Emerging Trends in Cities of Tomorrow

Abstract

The Fourth Industrial Revolution, which includes a range of technologies such as artificial intelligence, robotics, and biosensors, is already underway and is rapidly changing the way we live. While many of the technologies being implemented are unquestionably useful, the rate at which this transformation is occurring as well as the impacts many of these technologies are having on privacy and security is of great concern. The cities of the future will increasingly depend on these new technologies to provide services to all citizens. Emerging technologies offer opportunities for inclusive and accessible urban environments, but ongoing dialogue and collaboration between different stakeholders is necessary to ensure that the future of cities is equitable for all. For this transformation to be successful, governments need to monitor and assess the impact of emerging technologies on citizens, particularly those with disabilities and those most at risk of exclusion. Targeted universalism is an approach that aims to achieve universal goals through targeted interventions, taking into account the specific needs of each group while maintaining a universal policy goal. This approach considers both specialized and universal goals and measures progress that is customized for each community in order to advance equity and social development objectives.

We need to revisit the way we plan cities because it is becoming clear that adhering to best practices helps cities become more resilient places. More importantly, we must ensure inclusivity is at the heart of how we manage cities. We need to create a greater level of livability and embed inclusivity to ensure that everyone has equal access to housing and public spaces. We need to put people before profit. (Maimunah Mohd Sharif, Under-Secretary-General and Executive Director of UN-Habitat)

As I checked out of the Emirates Towers Hotel, I witnessed the construction of the museum of the future. I closed my eyes and imagined a day in the not-too-distant future when all our work on accessibility would come to life. Here’s the story that I dreamed up that day: Fatima wakes up to the sound of her smart virtual assistant gently coaxing her out of bed. She smiles as she remembers the countless ways in which this technology has transformed her life.

As she gets dressed, she reaches for her white cane, which is always within easy reach. She knows that the smart city in which she lives is designed to be fully accessible to her, but she also knows that it never hurts to be prepared. As she steps outside, Fatima is immediately struck by the beauty of the city, it is described to her in rich visual descriptions by her Seeing AI enabled glasses. The buildings are sleek and modern, with clean lines and smooth surfaces. The streets are lined with lush trees and flowering plants, and the air is fresh and clean.

Fatima smiles as she feels the sun on her face. She knows that the city is designed to be responsive to her needs, and she can feel the warmth of the sun and the cool breeze on her skin. She gets a weather update and an autonomous vehicle pulls up and provides a visual description of the interior and her AI guides her in. She knows that this is just one of the countless ways in which the technology of the city enhances her life.

Her accessible vehicle is part of the public transportation system and as a disabled resident she gets a discount on her fare, Fatima is greeted by a friendly voice. “Good morning, Fatima,” the voice says. “Where would you like to go today?”

Fatima smiles and replies, “I’m going to the library today. I want to check out some new books.” They take off and the car continues playing her audio book where she left off.

The voice replies, “Very well. The library is just a short distance away. When we arrive, follow the path to the left, and you will be there in no time.”

The radically inclusive cities of tomorrow will increasingly rely on technology to effectively understand, manage, and deliver the services that meet the needs of all their citizens. In this way, understanding the future of cities is really about understanding transformation, as cities integrate with an increasing number of tech devices, sensors, and systems. This emerging trend of an increasing reliance on technologies has strong impacts on inclusion. For this technology-driven transformation to be a success requires that governments monitor and assess all aspects of the impact of emerging technologies on citizens, especially persons with disabilities and those at most risk of exclusion. The main arguments to focus on here include:

• 1. The need for proactive and forward-thinking approaches to urban governance, planning, and design in the face of rapid technological change.

• 2. The importance of considering the potential impacts of emerging technologies on issues of inclusion and belonging including the potential of emerging technologies to unlock new opportunities. There is also the need to ensure that these technologies are used in a way that benefits all members of a community.

• 3. The role of urban policymakers, planners, and designers in shaping the future of cities and the need for them to be proactive and responsive in addressing issues of inclusion and belonging.

• 4. The need for ongoing dialogue and collaboration between different stakeholders (including policymakers, technologists, community members, and others) in order to ensure that the future of cities is inclusive and equitable for all.

