efforts. Chris began his career with the local Home Builders Association. He was promoted to Executive Director of the association in 2010 and remained there until 2012. In the Fall of 2012, Chris joined the City of West Palm Beach. He has a degree in Political Science from FAU, is a graduate of ULI Southeast Leadership Institute Class 2019, and is a Certified Economic Developer by the IEDC.
Jason Hallstrom
CS3 Deputy Director & Chief Research Officer, Florida Atlantic University
Dr. Jason O. Hallstrom is the Founding Executive Director of Florida Atlantic University's Institute for Sensing and Embedded Network Systems Engineering (I-SENSE) and is a Professor in the Department of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science. He holds a B.S. in Systems Analysis, an M.A in Economics, and M.S. and Ph.D. degrees in Computer and Information Science. His work involves the design, deployment, and management of large-scale sensing infrastructure, with an emphasis on hardware/software co-design issues. His work has been supported through NSF, DOE, EPA, USDA, USACE, NASA, NOAA (via CCU), the Knight Foundation, the City of West Palm Beach, and other foundations and partners. He serves as Deputy Director and Chief Research Officer for CS3.
sharon Di
Travel Behavior & Transportation Systems Researcher, Columbia University
Dr. Xuan (Sharon) Di is an Associate Professor in the Department of Civil Engineering and Engineering Mechanics at Columbia University in the City of New York, and serves on a committee for the Smart Cities Center in the Data Science Institute. Dr. Di directs the DitecT (Data and innovative technology-driven Transportation) Lab, focusing on transportation systems. Her overarching research mission is to empower mobility for all, emphasizing the use of technology for social good. She is currently focused on pioneering the development of digital twins for urban transportation management, leveraging cyber-physical systems technology. Within this framework, her research spans diverse areas, including autonomous vehicle control on shared roads with humans, multi-modal mobility optimization, and the intersection of transportation with health considerations.
Kenji Yoshihira
Director, US Ecosystem Innovation, NEC Laboratories America, Inc.
Kenji Yoshihira excels in creating innovative, customer-focused solutions using research technologies to address complex issues in diverse sectors. His methodology combines problem identification with strategic planning, leveraging extensive experience from startups to global corporations. With 15+ years in data science, specializing in applied machine learning, his expertise is crucial for effective problem-solving. Yoshihira, the Director at NEC Laboratories America, enhances partnerships and the ecosystem around the industrial research center. His academic achievements include around 60 co- authored papers, over 40 patents, and ten independently authored books. Holding an M.S. in Computer Science from NYU and a B.S. in Electrical Engineering from the University of Tokyo, he also contributes as an Industry Advisory Board member at NJIT& 39;s Institute of Data Science, underscoring his commitment to bridging industry and academia.
Barbara Askins
CS3 Senior Advisor; President & CEO, 125th Street Business Improvement District, Upper Manhattan (Harlem), New York City
Barbara Askins serves as President and CEO of the 125th Street Business Improvement District in Upper Manhattan (Harlem) in New York City. Her fields of specialization include Economic Development, Workforce Development and Community Building, Nonprofit and Grassroots Organizing, Urban Planning, Government, and Media Relations. She has done extensive work as a public involvement specialist throughout her career, spearheading countless improvement projects, including projects centered on transportation, environmental and facility planning, among others. Ms. Askins’ work has expanded across several cities that included reconstruction of highways and city streets, upgrading rail and bus systems, improving sewage-treatment facilities, and developing creative public spaces, sports and conventions centers.
Ruben Beltran
Chief of Information Technology , NYPD
Chief of Information Technology Ruben Beltran joined the New York City Housing Police Department in January 9, 1986, and began his career on patrol assigned to the Police Service Area #3 in Northern Brooklyn. He was promoted to Sergeant in May 1993; Lieutenant in May 1997; Captain in March 2000; Deputy Inspector in June 2003; Inspector in November 2005; Deputy Chief in December 2008; Assistant Chief in December of 2014, and Chief of Information Technology in January of 2023. Chief Beltran holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Computer Information Systems from John Jay College of Criminal Justice, is a 2004 graduate of the Police Management Institute at Columbia University and a 2014 graduate of the Harvard Kennedy School of Business Program for Senior Executives in State and Local Government.
william kenworthey
Principal & Regional Leader, Planning & Urban Design, HOK
Based in HOK’s New York studio, Bill leads HOK’s planning and urban design projects across the Northeast. An urban designer and registered architect, he has more than 20 years of experience working with government agencies, private developers, major universities and Fortune 500 companies. Bill has a particular interest in the long-term resiliency of coastal cities and frequently presents at university and industry events about urban waterfront design. Following Superstorm Sandy, Bill worked on the community planning team for the New York City Mayor’s Office Special Initiative for Rebuilding and Resiliency. Early in his career he served as an associate urban designer for the Department of City Planning.
