Smart Cities

By Prof. Neelima Satyam, Prof. Priyansh Singh | IIT Indore

Learners enrolled: 322

ABOUT THE COURSE:

This course offers a comprehensive overview of smart cities from a civil engineering perspective, focusing on sustainable infrastructure, digital technologies, and urban resilience. Learners will explore topics such as smart mobility, energy systems, green buildings, environmental monitoring, and disaster management. The course also highlights the role of technologies like IoT, GIS, and AI in modern city planning. Through real-world case studies and practical insights, the course bridges theory with implementation in the context of India’s Smart City Mission and global best practices.

Learning Objectives

Upon successful completion of this course, students will be able to:

Comprehend the core concepts, components, and global frameworks of smart cities.
Understand the role of civil engineering in developing sustainable urban infrastructure, including smart mobility, energy systems, and waste management.
Reflect on how digital technologies like IoT, GIS, BIM, and AI are applied in urban planning and governance.
Identify and propose solutions to real-world urban challenges using a smart city framework.
Appraise the principles of urban resilience and disaster management in the context of city planning.

Learning Outcome

A comprehensive understanding of Smart City concepts.

INTENDED AUDIENCE: UG Student

PREREQUISITES:

Undergraduate students (2nd year or above) from the following disciplines:

Civil Engineering
Architecture
Urban Planning
Environmental Engineering

INDUSTRY SUPPORT:

Mahindra Group
Tata Consulting Engineers (TCE)
Indian Railways
Smart Cities Mission (Urban Local Bodies & Smart City SPVs)
HUDCO, NBCC, RITES
Urban Development Authorities (like DDA, BDA)
L&T Smart World & Communication
Tata Projects
AECOM India
IL&FS, GMR, GVK
Honeywell Automation India Ltd.
Schneider Electric
Trimble, Bentley, Autodesk
Afcons
Megha Engineering and Infrastructures Ltd (MEIL)

Summary

Course Status :	Upcoming
Course Type :	Elective
Language for course content :	English
Duration :	12 weeks
Category :	Civil Engineering
Credit Points :	3
Level :	Undergraduate
Start Date :	19 Jan 2026
End Date :	10 Apr 2026
Enrollment Ends :	26 Jan 2026
Exam Registration Ends :	13 Feb 2026
Exam Date :	26 Apr 2026 IST
NCrF Level	4.5 — 8.0

Note: This exam date is subject to change based on seat availability. You can check final exam date on your hall ticket.

Page Visits

Course layout

Week 1: Introduction to Smart Cities

1. What is a Smart City?
2. Evolution of urban systems
3. Components of a smart city
4. Global smart city frameworks
5. Smart City Mission (India): Vision & Targets

Week 2: Smart Governance & Digital Infrastructure

1. E-Governance systems
2. ICT in public services
3. Command & Control Centres
4. Citizen participation & engagement
5. Data-driven governance

Week 3: Smart Mobility & Transport

1. Basics of urban mobility
2. Intelligent Transportation Systems (ITS)
3. Public transit innovations
4. Electric & shared mobility
5. Non-motorized transport and walkability

Week 4: Smart Urban Infrastructure

1. Smart water supply systems
2. Sewage and drainage monitoring
3. Urban solid waste systems
4. Smart metering and energy systems
5. Integration of urban services

Week 5: Smart Energy Systems & Sustainability

1. Renewable energy in cities
2. Smart grids: concepts & benefits
3. Distributed generation
4. Energy storage & microgrids
5. Demand-side management

Week 6: Environmental Systems in Smart Cities

1. Air quality & pollution sensors
2. Wastewater treatment & reuse
3. Decentralized solid waste models
4. Urban green spaces
5. Smart environmental monitoring

Week 7: Digital Technologies in Smart Cities

1. IoT & sensor networks
2. GIS & digital twins
3. Urban data analytics
4. Cybersecurity for cities
5. Cloud and AI applications in city services

Week 8: Urban Planning & Land Use

1. Smart urban form & density
2. Zoning & land-use strategies
3. Transit-oriented development (TOD)
4. Mixed-use development
5. Urban redevelopment & retrofitting

Week 9: Green Buildings & Sustainable Urban Form

1. Green building concepts
2. Energy-efficient architecture
3. GRIHA & LEED certification
4. Zero-carbon cities
5. Role of urban design in smart planning

Week 10: Resilient Cities & Disaster Management

1. What makes a city resilient?
2. Urban flood mitigation
3. Seismic planning & structural safety
4. Emergency services & early warning
5. Climate adaptation strategies

