From Urban Data to Sustainable Decisions: AI, Climate and the Built Environment
SWS Vienna GREEN 2026 – GREEN SCIENCE FOR GREEN LIFE
About the Special Session
Cities are increasingly using diverse sources of data and intelligent technologies to understand environmental pressures, respond to climate-related challenges and support more sustainable planning decisions.
The IEEE GRSS Special Session at SWS Vienna GREEN 2026 will bring together perspectives from research, practice and industry to examine how Artificial Intelligence, Earth Observation, urban analytics and emerging digital technologies can contribute to more climate-responsive, sustainable and liveable urban environments.
The session will explore the transition from increasingly complex urban data to meaningful knowledge and practical decision-making. Particular attention will be given to the ways in which advanced digital approaches can support sustainable urban planning, climate adaptation, energy efficiency and the development of more resilient built environments.
The session is designed to encourage exchange between different scientific and professional perspectives, connecting academic research with technological development, practical applications and the needs of cities and communities.
From Research to Practical Decisions
Modern cities generate and depend on increasingly diverse information — from satellite observations and geospatial datasets to energy, infrastructure and environmental data.
The scientific and technological challenge is to transform these different sources of information into knowledge that can support effective decisions.
The session will therefore look beyond individual technologies and consider how AI, Earth Observation, urban analytics and related digital approaches can work together to address real-world urban and climate challenges.
By bringing together researchers, practitioners and industry experts, the session aims to create a dialogue between scientific innovation and practical application.
Scientific Focus
The session will address a broad range of current challenges and opportunities at the intersection of AI, Earth Observation, urban data, climate and the built environment.
Possible areas of discussion include:
15-Minute Cities
How data-driven approaches can support accessibility, mobility, urban services and more sustainable models of urban development.
Urban Heat Islands
How Earth Observation, urban data, spatial analysis and intelligent technologies can contribute to understanding and addressing urban heat and climate-related risks.
Urban Energy Consumption
How data and digital technologies can help analyse energy use within cities and support more efficient, resilient and sustainable urban energy systems.
Sustainable Building Materials
How emerging technologies, scientific data and interdisciplinary approaches can contribute to more sustainable buildings and construction practices.
Earth Observation and Urban Analytics
How satellite observations, remote sensing and geospatial information can provide valuable insights into urban growth, environmental conditions and changes affecting the built environment.
Artificial Intelligence and GeoAI
How AI, machine learning and geospatial analytics can support urban analysis, modelling, prediction and decision-support.
Data-Driven Urban Planning
How diverse urban datasets can be integrated and transformed into information supporting evidence-based planning and climate-responsive decision-making.
Sustainable and Liveable Cities
How the convergence of environmental data, AI, Earth Observation and emerging technologies can contribute to cities that are more resilient, efficient, sustainable and responsive to the needs of their communities.
Session Format
The proposed session will be organized as a half-day scientific programme consisting of:
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Opening and Introduction
Welcome and introduction to the scientific objectives of the session.
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Keynote Contribution
Approximately 40 minutes
A keynote contribution addressing a major aspect of AI, climate, Earth Observation, urban development or the built environment.
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Invited Expert Talks
Approximately five invited presentations | 20 minutes each
The programme will bring together academic and industry perspectives, providing a balanced view of current research, technological development and practical applications.
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Moderated Panel Discussion
Approximately 30 minutes
An interdisciplinary discussion bringing together the invited experts and connecting scientific research with practical urban, technological and societal challenges.
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Audience Discussion
Time for questions, exchange of perspectives and interaction between speakers and participants.
Scientific Coordination
IEEE Geoscience and Remote Sensing Society (GRSS) Austrian Chapter
Scientific Partner of SWS Vienna GREEN 2026
Session Chair / Scientific Coordinator:
To be announced
Keynote Speaker:
To be announced
Invited Speakers:
To be announced
Panel Participants:
To be announced
The programme will be updated as the scientific coordination and invited contributions are confirmed.
Academic and Industry Perspectives
The session is intended to bring together a balanced combination of academic research and industry experience.
Potential contributors are being explored through the network of the IEEE GRSS Austrian Chapter, with possible participation from experts connected with universities and research institutions in Austria, as well as relevant industry representatives.
The scientific programme is currently being developed, and the confirmed Session Chair, keynote contributor, invited speakers and panel participants will be announced as they are finalized.
International Participation
The IEEE GRSS Austrian Chapter will have the opportunity to circulate the session through its Austrian and international network.
Researchers, IEEE/GRSS members, academics, professionals, PhD students and Young Professionals from Austria and other countries are welcome to take part in the session.
Participants connected with the Chapter will also be welcome to participate in the wider SWS Vienna GREEN 2026 scientific programme, providing opportunities to attend other scientific sessions, exchange expertise and connect with researchers from related disciplines.
The dedicated session will be hosted in a conference room suitable for approximately 80–100 participants, allowing the activity to accommodate both the invited experts and a broader scientific audience.
Hosted by SGEM WORLD SCIENCE
SGEM WORLD SCIENCE (SWS) Scholarly Society provides the international scientific and organizational framework for the session.
SWS provides the venue at Schönbrunn Palace, technical and organizational infrastructure, registration, programme coordination, participant communication, local support and promotion through its international scientific network.
Participants invited or nominated through the IEEE GRSS Austrian Chapter are welcomed to participate in SWS Vienna GREEN 2026 on a complimentary basis, without a conference registration fee.
Scientific Contributions
Researchers whose work is connected with the themes of the session are also welcome to contribute to the wider scientific programme of SWS Vienna GREEN 2026.
Relevant research may be submitted for consideration within appropriate scientific sessions, following the regular SWS submission and scientific review procedures.
In addition, related contributions connected with the Special Session may be considered for inclusion in a dedicated SWS publication volume associated with the event, subject to the applicable scientific review and publication procedures.
SWS Vienna GREEN 2026
The IEEE GRSS Special Session forms part of SWS Vienna GREEN 2026 – GREEN SCIENCE FOR GREEN LIFE, an international scientific event bringing together researchers, academics, experts and institutions working across environmental sciences, sustainability, climate resilience, green technologies, geosciences and related interdisciplinary fields.
The session provides an opportunity to connect the specialized expertise of the IEEE GRSS community with the broader international scientific environment of SWS Vienna GREEN.
A First Step Toward Further Cooperation
The IEEE GRSS Special Session represents the first joint scientific initiative between the IEEE GRSS Austrian Chapter and SGEM WORLD SCIENCE within SWS Vienna GREEN 2026.
SWS sees this initiative as an important opportunity to bring together complementary scientific communities and to establish the foundations for continued cooperation in scientific events, expert exchange, education and training, researcher networking and interdisciplinary initiatives.
From early 2027, SWS will also be developing its SWS Academy in Vienna, with specialized courses, expert lectures and practical training. Areas such as Earth Observation, remote sensing, GeoAI, Artificial Intelligence and data-driven approaches to environmental and urban challenges offer particularly strong potential for future joint activities.
SWS looks forward to building on this first initiative and developing a strong and lasting scientific relationship with the IEEE GRSS Austrian Chapter.
IEEE GRSS Austrian Chapter
Scientific Partner of SWS Vienna GREEN 2026
03 December 2026 | Morning
Schönbrunn Palace, Vienna, Austria
SWS Vienna GREEN 2026
02–05 December 2026