Brian Smith
Computer-Enabled Abilities Laboratory (CEAL) Director, Columbia University
Brian A. Smith is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Computer Science, where he directs the Computer-Enabled Abilities Laboratory (CEAL). His research goal is to understand how computers can help people perceive and interact with the world around them. His research approach is interdisciplinary and incorporates AI, accessibility, computer vision, game design, and social computing. Professor Smith received his B.S., M.S., M.Phil., and Ph.D. degrees in Computer Science from Columbia University. He now teaches User Interface Design and a seminar on Human–Computer Interaction.
Jorge Ortiz
CS3 Applications Research Lead, Rutgers University
Dr. Jorge Ortiz is an Assistant Professor of Electrical and Computer Engineering at Rutgers University and serves as the CS3 Applications Research Lead. His expertise lies in Sensing Systems, Interaction, and Multimodal Learning. Prior to his role at Rutgers, Dr. Ortiz was a research staff member at IBM Research, where he attained over a dozen patents in Machine Learning-based IoT Systems. He earned his Ph.D. in Computer Science from UC Berkeley and his B.S. in Computer Science and Engineering from MIT.
Carl Vondrick
computer vision & machine learning Researcher, Columbia University
Carl Vondrick is the YM Associate Professor of Computer Science at Columbia University. Previously, he was a Research Scientist at Google, and he received his PhD from MIT. His research interests are in computer vision, machine learning, and their applications. He is the recipient of the NSF CAREER award, and his research is supported by the NSF, DARPA, Amazon, Google, and Toyota. For more information, please visit his website at https://www.cs.columbia.edu/~vondrick/.
Student Presenters
Abhishek Adhikari, PhD Student, Columbia University
CS3 Perfect Pitch Competition & CS3 Student Poster Session
Abhishek Adhikari received the B.S. degree in computer engineering (Magna Cum Laude) from Drexel University in 2021. He is currently an M.S./Ph.D. student in the Department of Electrical Engineering at Columbia University. His research is on wireless communication and sensing. Abhishek was the recipient of the Evergreen Fellowship in 2021.
J. Abigail Joseph, Undergraduate Student, FAU
CS3 Student Poster Session
Abigail Joseph is a third-year Data Science and Analytics student with a minor in Artificial Intelligence at Florida Atlantic University. Under Dr. Jinwoo Jang, she participated in the National Science Foundation’s REU program in Sensing and Smart Systems in 2023. She is actively involved with this research project as part of FAU’s I-SENSE division of research, and has presented her work at the Florida Undergraduate Research Conference.
Alon S. Levin, PhD Student Columbia University
CS3 Perfect Pitch Competition & CS3 Student Poster Session
Alon S. Levin received a B.Eng. in Electrical Engineering (magna cum laude) in 2020 and a M.Eng. in Electrical Engineering in 2021, both from The Cooper Union. His research interests are in full-duplex wireless, compressed sensing, PHY layer algorithms, and cognitive radio.
Mahshid Ghasemi, Phd Student, Columbia University
CS3 Perfect Pitch Competition & CS3 Student Poster Session
Mahshid is a PhD student at Columbia University, Department of Electrical Engineering. She received her B.Sc. from Sharif University of Technology in Electrical Engineering and a minor in Computer Science. At Columbia, she focuses on low-latency video analytics in large scale and their performance optimization in dynamic environments.
Taqiya Ehsan, PhD Student, Rutgers University
CS3 Student Poster Session
Taqiya is a first-year PhD student in ECE at Rutgers University, advised by Jorge Ortiz. Her doctoral studies explore the intersections of Machine Learning, Computer Vision, and Multimodal Learning to develop technologies for smart spaces that are socially aware and seamlessly integrate with the organic flow of human life. She's currently involved in research at NSF's Center for Smart Streetscapes (CS3) and in the development of a Brain Behavior Quantification and Synchronization for Context-Aware Multimodal Ecological Research and Assessment (BBQS-CAMERA) Platform funded by NIH.
Georgios Ierotheos Orfanidis, PhD Student, FAU
CS3 Student Poster Session
Georgios Ierotheos Orfanidis received his Bachelor's degree in Computer Science with a minor in Mathematics from Winthrop University in 2021. He was recognized as the single best Computer Science graduate. Since August 2021, Georgios has been a Computer Science Ph.D. student in the EECS department at Florida Atlantic University and a research assistant at the FAU Center for Connected Autonomy and Artificial Intelligence.
Caspar Lant, PhD Student, Columbia University
CS3 Perfect Pitch Competition & CS3 Student Poster Session
Caspar Lant is a Computer Science PhD Student at Columbia. Caspar is interested in how we can better understand and optimize cities using distributed sensing and machine learning methods. Before joining Columbia, Caspar was a Fulbright fellow to Taiwan and studied physics at NYU.