Cities of Tomorrow

The two most important contributors to the idea of the “city of tomorrow” are Peter Hall and Le Cobusier. Peter Hall’s seminal Cities of Tomorrow remains an unrivaled account of the history of planning in theory and practice, as well as of the social and economic problems and opportunities that gave rise to it. Now comprehensively revised, the fourth edition offers a perceptive, critical, and global history of urban planning and design throughout the twentieth century and beyond. But these visions could never have predicted the power and depth of social transformation that is occurring today. For their times, these thinkers were setting precedents. They laid out the vision that for better or worse led us to inherit an urban form that shaped cities in the twenty-first century.

Le Corbusier’s The City Without Streets, and Urban Utopias of the 20th Century are two of the most important contributions to the examination of these ideas. A revised and updated edition of the classic text, Urban Utopias of the 20th Century, from one of the most notable figures in the field of urban planning and design offers an incisive, insightful, and unrivaled critical history of planning in theory and practice, as well as of the underlying socio-economic challenges and opportunities. Comprehensively revised to take account of abundant new research published over the last decade, it reviews the development of the modern planning movement over the entire span of the twentieth century and beyond. It draws on global examples throughout and weaves the author’s own fascinating experiences into the text to illustrate this authoritative story of urban growth.¹

Values, Priorities, and Targeted Universalism

We don’t want universal policies anyways, we want universal goals. The goals should be universal, the policies should be targeted based on how we’re situated within structures and stories… So this actually becomes not only operationally but also in terms of communication, a bridging strategy. In order to do it you have to explicate what structures are doing, how we’re situated differently within structures, and what the universal is. And in doing so, you tell a story where everyone is in the story. (john powell, Director of the Othering & Belonging Institute at the University of California, Berkeley)

As cities grow and develop, they become the embodiment of society’s values at a certain point in time. The values we hold are reflected in the places we build and the manner in which we design and provide services to people living in cities. By adopting a universal goal of radical inclusion in our quest to create resilient cities, we are taking a targeted universalist approach to identify which groups are being excluded. Targeted universalism provides the tools to understand specific interventions/lifestyles/choices that are situated within race, gender, class, and sexual orientation. It also incorporates factors such as geography, immigration status, and disability and identifies the axis from which equity can be leveraged, achieved, advanced, or improved.

Universalist approaches provide the same products, services, benefits, and protections to everyone irrespective of individual identity. Targeted approaches, in contrast, offer specific products/services/benefits/protections to certain groups/demographics who need them. For example, food stamps qualification depends on income level.

Targeted universalism combines these approaches by setting universal goals that can be achieved through targeted approaches. The approach targets the various needs of each group while reminding us that we are all part of the same social fabric.² It rejects a blanket universal, which may be indifferent to the reality that different groups are situated differently relative to the institutions and resources of society.³

Targeted universalism is a platform to operationalize programs that move all groups toward a universal policy goal as well as an effective way of communicating such programs in an inclusive manner. Using this approach, it is possible to support the needs of particular groups, even the politically powerful or those in the majority, while communicating to all stakeholders that they are all part of the same social fabric. This makes targeted universalist policies more resistant to critiques that a government program has been designed only to serve special interests, whoever they may be. Targeted universalistic interventions serve to overcome structural exclusion and marginalization of outgroups and instead promote tangible experiences of belonging that serve the needs of both outgroups and more powerful or favored groups.⁴

Targeted universalism means setting universal goals and using targeted processes to achieve those goals. It is a platform to operationalize programs that move all groups toward a universal policy goal as well as a way of communicating and publicly marketing such programs in an inclusive, bridging manner.

The process by which it is carried out can be broken down into five steps:

• 1. Setting a universal goal

• 2. Measuring how the overall population fares relative to the goal

• 3. Measuring the performance of the population segments relative to the goal

• 4. Understanding how structures and other factors support or impede groups progress toward the universal goal

• 5. Implementing targeted strategies so that each group can achieve the universal goal based on their own needs and circumstances

A targeted universal strategy is one that is inclusive of the needs of both the dominant and marginal groups but pays particular attention to the situation of marginal groups. Targeted universalism rejects a blanket universal which is likely to be indifferent to the reality that different groups are situated differently relative to the institutions and resources of society. It also rejects the claim of formal equality that would treat all people the same as a way of denying difference. Any proposal would be evaluated by the outcome, not just the intent.

