OpenCyberCity Testbed
OpenCyberCity (OCC) at Virginia Commonwealth University (VCU) is a research and education testbed that brings smart-city technologies to life in a controlled, interactive environment. Housed within the VCU College of Engineering, the Testbed supports collaborative research into cybersecurity, cyber-physical systems, autonomous technologies, and smart infrastructure.
The Testbed connects physical devices, sensors, software, and communication networks to explore how interconnected systems operate and interact. Its capabilities include a scale-model hospital building equipped with environmental sensors and automated features, research into intelligent transportation systems and autonomous vehicles, and smart water distribution systems designed to improve efficiency and resource management.
By providing a platform for experimentation, demonstration, and collaboration, OpenCyberCity helps researchers and students investigate the opportunities and security challenges associated with increasingly connected urban environments. Its development has been supported in large part by the Commonwealth Cyber Initiative (CCI).
Research and Capabilities
• Smart Infrastructure: Explore connected systems and the interactions between physical infrastructure, sensors, and software.
• Cyber-Physical Security: Investigate cybersecurity challenges affecting interconnected devices, networks, and control systems.
• Intelligent Transportation: Support research involving autonomous ground vehicles, roadside units, robotics, and communications.
• Connected Healthcare Environments: Use the scale-model hospital environment to investigate connected building systems and potential integration with medical device security research.
Learn More and Get Involved
For more information about OpenCyberCity’s research, capabilities, publications, and ongoing projects, visit the official OpenCyberCity Testbed website.
Researchers, students, and organizations interested in potential research collaborations or opportunities to participate are encouraged to contact: