Smart Cities MIAMI 2026: Ten Years of Smart Cities: Lessons, Leaps, and the Road Ahead
Save the Date: Thursday, March 26, 2026 for the 10th edition of the University of Miami Smart Cities MIAMI Conference. We are celebrating a decade of innovation and progress in building smart cities as we envision the future.
Registration Link Forthcoming . . .
We are excited to announce our keynote speakers: Patrick Murphy, CEO of Togal AI and Dr. Dan M. Frangopol, a member of the National Academy of Engineering.
The morning session opens with an Industry Expo showcasing cutting-edge technologies from faculty innovators, start-ups, and major corporations. Attendees will have the opportunity to engage directly with solution providers and end-users influencing the future of urban environments.
The afternoon session brings together thought leaders and experts for keynote talks and interactive panel discussions on smart city concepts. The discussion is organized around three core themes:
- Built Environment and Infrastructure (BEI) focuses on how to construct smart cities. This panel transitions the conversation from software as a service to the physical built environment. Panelists will explore how advances in AI and technologies are enabling cities to better sense and respond to people’s needs. Attendees will gain insights through real-world case studies and discover how smart cities are transforming the way we live.
- Health and Wellbeing (HW) focuses on leveraging smart technologies to improve the well-being in our communities. Panelists will focus the discussion on sensors, innovative technologies, and other digital platforms that monitor health, advance precision medicine, improve hospital efficiency and effectiveness, and promote better public health outcomes.
- Community and Resilience (CR) focuses on smart city technologies that can strengthen community resilience and enhance the ability for communities to prepare for, respond to, and recover from natural hazards.
We hope to see you then!
Keynotes |
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Patrick Murphy | CEO, Togal AI |
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Dan M. Frangopol, PhD | NAE Life-Cycle Management + Member, National Academy of Engineering
Dr. Frangopol is the inaugural Fazlur R. Khan Endowed Chair of Structural Engineering and Architecture Emeritus, and Professor Emeritus at Lehigh University. Before joining Lehigh in 2006, he was Professor of Civil Engineering at the University of Colorado at Boulder, where he is now Professor Emeritus. From 1979-83, he was a Structural Design Engineer with A. Lipski Consulting Engineers in Brussels, Belgium. In 1976, he received his doctorate in Applied Sciences with highest honor from the University of Liège, Belgium. According to ASCE (2012) “Dan M. Frangopol is a preeminent authority in bridge safety and maintenance management, structural system reliability, and life-cycle civil engineering. His contributions have defined much of the practice around design specifications, management methods, and optimization approaches. From the maintenance of deteriorated structures and the development of system redundancy factors to assessing the performance of long-span structures, Dr. Frangopol’s research has not only saved time and money, but very likely also saved lives. Dr. Frangopol is a renowned teacher and mentor to future engineers.” He is also “widely recognized as a leading educator and creator in the field of life-cycle civil engineering.” (ASCE 2015). “Frangopol’s groundbreaking research into infrastructure from a holistic perspective has earned him a reputation in the civil engineering community” as the “Father of Life-Cycle Analysis.” (ASCE 2020). In 2023, ASCE created the “Dan M. Frangopol Medal for Life-cycle Engineering of Civil Structures.” |
Speakers |
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Tom Merrick, MA | Sr. Project Manager, XR Initiatives, University of Miami Frost Institute for Data Science and Computing (IDSC) Creative Technologies program + Adjunct Professor, School of Communication
Tom Merrick, Assistant Director of VR/AR Initiatives, is a seasoned educator and technology enthusiast. He holds a BS in Information Engineering from Cornell and an MA in Independent School Leadership from Columbia. With 15 years of experience in education, including roles as a Math Director and School Administrator, Tom brings a unique perspective on technology’s role in learning. Tom’s journey led him to accept a fellowship at Stanford University’s Distinguished Career Institute (DCI), where he discovered the potential of Virtual Reality to revolutionize education. He taught VR courses at Stanford’s Virtual Human Interaction Lab and continued as an educator with Stanford Continuing Education. Now, at the University of Miami, Tom is passionate about teaching “Intro to VR” while exploring innovative ways to support faculty and students in harnessing immersive technologies for transformative learning experiences. His expertise and vision are integral to our mission of reshaping education through VR and AR. |
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Helena Solo-Gabriele, PhD | Professor, University of Miami College of Engineering Department of Chemical, Environmental, and Materials Engineering
