Institute of Sustainable Living (ISL):
Source: https://www.utp.edu.my/Pages/Research/Research%20Institutes/Institute-of-Intelligent-Habitats-(IHH).aspx Parent: https://www.utp.edu.my/Pages/Research/Research%20Institutes/Research-Institutes.aspx
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Institute of Sustainable Living (ISL):
Optimising how people live and build
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Executive Summary
The Institute of Sustainable Living (ISL) at Universiti Teknologi PETRONAS addresses one of the defining challenges of our time: how to design, operate, and govern human habitats that remain resilient, low-carbon, and inclusive under accelerating climate and societal stress.\
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ISL advances engineered, data-driven, and adaptive built environments — spanning buildings, campuses, settlements, and urban systems. Moving beyond conventional smart infrastructure, the Institute integrates engineering excellence, digital intelligence, ecological systems thinking, and human-centred design to create living environments that can sense, learn, and adapt.\
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Through smart campus testbeds, urban living laboratories, and industry partnerships, IHH translates research into real-world deployment. Rather than producing isolated outputs, the Institute enables defensible, evidence-based decisions across complex socio-technical systems — supporting industry, policymakers, and communities in navigating climate adaptation and low-carbon transitions.\
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ISL operates through two long-term Anchor Programmes:\
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Intelligent & Resilient Human Habitats
Focused on climate-responsive design, digital twins, sensing systems, and resilient infrastructure.
Inclusive Low-Carbon Living Systems
Focused on human-centred transitions, community-scale resource systems, lifecycle performance, and decision-support tools.\
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By bridging engineering, data science, policy relevance, and implementation, ISL strengthens UTP’s leadership in future cities, intelligent infrastructure, and sustainable living innovation.
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Why Intelligent Habitats Matter
Climate change, infrastructure strain, and rapid urbanisation are reshaping how people live, move, and access essential services. Traditional infrastructure models are no longer sufficient to manage extreme weather, resource constraints, and social inequalities.\
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Future living environments must not only be efficient — they must be adaptive, inclusive, and intelligent.\
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Universities have a unique responsibility in this transition: to act as neutral, evidence-based platforms where technologies, systems, and policies can be tested before large-scale deployment.
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Universiti Teknologi PETRONAS - Engineering Programmes
Goals
INSTITUTE GOAL
To design, operate, and govern future human habitats through integrated engineering, digital intelligence, and policy frameworks, enabling climate-resilient, resource-efficient, and socially liveable outcomes.
STRATEGIC GOAL
- Living environments that are designed to sense, learn, and adapt to changing conditions—while continuing to protect human well-being, safety, and dignity under climate, infrastructure, and social stress.
- Socio-technical systems that reduce carbon emissions without excluding people, ensuring that sustainability transitions remain affordable, accessible, and socially just.
Strategic Role and Value Proposition
STRATEGIC ROLE
Acts as UTP’s national platform for future cities, infrastructure systems, and climate adaptation, bridging engineering, data, policy, and deployment at scale.
ISL translates research into practice through real-world implementation platforms.
The UTP campus functions as a smart living laboratory—integrating sensing systems, digital twins, infrastructure optimisation, and governance experimentation within operational environments.
Beyond campus, ISL collaborates with municipalities, industry partners, and technology providers to deploy pilot projects, co-develop solutions, and generate policy-relevant evidence.
This deployment-oriented model distinguishes ISL from conventional research centres.
VALUE PROPOSITION
Value to UTP
- Living laboratory for research translation
- Smart campus implementation platform
- Talent development in intelligent living systems
- Institutional leadership in climate-resilient innovation
ISL partners with industry leaders, technology providers, policymakers, and urban stakeholders to co-develop intelligent habitat solutions.
Collaboration models include:
- Industry-sponsored research programmes
- Smart campus pilot deployments
- Corporate research laboratories
- Joint technology validation platforms
- Policy advisory engagements
Through these partnerships, ISL enables real-world impact while strengthening UTP’s position as a trusted innovation partner.
Anchor Programmes and Flagship Domains
ISL operates through two long-term Anchor Programmes designed to transform living environments through integrated research, industry co-creation, and technology–policy translation.
Anchor Programme 3: Intelligent & Resilient Human Habitats
The first focuses on intelligent and resilient human habitats—particularly how infrastructure and environments respond to climate stress.
Focus Areas:
- Climate-Responsive Habitats Design
- Nature-Integrated Urban Solutions
- Urban Sensing & Digital Twin
- Resilient Infrastructure Systems
Anchor Programme 4: Inclusive Low-Carbon Living Systems
The second focuses on inclusive low-carbon living systems, emphasising how people experience services, affordability, and well-being in daily life— not just technology transitions.
Focus Areas:
- Human-Centred Living Systems
- Community-Scale Resource Systems
- Lifecycle Performance & Operations
- Decision Support & Governance Tools
- Low-carbon thermal mobility solutions
Contact & Engagement
Prof Ir Dr Hisham B Mohamad
Institute Director\ Email: hisham.mohamad@utp.edu.my
Yon Norasyikin binti Samsudin
Senior Executive\ Email: norasyikin.samsudin@utp.edu.my
Institute of Sustainable Living (ISL)\ Universiti Teknologi PETRONAS\ Seri Iskandar, Perak, Malaysia \