Among the core strengths of the targeted universalism framework is its potential for ingenuity and boldness in policy thinking, which opens up possibilities for experimentalist design in a more nuanced fashion that rejects “either-or” approaches. Targeted universalism requires us to consider both specialized approaches and universal goals. Can we measure progress that is both targeted and customized for each community, and yet advance broader based equity and social development objectives? How can we build access and governance by design? Below are a few considerations that allow urban practitioners to assess their programs, policies, and designs within a new radically inclusive approach. Systems that respond to and adapt to a user’s needs will consider the following:

• 1. Body Fit: Accommodating a wide range of body sizes and abilities.

• 2. Comfort: Keeping demands within desirable limits of body function and perception.

• 3. Awareness: Ensuring that critical information for use is easily perceived.

• 4. Understanding: Making methods of operation and use intuitive, clear, and unambiguous.

• 5. Wellness: Contributing to health promotion, avoidance of disease, and protection from hazards.

• 6. Social Integration: Treating all groups with dignity and respect.

• 7. Personalization: Incorporating opportunities for choice and the expression of individual preferences.

• 8. Cultural appropriateness: Respecting and reinforcing cultural values, and the social and environmental contexts of any design project.

How Do We Make These Values Real?

In order for cities to become more inclusive and resilient, it is important to consider not only the values and principles that guide our efforts, but also the practical considerations of how to finance, manage, procure, operationalize, and construct new design and governance approaches. Innovations in financing, such as disability bonds and crowdfunding, can help to make these values a reality by providing access to lower cost financing and support for inclusive initiatives.

Innovations in financing will be vital. As identified by Ayman Seijiny, CEO, The Islamic Corporation for the Development of the Private Sector (ICD) of the Islamic Development Bank Group (IsDB):

One of the best opportunities that exist to better include people with disabilities as beneficiaries of project-based initiatives is to follow a similar process to that created with green bonds. These ultimately allow for lower cost financing and a similar approach can be used to issue disability bonds. It will be interesting to see how disability can be benefited by these types of funding models that could also for example include crowdfunding and other alternative financing options.

The concept of “mobility as a service” can vastly improve accessibility for persons with disabilities or mobility limitations by providing on-demand transportation options and taking into consideration the entire mobility chain within a city. On-demand accessible taxi services, such as UberWAV and Lyft Access, which are wheelchair friendly and can be booked on short notice, are examples of this concept in action. By thinking holistically about the “mobility chain,” cities can expand the scope of planning for accessible transport to include all the nodes that connect social and physical infrastructure, enabling smart mobility. For example, this could involve integrating accessible taxi services with public transportation, as well as providing accessible pedestrian and bicycle infrastructure, in order to create a seamless and inclusive transportation network.

New design approaches can be taken, such as those used in DeafSpace. DeafSpace is an example of how the lived experience of disability can shape the design and planning of cities to create more inclusive and accessible spaces. DeafSpace was designed with the cultural preferences and communication needs of deaf people in mind, using Universal Design principles as a framework. While DeafSpace is designed to be accessible and easy to navigate for deaf people, it also has features that make it more accessible for non-deaf people, such as ramps, wide pathways, and rounded turns. This approach to design and planning can serve as a case study for other communities with disabilities, such as those with autism or visual impairments, as it demonstrates the importance of considering the unique needs and experiences of these communities in the design process.

Similar approaches have been used in buildings such as the San Francisco Lighthouse for the Blind, designed by blind architect Chris Downey. By including the perspectives and input of underrepresented communities in the planning process, cities can create greater senses of belonging. Future planners and designers can use DeafSpace as a model for how to create sensory-friendly spaces that are accessible and welcoming to all. The impact of this work on the future of cities cannot be overstated as it advances radical inclusion and creates new design standards and innovations that prioritize the needs of all members of a community.