Dr. Helena Solo-Gabriele is a Professor at the University of Miami Department of Environmental Engineering where she teaches courses in environmental measurements, environmental engineering microbiology, and in water treatment systems. Her research focuses on problems that relate the environment to human health. She conducts studies to identify sources of microbial contamination, uses wastewater to understand the spread of disease in communities, and evaluates sources and movement of arsenic in the environment. Her current active projects focus on evaluating the use of ultraviolet light for disinfecting street and sidewalk surfaces, using wastewater to track dengue virus spread, and evaluating the fate of arsenic at beaches from the seaweed called sargassum. |
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Deborah Franqui, PhD, AIA, NCARB, EDAC | Lecturer, University of Miami School of Architecture
Dr. Deborah Franqui is a healthcare research and planning leader whose work integrates rigorous methodology with innovative design solutions. With a B.Arch, MS, and PhD from Cornell and Clemson University, she has conducted more than 30 post-occupancy evaluations across diverse healthcare departments, translating findings into actionable, evidence-based design guidelines. Her expertise spans Lean planning, operational and space-efficiency optimization, and user experience enhancement. Dr. Franqui’s research-driven design frameworks and design-checklist methodologies—presented at nationally recognized healthcare design conferences—continue to influence best practices and elevate outcomes for healthcare facilities and the communities they serve. |
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Maurice Jenkins, IAP CM | Chief Innovation Officer, Miami-Dade County, Aviation Department
With more than thirty years of experience committed to achieving strategic growth and technology objectives for MIA, Maurice Jenkins has been a keen adopter to self-service technologies and has encouraged airlines serving the airport to embrace innovation also. Prior to his role as a CIO, Mr. Jenkins was responsible for defining and managing IT capital assets and IT management processes to ensure their successful implementation and project integration. In addition, he served as the Aviation Department’s Chief Information Officer/Director of Information Systems, responsible for the development and implementation of standards‐based policies and procedures that support business operations which improved the overall quality of service of enterprise IT systems. His strategic vision has successfully culminated in the integration of new technology in the opening of the new South and North Terminals at Miami International Airport. In addition, the success of these new system implementations such as Biometrics, Virtual Queuing and new innovating technologies show his technical acumen and dedication to serve the residents of Miami‐Dade County. Mr. Jenkins has implemented an area wide marketing information service to both hotels and conventions centers using current flight information data from Miami International Airport. AAAE and ACI best in practice initiatives are strictly adhered to that display his commitment to providing the highest level of service governed by industry standards. He graduated from the University of Miami with a Bachelor’s degree in Business and Computer Information Systems. He also earned certifications in Strategic Management from Florida International University and Human Resources Management from Nova Southeastern University. He served as the Chairman of the Business Information Technology Committee (BIT), which was established by Airports Council International (ACI) to set strategic objectives future technology direction for airports. He was also served as Chairman of the Florida Airports Council’s Information Technology Committee from February 2019 until December 2021. Mr. Jenkins has given presentations on implementation solutions to key IT leaders and airport IT conferences in the U.S. and internationally sharing his proven successful practices with his peer group. |
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Brian Freed, CFA | CEO, Illuminex AI
Brian Freed, a Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA), has a career path that reflects a unique blend of experience in business analysis as well as successful operational execution in the establishment and growth of new businesses focused on data-centric applications. As the CEO of Illuminex AI, Brian is committed to democratizing the implementation of Computer Vision and AI with a focus on bespoke applications where challenges such as data scarcity and technical integration hinder the development of precise and cost-effective solutions. He has a proven track record of driving growth in both startup and globally established environments. His extensive financial background and broad technical knowledge make him a proven leader in solution development, strategic alliances, go-to-market strategies, and sales. Before joining Illuminex AI, Brian held the position of Chief Operating Officer at Eagle Aerospace, a company specializing in Airfield Technology solutions. He also served as the COO for Phizzle, a developer of IoT software that facilitated remote monitoring and control of quality and compliance solutions used in pharmaceutical manufacturing. Prior to these roles, Brian was the General Manager of the High-Performance Data Analytics (HPDA) business unit at SGI. He established this unit from scratch and successfully grew it to a $50M annual run rate. In addition to his experience in the tech industry, Brian spent 13 years on Wall Street as a Chartered Financial Analyst. During this time, he focused exclusively on research, financial modeling, and stock recommendations for companies specializing in High-Performance Computing (HPC) and Data Lifecycle technologies. |
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A look back at Smart Cities MIAMI 2025 . . .