Siyuan Tang, PhD Student, FAU
CS3 Perfect Pitch Competition & CS3 Student Poster Session
Siyuan Tang is currently a master's student under Dr. Aty's UCFSST team. Her main interest lies in utilizing computer vision techniques to enhance various aspects of the transportation sector. With a deep passion for applying innovative technology to real-world challenges, Siyuan is dedicated to improving the efficiency, safety, and sustainability of transportation systems. Through her academic and research endeavors, Siyuan is eager to contribute significantly to the field, exploring new ways to integrate computer vision into transportation to make it smarter and more responsive to today's needs.
Navid Salami Pargoo, PhD Student, Rutgers University
CS3 Perfect Pitch Competition
Navid is a PhD student in Computer Engineering at Rutgers University, supervised by Dr. Jorge Ortiz. His research focuses on Deep Learning, Multimodal Learning, and Multimodal Large Language Models, exploring novel ways to interpret and understand complex, multi-source data. His work enhance sensemaking capabilities, finding applications in smart environments, smart cities, and advanced driver assistance systems. Through his work, he aims to unlock new possibilities in multimodal data integration and analysis, enhancing how we perceive and interact with our data-driven world.
Sonia Moshfeghi, PhD Student, FAU
CS3 Perfect Pitch Competition & CS3 Student Poster Session
Sonia is a Ph.D. candidate in Transportation Engineering at Florida Atlantic University, where she conducts research on data analytics, fleet management, and in-vehicle sensing at the Institute for Sensing and Embedded Network Systems Engineering (I-SENSE).
Diego Benalcazar, PhD Student, UCF
CS3 Student Poster Session
Diego was born and raised in Quito, Ecuador. There, he received a B.S. in Electrical Engineering. He is now doing his Ph.D. in Electrical Engineering at the University of Central Florida under the supervision of Dr. Chinwendu Enyioha.
Ariana Galindo, Undergraduate Student, FAU
CS3 Student Poster Session
Ariana is a Computer science undergrad conducting research since April 2023, focusing on data analysis tools. Committed to advancing expertise in data science through hands-on research.
Stepan Mazokha, PhD Student, FAU
CS3 Perfect Pitch Competition & CS3 Student Poster Session
Stepan Mazokha is currently a Ph.D. candidate at Florida Atlantic University. He is a Graduate Research Assistant at the Institute for Sensing and Embedded Network Systems Engineering (I-SENSE), Florida Atlantic University, Boca Raton, FL, USA. He is the author of 7 peer-reviewed publications. His research interests include the Internet of Things, mobility intelligence in city streetscapes, and WiFi localization.
Qi Gao, PhD Student, Columbia University
CS3 Student Poster Session
Qi is a first year PhD student advised by Xuan "Sharon" Di in the Department of Civil Engineering and Engineering Mechanics at Columbia University. Prior to his PhD, Qi received an M.S. degree in applied mathematics from Columbia University, advised by Professor Qiang Du, and a B.S. degree triple major in mathematics, physics, and computer science from Rutgers University. Before rejoining Columbia University, Qi spent two years at Horizon Robotics as a research intern, majorly focused on reinforcement learning and representation learning. His current research interest lies in addressing transportation-related problems using Mathematics and Machine Learning tools.
Sanaz Naderi, PhD Student, FAU
CS3 Perfect Pitch Competition & CS3 Student Poster Session
Sanaz Naderi is a PhD candidate in Electrical Engineering. Sanaz has worked on physical layer security, published US patents, and contributed to IEEE journals and conferences, focusing on OFDM security. Since 2021, her research focus has shifted to Massive MIMO localization using the POWDER platform. Sanaz has primarily been involved in designing interference-avoiding Joint Space-Time optimum waveforms, which have been published in IEEE conferences and journals such as JSAC. Recently, she has expanded her research focus to include AI-assisted interference-avoiding Joint Space-Time optimum waveform designs.
Yongjie Fu, PhD Student, Columbia University
CS3 Student Poster Session
Yongjie Fu is a fourth-year PhD student in Civil Engineering and Engineering Mechanics supervised by Prof. Xuan Di. Yongjie's research topic is mainly on using the hybrid twin method to solve smart city problems. He is also a CS3 student.
Zhaobin Mo, PhD Student, Columbia University
CS3 Perfect Pitch Competition
Zhaobin Mo is a final-year PhD student in Civil engineering at Columbia University, supervised by Prof. Xuan Di. Zhaobin obtained his Bachelor's degree from Tsinghua University. His current PhD research focuses on physics-informed deep learning that facilitates the integration of domain knowledge and deep learning models. His work aims to explore how prior knowledge can foster safe, robust, and explainable machine learning systems.
Contact Us
Are you interested in engaging further with our research at the Center for Smart Streetscapes? Reach out to Yassin Choye, CS3’s Communications and Engagement Manager, at yc4343@columbia.edu to explore the opportunities available for becoming an Industry member.
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