The Fourth Industrial Revolution

We are currently experiencing the Fourth Industrial Revolution. It is the digital revolution that is being built on top of the electronic and information technology revolutions that came before it. Klaus Schwab, Founder and Executive Chairman of the World Economic Forum, defines the Fourth Industrial Revolution as the rapid set of changes that are occurring to:

Create a world in which virtual and physical systems of manufacturing globally cooperate with each other in a flexible way. This enables the absolute customization of products and the creation of new operating models. The Fourth Industrial Revolution, however, is not only about smart and connected machines and systems. Its scope is much wider. Occurring simultaneously are waves of further breakthroughs in areas ranging from gene sequencing to nanotechnology, from renewables to quantum computing. It is the fusion of these technologies and their interaction across the physical, digital, and biological domains that make the Fourth Industrial Revolution fundamentally different from previous revolutions.⁵

The Fourth Industrial Revolution incorporates a whole range of technologies including biosensors, robotics, drones, blockchain, and artificial intelligence. It is a range of different forces that is shaping the ways that we will live and rewriting the equations of who is going to be empowered and who is going to be disempowered, who is going to be included and who is going to be excluded.

It is important to recognize that this current transformation has already been underway for many years. But the Fourth Industrial Revolution is the framework upon which we can understand how society’s production capacity and the capability to produce value has changed, evolved, and merged with many other technologies that are currently under development and being piloted. Examples of these types of disruptive technologies include fully autonomous vehicles, 3D printing of complex parts, nanotechnology to produce miniaturized electronics, blockchain technologies,⁶ and the use of quantum computing that will revolutionize drug research and development.

Emerging technologies have the potential to advance urban access and inclusion, and promote radical inclusion, which is the idea that everyone, regardless of background or ability, should have access to the same opportunities and experiences. Here are some innovative approaches that are leveraging emerging technologies:

• Augmented Reality (AR) and Virtual Reality (VR): AR and VR technologies can be used to create immersive and inclusive experiences that help people with disabilities, including those with autism, navigate and access public spaces. For example, AR and VR can be used to create virtual guides that provide step-by-step instructions on how to navigate public transportation or locate accessible entrances to buildings.

• Internet of Things (IoT): IoT technologies can be used to create more inclusive and accessible environments, such as smart homes and buildings that can be customized to meet the needs of people with disabilities. For example, sensors and smart devices can be used to automate tasks, such as turning on lights or adjusting the thermostat, to make homes more accessible and comfortable for people with disabilities.

• Machine Learning (ML) and Artificial Intelligence (AI): ML and AI can be used to create more personalized and inclusive experiences for people with disabilities. For example, ML and AI can be used to develop speech recognition technologies that can adapt to different accents and dialects, making it easier for people with speech impairments to communicate.

• Open data for mobile apps: Open data on accessibility can power a new generation of mobile apps. For example, Accessibility.Cloud⁷ managed by Sozialhelden in Berlin has crowdsourced tens of millions of GIS data points on accessibility. Initiatives such as this can be used to create more accessible and inclusive environments, such as apps that provide real-time information on accessible routes or accessible parking spots. Mobile apps can also be used to promote inclusive experiences, such as apps that provide information on accessible events and activities in the community.

• Social media: Social media can be used to promote radical inclusion by providing a platform for people with disabilities to connect with each other and share their experiences. Social media can also be used to raise awareness and promote advocacy for disability rights and inclusion.

• Blockchain: Blockchain technology can be used to create more inclusive and secure systems for managing identity and financial transactions. For example, blockchain-based systems can be used to create digital identities that are secure and easily verifiable, making it easier for people with disabilities to access services and participate in the economy. This can be especially important for people with disabilities who may face challenges in accessing traditional financial systems, such as those who are unbanked or underbanked.

•  Blockchain technology can create more transparent and accountable systems for managing individual identities and accessing public resources, such as public transportation or affordable housing. By using blockchain-based systems to track the use of public resources, it becomes easier to identify areas where resources are not being used effectively and make changes to ensure that everyone has equal access to these resources.

By effectively governing the development and distribution of these emerging technologies, radical inclusion is no longer an idea, it can be a fact and a mechanism to unlock human potential and broaden the base of engagement through more equitable access to the public realm.

Technology-Driven Transformation

The rapid growth of technology is currently being accelerated right now faster than at any point in time due to the current COVID-19 crisis. Because of this crisis, all of us are working from home and able to continue with our day to day lives because of technology. The internet, video conferencing, and connected devices are allowing city governments, companies and businesses to continue to operate today. (Jeff Merritt, Head for IOT, Robotics, Smart Cities Center for the Fourth Industrial Revolution, World Economic Forum)

The current technology-led transformation we are experiencing includes the Internet of Things (IoT), which is an entire system of interrelated computing devices. These are both mechanical and digital machines that transfer data over a network without requiring human-to-human or human-to-computer interaction. As a result, there are now already more connected devices in the world today than there are humans.