The University of Miami School of Architecture and Frost Institute for Data Science and Computing presented the 9th annual Smart Cities MIAMI Conference on Thursday and Friday, April 3+4, 2025. The conference theme “Equitable Urban Futures” explored data and design innovations for shaping more equitable, human-centric, and agile smart cities.
The two-day event, held on the University’s Coral Gables campus, brought together leading scholars, designers, and policymakers to explore how urban technology, data, and design can be combined to create more agile, human-centered, and sustainable cities. The main event was Day 1 followed by a by-invitation workshop on Day. In case you missed it, watch all the Day 1 videos on YouTube (Full Playlist).
DAY ONE
The Conference began with opening remarks from Rodolphe el-Khoury, Dean of the School of Architecture, and Sarbeswar Praharaj, Conference Chair and Director of UM’s Urban Sustainability and Resilience Program.
The opening keynotes were delivered by Jennifer Clark, Professor and Head of the City and Regional Planning Section at the Knowlton School of Ohio State University, and Nathalie Crutzen, a professor of Management Science and Director of Smart City Institute at the University of Liège in Belgium.
Clark urged attendees to rethink their approach to smart cities, asking, “Why the city?” instead of “Why the technology?” Drawing on over two decades of research practice, she unveiled a model for cities as platforms for technology diffusion and experimentation. She also invited the participants to reflect on five key premises behind contemporary urban innovation processes based on her award-winning book, “Uneven Innovation: The Work of Smart Cities.”
Crutzen, while arguing “What is a Smart City?,” submitted that smart cities are multi-stakeholder ecosystems involving local governments, citizen associations, businesses, universities, and international organizations—all working together and using digital technologies as tools to achieve sustainable economic, social, and environmental outcomes. Crutzen promoted vital lessons for urban practitioners for shaping context-specific smart city strategies that can boost entrepreneurial ecosystems.
Conference attendees also enjoyed captivating talks by Fabio Duarte from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology and Anthony Townsend from the Urban Tech Hub at Cornell Tech.
The Conference hosted panel discussions with local government and industry leaders in South Florida. Session 2 Panel’s City of Coral Gables Chief Innovation Officer Raimundo Rodulfo and Session 3’s Paula Christina Viala, City of Pompano Beach Sustainability Coordinator and a UM alumnus, both discussed ways that city councils are engaging with urban technologies to enhance quality of life. Industry veterans such as NVIDIA were also involved in grounding the conversations in impactful ways.
DAY TWO
The second day of the Conference brought together a select group of international experts for a scientific workshop. Participants engaged in collaborative brainstorming to develop a special issue of the Journal of Urban Technology, furthering the Conference’s mission of linking research, practice, and policy to build smarter and more sustainable cities. Martin de Jong, a professor and visiting delegate from Erasmus University Rotterdam, said: “Engaging with cross-cutting scholars and professionals at the Conference opens new possibilities for all of us for shaping collectively fresh ideas that can inspire local and global action for urban futures where digital technologies can enable broad-based prosperity.”
Reflecting on the impact of the two-day event, Conference Chair Sarbeswar Praharaj concluded “The quality and scientific rigor of the presentations, vibrant audience engagement, and tangible scholarly outcomes from the Conference are consistent with our vision to provide a platform for debate on cities and technology and make progress on some of the most complex issues facing humanity.”
ORIGINAL STORY: NEWS@TheU “Smart Cities Miami Conference Explores Equitable Urban Futures” by Madison Brinnon | April 7, 2025
Programme
Photo Gallery
Message from the Conference Chair
Day One was held at the University of Miami Coral Gables campus Lakeside Village Expo Center.
The Day Two Workshop gathered a by-invitation group of international experts for a brainstorming session to develop a collection of articles for a special issue to be published in the Journal of Urban Technology. More details on the JUT special issue “Promoting Digital Access in Smart Cities” is available at this link.
