Colombian Engineer Wins International Prize: Sonia Mangones Transforms Urban Mobility With AI – ColombiaOne.com

Report on Sonia Mangones’ “Mobility That Transforms” Project and its Contribution to Sustainable Development Goals

Introduction: Recognition of Scientific Innovation for Sustainable Development

Colombian engineer Sonia Mangones has been awarded the prestigious L’Oréal-UNESCO “For Women in Science” Prize for her project, “Mobility That Transforms.” This initiative leverages artificial intelligence to create sustainable and equitable urban mobility solutions, directly addressing several United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). The project’s focus on providing open-source technological tools to under-resourced municipalities in Colombia represents a significant advancement in applying scientific innovation to achieve inclusive and sustainable urban development.

Project Analysis: An AI-Powered Framework for Sustainable Urban Mobility

Technological Innovation for Resilient Infrastructure (SDG 9)

The core of the “Mobility That Transforms” project is the development of open-source artificial intelligence tools designed to assist local governments in planning sustainable transportation systems. This approach directly supports SDG 9 (Industry, Innovation, and Infrastructure) by fostering inclusive and sustainable technological development.

• Open-Source Access: By eliminating expensive licensing fees, the tools are made accessible to municipalities with limited financial resources, democratizing access to advanced planning technology.
• Adaptable Solutions: The AI framework is designed to adapt to the unique conditions and challenges of each community, avoiding a one-size-fits-all model and promoting resilient infrastructure.

Advancing Sustainable Cities and Communities (SDG 11)

The project provides a practical framework for municipalities to design transportation systems that are safe, inclusive, and environmentally sustainable, in direct alignment with the objectives of SDG 11 (Sustainable Cities and Communities). The AI tools enable local governments to achieve several critical planning objectives:

1. Enhanced Safety: The system prioritizes the protection of vulnerable road users, including pedestrians, cyclists, and public transit riders.
2. Environmental Sustainability: It assists in designing infrastructure that reduces carbon emissions and improves air quality.
3. Inclusivity and Equity: The tools integrate social factors, ensuring that mobility solutions serve all members of the community effectively.

Alignment with Global Development Agendas

Reducing Inequalities (SDG 10)

A primary achievement of Mangones’ work is its direct contribution to SDG 10 (Reduced Inequalities). The project specifically targets the technological and resource gap between major urban centers like Bogota and Medellin and approximately 250 smaller municipalities that lack the institutional capacity for advanced transportation planning. By providing sophisticated tools at no cost, the initiative levels the playing field and empowers smaller communities to improve their infrastructure and quality of life.

Promoting Gender Equality (SDG 5)

The project and the award itself are deeply connected to SDG 5 (Gender Equality). This is evident in two key areas:

• Gender-Inclusive Planning: The AI tools incorporate gender perspectives into urban mobility design, acknowledging the different transportation patterns and safety concerns faced by various user groups.
• Visibility for Women in STEM: The L’Oréal-UNESCO award highlights the contributions of women in science, a field where they are globally underrepresented (33% of researchers, according to UN data). This recognition provides a powerful role model and helps address systemic barriers that limit women’s professional growth in STEM fields, particularly in Latin America.

Profile of the Laureate and Institutional Impact

Academic and Research Leadership

Sonia Mangones’ work is grounded in a distinguished academic and research career that bridges theory and practice. Her credentials and leadership roles are central to the project’s success:

• Education: Doctorate in Engineering (Transportation) from Carnegie Mellon University.
• Position: Associate Professor at the National University of Colombia.
• Research Initiatives: Leader of the Translogyt research group and the SIMUN research seedbed, which focus on integrating science, public policy, and sustainability.

This integration of research with technical assistance for municipalities exemplifies a partnership approach consistent with SDG 17 (Partnerships for the Goals), ensuring that scientific advancements translate into tangible societal benefits.

Conclusion: A Model for Science-Driven Social Impact

The recognition of Sonia Mangones with the L’Oréal-UNESCO Prize underscores the critical role of science in addressing pressing social and environmental challenges. Her “Mobility That Transforms” project is a powerful example of how technology can be harnessed to promote equity, sustainability, and inclusivity. The US$10,000 prize will further enhance the project’s impact. Mangones’ work serves as an influential model for Colombia, demonstrating that locally-focused scientific innovation can drive significant progress toward achieving the Sustainable Development Goals.