The sheer number of IoT devices already deployed creates some cause for concern. There is a clear need to guarantee data security and privacy. While these new technologies are an integral part of lives, there is also a need to ensure technologies such as AI and Big Data also protect our human rights.

Innovations in technology are unleashing new approaches to inclusive urban development. Additional focus needs to be put toward data management and ownership (including data collection, data cleaning, data structuring, and the deployment of accessibility data standards) in the provision of city services. This impacts data sharing, data storage, data analysis based on accessibility related problem sets, diverse personas, and vital scenario planning (like inclusive emergency preparedness) that the city is trying to resolve.

Accessibility in digital transformation efforts can also help improve transparency, accountability, and reach of public services to all. Furthermore, digital accessibility can help unlock new user insights and offer data needed to improve policy deliberations and measure in a disaggregated manner the realization of existing global commitments. It can also provide context-specific methods of assessing negative social attitudes, as well as mobilizing civil society to address complex factors and persistent challenges.

We need to create a set of norms that should be driving technologies such as AI, robotics, and Big Data to ensure these technologies are used virtuously in an inclusive and transparent way. We should be able to monitor the social impact of these technologies as we deploy them. This needs to occur in virtual sandboxes or policy sandboxes as we experiment with their uses, benefits, and potential drawbacks.

We are moving faster in the transformation than we are in regulating that transformation. So we must ensure that the prevention of social harm is prioritized. We must also ensure that the rollout or uptake of these technologies is done in a way that prevents discrimination or the reinforcement of inequalities on marginalized groups or those most at risk of exclusion.

Agile Cities and Buildings

In the Fourth Industrial Revolution, cities are shifting their focus from building up infrastructure and systems to making those systems more accessible and adaptable to changing citizen needs and new technologies. Agile cities are those that embrace transformation and use data-driven approaches to deliver services and support their citizens in a rapidly changing world. Agile cities are flexible and responsive, with a willingness to rezone land for more responsive and temporary uses, a mix of buildings with multiple functions, smart and data-driven policing and prevention strategies, accessible and interoperable transport systems that are optimized by real-time information, energy networks that maximize the use of renewables and protect vulnerable populations (like people who need power for medical reasons), and education systems that adapt to the specific needs of students (student centric) as well as the changing needs of the economy.

• Physical Elements:

  • Incorporating accessible design features such as ramps and elevators in public buildings and transportation systems to better serve individuals with disabilities.

  • Developing green infrastructure, such as rooftop gardens and green walls, to improve air quality and reduce the urban heat island effect.

  • Implementing smart traffic management systems, such as traffic sensors and variable speed limits, to reduce congestion and improve mobility in urban areas.

• Digital Elements:

  • Using smart city technologies, such as sensors and data analytics, to improve the efficiency and sustainability of urban services, such as waste management and energy distribution.

  • Leveraging the Internet of Things (IoT) to create connected, responsive public spaces that can adapt to changing citizen needs, such as providing real-time information on transportation options and traffic conditions.

  • Integrating artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning algorithms into urban planning and decision-making processes to better understand and anticipate citizen needs and preferences.

• Environmental Factors:

  • Implementing low-carbon transportation systems, such as electric buses and bike-sharing programs, to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and improve air quality.

  • Developing green buildings, such as those that use renewable energy sources and incorporate sustainable design features, to reduce the environmental impact of urban development.

  • Investing in nature-based solutions, such as urban forests and green roofs, to mitigate the effects of climate change and improve the health and wellbeing of urban residents.

• Inclusive Innovation:

  • Engaging with diverse communities and stakeholders to co-design and co-create urban solutions that meet the needs and preferences of a wide range of individuals.

  • Investing in technology and digital literacy programs to ensure that all citizens have equal access to the benefits of new technologies.