CONFERENCE Day 1 April 3, 2025 Lakeside Village Expo Center, 1280 Stanford Drive, Coral Gables, FL 33146 | Exhibits were Day 1 ONLY
WORKSHOP Day 2 April 4, 2025 Newman Alumni Center Tower Room (4th Floor), 6200 San Amaro Drive, Coral Gables, FL 33146
Sponsorship Opportunities and limited free Exhibitor Spaces for 2026 are available. For more information, please call 305/ 243.4962 or email idsc@miami.edu.
2025 Agenda: |
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| [8:30 am-9:00 am] | Registration |
| [9:00 am-9:10 am] | Introduction and Welcome Opening Remarks: Dean Rodolphe el-Khoury, PhD Conference Chair Remarks: Sarbeswar Praharaj, PhD |
| Session 1: Keynote Presentation | |
| [9:10 am-9:40 am] | Keynote 1: Jennifer Clark, PhD Professor and Head, City and Regional Planning The Ohio State University |
| [9:40 am-10:10 am] | Keynote 2 : Nathalie Crutzen, PhD Founder/Director, HEC Smart City Institute University of Liège, Belgium |
| [10:10 am-10:30 am] | Break / Expo Center |
| Session 2: Data & Urban Tech for Designing Equitable Smart Cities | |
| [10:30 am-11:30 am] | Session 2 Presentations:
Speaker 1: Fábio Duarte, PhD Speaker 2: Anthony Townsend, PhD |
| [11:30 am-12:00 pm] | Panel Discussion:
Moderator: Dean Rodolphe el-Khoury, PhD, University of Miami School of Architecture |
| [12:00 pm-1:30 pm] | Networking Lunch with Exhibits |
| Session 3: Innovating Agile and Humane Smart Cities | |
| [1:30 pm-2:30 pm] | Session 3 Presentations:
Speaker 1: Yan Wang, PhD Speaker 2: Eduardo Costa, PhD |
| [2:30pm -3:00 pm] | Panel Discussion:
Moderator: Nicholas Tsinoremas, PhD, Director, University of Miami Frost Institute for Data Science and Computing |
| [3:00 pm-3:15 pm] | Coffee and Networking at Exhibits |
| [3:15 pm-4:00 pm] | Industry Panel
Moderator: Anna Queiroz, PhD, Associate Professor, University of Miami School of Communication |
| [4:00 pm-5:00 pm] | Closing Keynote
Martin de Jong, PhD Nora Noori, PhD |
| [5:00 pm] | Closing Remarks Conference Chair, Sarbeswar Praharaj, PhD |
Featured Speakers |
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Jennifer Clark, PhDProfessor and Head, City and Regional Planning Section |
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Nathalie Crutzen, PhDFounder/Director HEC Smart City Institute |
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Martin de Jong, PhDProfessor and Director of the Dynamics of Inclusive Prosperity |
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Fábio Duarte, PhDAssociate Director of Research & Design, MIT Senseable City Lab |
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Anthony Townsend, PhDSenior Research Associate at the Jacobs Urban Tech Hub |
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Yan Wang, PhDAssistant Professor and Director of Urban Agility and Resilience Lab |
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Eduardo M. Costa, PhDProfessor of Knowledge Management |
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Masahiko Haraguchi, PhDHarvard University T. H. Chan School of Public Health |
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Dean Rodolphe el-Khoury, PhDUniversity of Miami School of Architecture |
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Sarbeswar Praharaj, PhDConference Chair |
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Nick Tsinoremas, PhDDirector, University of Miami Frost Institute for Data Science and Computing |
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Fredrik WanniusC0Founder and Chief Executive, 1Print |
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Florence M. Chee, PhDAssociate Professor & Director, Center for Digital Ethics and Policy, School of Communication, Loyola University Chicago |
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Victor DoverFounding Principal, Dover, Kohl, & Partners Town Planning |
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Jayson DunnSr. Business Manager – State and Local Government, NVIDIA |
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Tony GarciaCo-Founder and Principal, Street Plans |
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Matthieu MerchadouCo-Founder & CEO, Magma |
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Nora Noori, PhDDigital Transformation Advisor |
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Anna Carolina Queiroz, PhDAssociate Professor, University of Miami School of Communication |
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Raimundo RodulfoDirector/CIO of Innovation & Technology, City of Coral Gables |
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Christina VialaSustainability Coordinator, City of Pompano Beach |