"Computing Research for Sustainability" ed. by Lynette I. Millett and Deborah L. Estrin

The focus of this book is "greening through IT," the application of computing to promote sustainability broadly. The aim of this issue is twofold: to shine a spotlight on areas where IT innovation and computer science (CS) research can help, and to urge the computing research community to bring its approaches and methodologies to bear on these pressing global challenges. The book focuses on addressing medium- and long-term challenges in a way that would have significant, measurable impact.

The findings and recommended principles of the Committee on Computing Research for Environmental and Societal Sustainability concern four areas:
1) the relevance of IT and CS to sustainability;
2) the value of the CS approach to problem solving, particularly as it pertains to sustainability challenges;
3) key CS research areas; and
4) strategy and pragmatic approaches for CS research on sustainability.

Contents
SUMMARY
Relevance of Information Technology and Computer Science to Sustainability
The Value of the Computer Science Approach to Problem Solving
Systems—Scale, Heterogeneity, Interconnection, Optimization, and Human Interaction
Iteration
Computer Science Research Areas
Strategy and Pragmatic Approaches
Emphasize Bottom-Up Approaches and Concreteness
Use Appropriate Evaluation Criteria for Proposals and Results
Apply CS Philosophy and Approach
Foster Sustainability Research Through Funding Initiatives
Foster Needed Multidisciplinary Approaches
Blend Sustainability and Education
1 ROLES AND OPPORTUNITIES FOR INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY IN MEETING SUSTAINABILITY CHALLENGES
Opportunities to Achieve Significant Sustainability Objectives
Built Infrastructure and Systems
Ecosystems and the Environment
Sociotechnical Systems
Illustrative Examples in Information Technology and Sustainability
Toward a Smarter Electric Grid
Sustainable Food Systems
Sustainable and Resilient Infrastructures
Conclusion
2 ELEMENTS OF A COMPUTER SCIENCE RESEARCH AGENDA FOR SUSTAINABILITY
Measurement and Instrumentation
Coping with Self-Defining Physical Information
The Design and Capacity Planning of Physical Information Services
Software Stacks for Physical Infrastructures
Information-Intensive Systems
Big Data
Heterogeneity of Data
Coping with the Need for Data Proxies
Coping with Biased, Noisy Data
Coping with Multisource Data Streams
Analysis, Modeling, Simulation, and Optimization
Developing and Using Multiscale Models
Combining Statistical and Mechanistic Models
Decision Making Under Uncertainty
Human-Centered Systems
Supporting Deliberation, Civic Engagement, Education, and Community Action
Design for Sustainability
Human Understanding of Sensing, Modeling, and Simulation
Tools to Help Organizations and Individuals Engage in More Sustainable Behavior
Mitigation, Adaption, and Disaster Response
Using Information from Resource-Usage Sensing
Conclusion
3 PROGRAMMATIC AND INSTITUTIONAL OPPORTUNITIES TO ENHANCE COMPUTER SCIENCE RESEARCH FOR SUSTAINABILITY
Computer Science Approaches for Addressing Sustainability
Toward Universality
Education and Programmatics
Evaluation, Viability, and Impact Analysis
Conclusion
APPENDIXES