  • Developing policies and programs that support the participation of underrepresented groups, such as women, low-income individuals, and people with disabilities, in urban decision-making processes and innovation initiatives.⁸

These concepts must also extend to the buildings within agile cities. Agile buildings are carbon-neutral, energy positive, technically sophisticated, and support a diverse mix of uses and activities through flexible space usage and shared working arrangements. They embrace the concept of “total building performance,” which evaluates building performance based on six core categories of design—spatial, acoustic, visual, thermal, indoor air quality (IAQ), and building integrity.

Agile buildings create market incentives for the transformation of old and underperforming building stock according to six key performance indicators: carbon reduction, energy independence, occupant health, integration with urban infrastructure, real-time performance monitoring, and system interoperability. Agile buildings leverage Big Data and real-time monitoring, making extensive use of the latest in sensor technology and leaning heavily on principles such as interoperability and passive design. Through transit-oriented design, they encourage walkability and provide easy access to mass transportation.

Engineering New Approaches Through Partnerships

Due to the extensive fragmentation inherent in the architectural and engineering disciplines of the construction industry, partnering can be of great value to owners, agencies, government, private developers, and all other stakeholders. Unlike project delivery methods with a greater focus on team collaboration via relational contracts, project partnering can be utilized as a means of promoting collaboration and integration under any type of project delivery method. It therefore provides great opportunities to improve team integration across all types of projects, including public ones that require low-bid procurement and are delivered using the design-bid-build arrangement.⁹ Partnering also offers a highly effective means of integrating the knowledge and expertise of disabled persons organizations in implementing accessibility standards and measures into major developments.

The motto, “Nothing about us without us” has evolved into the simple phrase, “Nothing without us.” Persons with disabilities should be engaged along the supply chain, and organizations representing the needs of persons with disabilities need to enter partnerships with developers within the construction industry. The greatest shortcoming can be found in relation to architects, who often fail to consider the lifetime approach to the spaces they build and in some cases are hostile to access features that they feel may cloud their vision for spaces that may meet a particular esthetic but are poorly suited to the needs of a large part of the population who will be actually using that space. As Raymond Lichez stated in the opening of his vital work, Design for Independent Living, architecture should be the “thoughtful structuring of places to inhabit. It should be enabling. The architect should make it possible for people to have encounters with the environment that make them able to do more, to know more, to experience the world in ways that augment, rather than diminish, their sense of dignity and competence and joy, and that awaken their interest in one another.”¹⁰

Design firms that center on Universal Design have created some of the most beautiful and forward looking buildings. However, they struggle to find the right partners in engineering and construction industries who have practical experience interpreting and operationalizing the vision for these “inclusive and accessible spaces.” Partnerships should be based on a common set of values and disabled persons organizations should be supported and paid as expert consultants. Over 40 years ago, Professor Raymond Lichez brought new approaches to the architecture studio course he taught at the University of California Berkeley. He championed the creation of diverse and integrated teams that placed disabled residents as expert consultants. These disabled residents were treated as expert consultants and paid for their time. They supported students through designing a variety of spaces and projects. Many of these students have since gone on to be successful architects that have these sensibilities in mind. Firms and cities should be doing the same.

Training and sensitization are also vital across teams, and having the right technical advisors can save a project. However, too often we think about a climate advisor, or a gender advisor, while accessibility gets overlooked. These advisors can provide support, but the long-term capabilities should also be built internally through continuous learning, education, and training. This was vital in Abu Dhabi where there was a need to understand and disseminate knowledge across 26 agencies across the emirate. The knowledge was strongly tied to adopting KPIs and indicators in alignment with global frameworks in order to ensure the development and implementation of evidence based policies and programs. In particular, the specific requirements of the UNCRPD and the inclusion targets of the Sustainable Development Goals were customized across the governmental agencies to fulfill global mandates along with policy/program goals at the emirate level. Ultimately, the capacity building program over a two-year span allowed city officials, policymakers, and service providers to develop strong internal expertise, consolidating a more inclusive organizational ethos along with inclusive development policy and programs approaches and tools. This creates an ecosystem equipped to deliver on inclusion mandates and builds a new sense of pride for the future: A future for all.