Week 11: Case Studies & Global Best Practices

1. Smart Pune & Surat
2. Barcelona: Urban Tech
3. Singapore: Integrated mobility
4. Amsterdam: Sustainability focus
5. Key success factors & challenges

Week 12: Future Trends & Student Projects

1. Urban AI & automation
2. Blockchain in city governance
3. 5G, drones & urban surveillance
4. Group project presentations
5. Review, discussion & wrap-up

Books and references

Sussman, J.M. Perspectives on Intelligent Transportation Systems, Springer, Berlin.
Ghosh, S., Lee, T.S. Intelligent Transportation Systems: New Principles and Architectures, CRC Press.
A. Kumar, Introduction to Smart Cities, Pearson India, 2019, ISBN: 978-9353439576
R. John Glasson, A. Theriveland and R. Chandwic, Introduction to Environmental Impact Assessment, Taylor and Francis, 2011, ISBN: 978-0415664707
S. Wang, Intelligent Buildings and Building Auto
mation, Routledge, 2009, ISBN: 978-0415475716
Mashrur A. Chowdhury, and Adel Sadek, Fundamentals of Intelligent Transportation Systems Planning, Artech House, Inc.
Picone, M, Busanelli, S, Amoretti M, Zanichelli, F, and Ferrari, G, Advanced Technologies for Intelligent Transportation Systems, 2015, Springer
Gordan R, Intelligent Transportation Systems, 2nd Edition, Springer
Tyagi, AK, Sreenath, N, Intelligent Transportation Systems: Theory and Practice
Acharya, S. Civil Engineering Societal and Global Impact. Khanna Publishing House, 2025

Instructor bio

Prof. Neelima Satyam

IIT Indore

Prof. Neelima Satyam is a Professor in the Discipline of Civil Engineering at the Indian Institute of Technology Indore (IIT Indore). She specializes in Geotechnical Earthquake Engineering, Landslide Hazard Assessment, and Geotechnical Applications in Smart Infrastructure. With over 18 years of academic and research experience, she has contributed significantly to advancing sustainable and resilient civil infrastructure, which aligns closely with the vision of smart cities. Prof. Satyam has led several national and international research projects related to slope stability, disaster resilience, geotechnical monitoring, and infrastructure safety. Her work has been recognized by prestigious awards. Her interdisciplinary research and active collaboration with government bodies and urban development authorities make her uniquely qualified to deliver this course on Smart Cities, connecting civil engineering fundamentals with modern technologies, disaster mitigation, urban planning, and sustainable development goals.

Prof. Priyansh Singh

Dr. Priyansh Singh is an Assistant Professor at IIT Indore with a strong academic background in Civil Engineering, holding a Ph.D. from IIT Delhi. His expertise lies in transportation engineering, pavement materials, and sustainable infrastructure. Passionate about teaching and interdisciplinary learning, he brings real-world insights into smart urban systems through research and field experience.

Course certificate

The course is free to enroll and learn from. But if you want a certificate, you have to register and write the proctored exam conducted by us in person at any of the designated exam centres.

The exam is optional for a fee of Rs 1000/- (Rupees one thousand only).

Date and Time of Exams: April 26, 2026 Morning session 9am to 12 noon; Afternoon Session 2pm to 5pm.

Registration url: Announcements will be made when the registration form is open for registrations.

The online registration form has to be filled and the certification exam fee needs to be paid. More details will be made available when the exam registration form is published. If there are any changes, it will be mentioned then.

Please check the form for more details on the cities where the exams will be held, the conditions you agree to when you fill the form etc.

CRITERIA TO GET A CERTIFICATE

Average assignment score = 25% of average of best 8 assignments out of the total 12 assignments given in the course.
Exam score = 75% of the proctored certification exam score out of 100

Final score = Average assignment score + Exam score

Please note that assignments encompass all types (including quizzes, programming tasks, and essay submissions) available in the specific week.

YOU WILL BE ELIGIBLE FOR A CERTIFICATE ONLY IF AVERAGE ASSIGNMENT SCORE >=10/25 AND EXAM SCORE >= 30/75. If one of the 2 criteria is not met, you will not get the certificate even if the Final score >= 40/100.

Certificate will have your name, photograph and the score in the final exam with the breakup.It will have the logos of NPTEL and IIT Indore. It will be e-verifiable at nptel.ac.in/noc.

Only the e-certificate will be made available. Hard copies will not be dispatched.

Once again, thanks for your interest in our online courses and certification. Happy learning.

- NPTEL team

SWAYAM Helpline / Support