SDGs Addressed in the Article

1. SDG 5: Gender Equality

   • The article directly addresses the gender gap in science, noting that “women comprise only 33% of researchers globally.” The L’Oréal-UNESCO “For Women in Science” Prize, awarded to Sonia Mangones, is designed to address this imbalance.
   • Mangones’ project itself “incorporates gender perspectives into urban mobility planning,” acknowledging that different genders face unique transportation and safety challenges.

2. SDG 9: Industry, Innovation, and Infrastructure

   • The core of the article is about innovation. Mangones’ project uses “cutting-edge technology” and “artificial intelligence tools” to solve infrastructure problems related to urban mobility.
   • The project focuses on developing sustainable transportation infrastructure, particularly in smaller municipalities that lack resources.
   • The tools are “open-source,” which promotes accessible and inclusive technological advancement.

3. SDG 10: Reduced Inequalities

   • The project is explicitly designed to reduce inequality between large, well-funded cities and the “250 smaller municipalities” that “lack the budget, expertise, or institutional capacity” for advanced transportation planning.
   • By providing free, open-source tools, the project “democratize[s] access to sophisticated tools,” thereby “leveling the playing field across Colombia.”

4. SDG 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities

   • The project, “Mobility That Transforms,” is centered on helping local governments “plan sustainable transportation systems.”
   • It aims to improve urban mobility by prioritizing “safety, inclusivity, and environmental protection,” with a specific focus on protecting “vulnerable users” such as pedestrians and cyclists.
   • The initiative helps communities design infrastructure that “reduces emissions and supports cleaner air,” contributing to the overall environmental sustainability of cities.

5. SDG 13: Climate Action

   • The article states that the AI tools help communities design transportation infrastructure that “reduces emissions.” This directly contributes to mitigating climate change at the local level by integrating environmental sustainability into urban planning.

Specific Targets Identified

1. Target 5.5: Ensure women’s full and effective participation and equal opportunities for leadership.

   • The article highlights the L’Oréal-UNESCO program’s mission to recognize and support female scientists, addressing the low representation of women in research and promoting them as leaders and role models like Sonia Mangones.

2. Target 9.1: Develop quality, reliable, sustainable and resilient infrastructure… with a focus on affordable and equitable access for all.

   • Mangones’ work provides tools for planning sustainable transportation systems, focusing on equitable access for smaller municipalities that could not otherwise afford such technology.

3. Target 10.2: Empower and promote the social, economic and political inclusion of all.

   • The project empowers smaller municipalities by giving them access to advanced AI tools, enabling their inclusion in modern, data-driven urban planning and overcoming economic and institutional barriers.

4. Target 11.2: Provide access to safe, affordable, accessible and sustainable transport systems for all, improving road safety… with special attention to the needs of those in vulnerable situations, women…

   • This target is directly addressed as the project helps design transportation systems that “protect vulnerable users, incorporating safety considerations for pedestrians, cyclists, and public transit riders” and “incorporates gender perspectives.”

5. Target 11.6: Reduce the adverse per capita environmental impact of cities, including by paying special attention to air quality.

   • The article mentions that the tools promote “environmental sustainability by helping communities design transportation infrastructure that reduces emissions and supports cleaner air.”

6. Target 13.2: Integrate climate change measures into national policies, strategies and planning.

   • The project facilitates the integration of climate-friendly measures (emission reduction) into the local-level planning and public policy of municipalities.

Indicators Mentioned or Implied

1. Indicator related to Target 5.5: Proportion of women in leadership/high-skilled positions.

   • The article explicitly states a global statistic that serves as a benchmark indicator: “women comprise only 33% of researchers globally.” This quantifies the gender gap in science that the award aims to address.

2. Implied Indicator related to Target 10.2: Proportion of people or communities benefiting from inclusive tools.

   • The article implies an indicator by mentioning the “250 smaller municipalities” that lack resources. The number of these municipalities that successfully adopt and use the open-source AI tools would be a direct measure of progress in reducing this specific inequality.

3. Implied Indicator related to Target 11.2: Number of transportation systems designed with features for vulnerable groups.

   • Progress towards this target could be measured by the number of municipal mobility plans developed using the tool that include specific, documented provisions for the safety of pedestrians, cyclists, and consider gender-specific needs.

4. Implied Indicator related to Targets 11.6 and 13.2: Reduction in transport-related emissions.

   • While not explicitly stated, a key indicator for the success of designing infrastructure that “reduces emissions” would be the measured change in air quality or the calculated reduction in greenhouse gas emissions in the municipalities that implement the new transportation plans.

SDGs, Targets, and Indicators Analysis

Source: colombiaone.com