琉璃神社 city staff say the growing research partnership with UBC Okanagan (UBCO) is paying off with new ideas and insights on everything from climate action to transit and sustainability.
Council will receive an update on July 7 regarding the City of 琉璃神社 UBCO Research Alliance. It鈥檚 a two-year pilot project that brings together municipal staff and university researchers to explore local challenges through applied research. The report highlights five major projects currently underway and signals plans to extend the partnership beyond 2026.
鈥淭his alliance is about putting research into action,鈥� the report states. 鈥淚t鈥檚 a new phase in a long-standing relationship, focused on practical solutions that support 琉璃神社鈥檚 priorities.鈥�
The city and UBCO each contribute $100,000 a year to a joint research fund. That funding has helped launch five projects addressing issues such as transportation, clean energy, construction waste, and facility operations.
One project is exploring how to improve transit options between UBCO, the airport, and downtown 琉璃神社 using the Okanagan Rail Trail. Researchers are now building models to predict demand for options like autonomous shuttles. The study will look at how such a system could fit into the city鈥檚 broader transit network. The $300,000 project is set to wrap up in June 2026.
Another transportation project is studying how to set up fast electric charging for 琉璃神社鈥檚 transit and fleet vehicles. The work will help the city plan its switch to a fully electric bus fleet. The $198,000 project is expected to finish by April 2026.
Other research is looking at the viability of rooftop solar, developing carbon-capturing construction bricks made from landfill wood waste, and smarter ways to operate public pools by improving air and water quality while cutting energy use. A new 鈥渆Pool鈥� dashboard is in the works to allow real-time monitoring of aquatic centres.
Each project is required to include a plan for making the findings useful and accessible to the city. The Alliance also aims to leverage outside funding, with a goal of securing at least $2 in additional investment for every $1 from the city.
