As a living lab, KAUST researches, funds, tests, and implements in-house sustainable technologies while welcoming external collaborators and other stakeholders to participate in this rich ecosystem.
A TESTBED FOR RESEARCH AND INNOVATION
Our campus serves as a dynamic testbed, harnessing the power of applied research to address real-world sustainability challenges. At KAUST, we leverage our unique campus and community ecosystem, defined by its controlled, small-scale urban setting, to incubate innovative ideas and market solutions. We aim to model sustainable solutions that can be scaled up to benefit larger city systems, creating a bridge between academic research and tangible, sustainable operations and thus integrating sustainability into every facet of our lives and surroundings.
SUSTAINABLE FOOD SOLUTIONS THROUGH ALGAL BIOTECHNOLOGY
“Development of Algal Biotechnology in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia” (DABKSA) project is a collaboration between KAUST and the Ministry of Environment, Water, and Agriculture (MEWA). Hosted at the KAUST Research and Technology Park, DABKSA leverages microalgae’s ability to consume pollutants, and thrive in seawater to achieve new strides in algal technologies, offering an eco-friendly solution to biomass production for animal feed.
ADVANCING GEOTHERMAL FRONTIERS
The KAUST Geothermal Exploration Project, K-GEP-1 pilot well, drilled to 392m, is fully instrumented with optical fibers and seismic sensors for real-time data acquisition. This innovative project captures subsurface data and well operations, aiming to illuminate the earth beneath KAUST in preparation for drilling a 3.5km deep geothermal well. The final phase for the pilot well involves sampling formation water to analyze brine composition, particularly for lithium traces.
REVOLUTIONIZING CAMPUS TRANSIT
The Sustainable Green Hydrogen Mobility Platform with its state-of-the-art high-capacity hydrogen compressors and extensive storage facilities, aims to electrify the campus transportation system by converting all buses to run on green hydrogen, significantly reducing carbon emissions.
A BACKYARD SEA AS AN OPEN LAB
In a novel approach to coral preservation and restoration, KAUST opened in 2021 the world’s first coral probiotic village, in the Red Sea. The RSRC Coral Probiotics Village is a permanent natural laboratory designed for coral reef research. Learn more about this research here.
ENHANCING URBAN LIVING THROUGH SMART CITY INNOVATIONS
With a human-centric approach, the KAUST SMART City-Campus Living Lab tests smart city concepts, focusing on enhancing the living experience, advancing future mobility solutions, and optimizing connected experiences through the KAUSTCentral app. The living lab aims to create a model for urban development that is both technologically advanced and environmentally responsible. Explore more on KAUST Smart website.
Explore other KAUST Living Lab Projects
CLIMATE-SMART COOLING FOR ENHANCED ENERGY EFFICIENCY
KAUST Cooling Initiative, strategically targeting the pressing need for highly efficient, sustainable cooling solutions in Saudi Arabia, harnesses innovative techniques that could pave the way for significant electricity savings. Upon lab-based experiments resulting in significant AC electricity savings, the same technologies have been applied in KAUST two-bedroom villas to demonstrate the cooling performance.
CONTRIBUTING TO URBAN AIR QUALITY MONITORING
To tackle the pressing issue of urban air pollution, KAUST has developed an innovative air quality monitoring system that is deployed on buses and around the campus, merging the traditional stationary monitors with mobile sensors. The project, at TRL 7 now, offers a detailed and dynamic picture of urban air quality trends by leveraging cloud-connected sensors to provide real-time data, which are processed and visualized through an intuitive dashboard.
INNOVATIVE SUBSURFACE MONITORING AT KAUST
KAUST has initiated a subsurface geothermal energy exploration project on its campus by drilling a shallow observatory well. Utilizing advanced geophysical monitoring techniques, the GDAS project, has deployed a multi-sensor system that recorded a wealth of data during the drilling activities. The data will be analyzed using advanced digital processing techniques to illuminate the subsurface of KAUST.
