Centre for Urban Sustainability (CUS)
Overview
CUS focuses on two R&D thrusts of Solid Waste Management and Recycling for Strategic Building Materials, and Food Waste Reduction and Recycling.
With the mission to achieve sustainability in resource management and production through materials innovation, CUS capabilities include R&D at the national level; value-added industry engagement; and alignment of research and service with education. The Centre works also include creation of intellectual properties (IPs); licensing of raw ingredients and finished products; as well as commercialisation of IPs.
Solid waste management & innovative building materials
Raw materials & finished products from plastic wastes
Park facilities from wood & horticultural wastes
Sand replacement
3D printable composites
Food waste reduction & recycling
Recycling food wastes into value-added products
Organic wastes to building materials
Sustainable food packaging
Shelf-life extension
Industry collaborative research projects:
Integrated systems to transform urban wastes into finished products for building & infrastructure > National Environment Agency (NEA)
3D printable composites for productive & sustainable built environment > National Additive Manufacturing Innovation Cluster (NAMIC)
- Repurposing wood & horticultural wastes for park facilities > National Parks Board (NParks)
- Substitution of strategic natural resources with recycled urban wastes in concrete production > Building & Construction Authority (BCA) and Housing & Development Board (HDB)
Physical Properties Testing:
- Instron mechanical tester/ Vickers hardness tester
- TGA and DSC
- Malvern nanosizer/ Zeta potential
- Ultrasonic pulse velocity tester
- Contact angle measurement
- Thermal conductivity equipment
- Drop weight impact test
- Mobile surface roughness tester
- UV vis spectrophotometer with rotating sphere (powdered sample)
- Powder flow meter
- Penetrometer
- Rotational viscometer
- Indirect tensile test, Triaxial test (creep parameter)
- Wheel tracker (simulate wheel frictional forces on asphalt)
Industry Consultancy Projects:
- Waste plastics in hot mix asphalt for infrastructural application
- Bi-functional cold sprayed TiO2 composite
- Environmentally friendly, reusable and cost-effective grease removal material
- Development of thermal insulation composite material from renewable resources
- Development of cellulosic insulation materials for buildings
- Study of waste aggregate fines as partial replacement of cement and sand in mortar composites
CUS is part of Singapore’s R&D ecosystem to explore new solutions in plastic waste recycling
Singapore launched a new association, Plastics Recycling Association of Singapore (PRAS) to help enhance the nation’s rate of recycling plastic waste. CUS researchers are part of this new alliance along with various stakeholders to exchange knowledge and best practices on plastic waste management and recycling.
CUS’ key role will be to look at processing mixed plastic waste into ingredients for building and construction applications, all part of Singapore’s priority to adopt a circular approach when using our resources.
Innovation Challenge Merit Award 2022
Congratulations to the CUS team, Kevin Lee (Project Co-lead) and Wong Sook Fun (Project Advisor & Team Member) who received the award at the inaugural Public Service Science, Technology & Engineering (STE) Conference 2022 held on 2 September. The event was graced by Minister for Education and Minister-in-charge of the Public Service, Mr Chan Chun Sing.
The award-winning project, Recycled Waste Plastic as Fine Aggregate Replacement of Non-Structural Concrete Elements was jointly undertaken by TP’s Centre for Urban Sustainability (CUS), Jurong Town Corporation (JTC) and National Environment Agency (NEA). The project investigated various challenges to align with SG Green Plan 2030, which involved the potential use of recycled waste plastic as fine aggregate in concrete whilst having the twin challenge of managing waste plastic and sourcing alternative natural aggregates; and finally scaling up for the construction of waste plastic-incorporated concrete kerbs and drain channels as public utilities around Singapore.
This is one of the many successfully completed projects funded through grants by the Prime Minister’s Office, Science & Technology Policy & Plans Office (PMO-S&TPPO).
Helping Built Environment Companies Grow!
A Joint Innovation Platform for Built Environment Advanced Materials was launched as part of a collaboration among the three polytechnics – Singapore Polytechnic, Temasek Polytechnic and Republic Polytechnic at the Built Environment Xpo Asia (BEX Asia) 2022 held on 6 September.
Temasek Polytechnic’s Centre of Urban Sustainability with its strong technical capabilities in advanced materials is open to assist such companies planning to embark on green innovation projects.
Contact Details
- Dr Miao Huang
- miao_huang@tp.edu.sg
- 67804163
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8.30 am to 6.00 pm (Mon to Thu)
8.30 am to 5:30 pm (Fri)
Closed on Sat, Sun & Public Holidays -
ASC General Office Address:
Temasek Polytechnic
School of Applied Science
East Wing, Block 1A, Level 3
21 Tampines Avenue 1
Singapore 529757