The City Architect of Yerevan, Armenia once told me the following story. “I used to think these disabled activists were so annoying, always complaining, until I actually saw the challenges myself. Instead of looking at their inputs as complaints, I saw their knowledge as an asset and created a process by which the disability rights groups would partner with the city on infrastructure upgrading. They would be hired to identify, prioritize, and then supervise the execution of infrastructure improvements in the center of the city. They would also hold the purse strings and would need to sign off on completed projects for the contractor to be paid. That would ensure the public resources were used correctly, and the final results met the needs of the users. We now have a productive relationship with these groups and value their input and understanding of the communities they serve.”

Data-Driven Urban Planning and Governance

Cities are complex systems, with many interconnected components that influence one another. Urban planners, policymakers, designers, and construction managers have long used data and analytics to understand and address the challenges facing cities. In recent years, advances in data science and machine learning capabilities have enabled the development of new algorithms and more powerful analytics systems that can help us better understand and govern urban environments. However, the use of data and algorithms in urban governance also raises important questions about potential bias and discrimination. Here, we will explore the potential of data and algorithms to improve urban planning, design, and construction, and identify the challenges and ethical considerations associated with their use.

The role of data and algorithms in urban governance, urban planning, and urban design and construction is expanding. This is due to the fact that the volumes of city-derived data are increasing as are the capabilities of data analytics and artificial intelligence to process and derive insights from this data. These tools are being used to collect, analyze, and interpret enormous amounts of data in order to make better informed decisions about the design, development, and management of cities.

Data and Algorithms in Urban Planning and Governance

One of the earliest examples of utilizing data analytics and AI to significant benefit was in the realm of transportation planning. By collecting data on traffic patterns, travel times, and congestion levels, urban planners began using data analytics and AI algorithms to develop more efficient transportation systems. This included everything from optimizing traffic light timing to predicting demand for public transit services. This use case will continue to expand significantly as the development and rollout of self-driving vehicles continues. This also extends to the optimization of public transportation routes and schedules. By analyzing data on the movement of people throughout the city, urban planners can design transportation systems that are more efficient and accessible, benefiting both citizens and the environment.

Another area where data analytics and AI are being utilized is in the planning and management of public services. By analyzing data on demographics, population density, and other factors, city officials can use AI algorithms to identify areas where services are needed and allocate resources more effectively. This can for example be applied to predicting demand for healthcare services and schools within a city’s regions. Some of the key benefits of using data and algorithms for urban governance purposes include improved decision-making, more efficient resource allocation, and enhanced resilience to environmental and social challenges. It can also be used to identify areas of a city with high concentrations of disadvantaged communities. This information can help allocate targeted resources and services, such as affordable housing and healthcare, to those areas in order to improve the wellbeing of the citizens living there.

Data and Algorithms in Urban Design and Construction

There is a need to further explore the use of data and algorithms in urban design and construction including architecture, landscape architecture, public space design, and construction management. Some areas where these techniques are already being beneficially used are in Building Information Modeling (BIM) and in the construction process itself. BIM allows for the production of a digital representation of the physical and functional characteristics of a building, which allows architects, engineers, and construction professionals to analyze and simulate a building’s performance before it is built. By using data analytics and algorithms, BIM can help identify potential problems and design more efficient and sustainable buildings. Similarly, by using data analytics and algorithms in the construction process itself, construction companies can identify inefficiencies and optimize their processes. By collecting data on materials, labor, and other factors, construction companies can help reduce waste, improve safety, and speed up construction times, making the entire process more efficient and cost-effective.

Future researchers should explore how data and algorithms can be used at greater scale to inform and evaluate design and construction decisions and discuss the potential benefits and drawbacks of these approaches. Unless we address the challenges of incorporating data and algorithms into the design and construction process we will continue to further inequality and exclusion.

Data-driven urban planning and governance can also be used to create more inclusive and accessible public spaces. For instance, by analyzing data on the demographics and needs of a city’s population, urban planners can design parks and other public spaces that are accessible to people with disabilities and meet the diverse needs of the community.

Overall, data-driven urban planning and governance can advance belonging, inclusion, and overall wellbeing for citizens by enabling cities to target resources and services to those who need them most, optimize public systems and infrastructure, and create more inclusive and accessible public spaces.

Drawbacks and Ethical Concerns

One of the greatest shortcomings of a reliance on data driven urban planning and governance is the possibility of bias and discrimination in the data and algorithms used. This can lead to further bias and discrimination against marginalized groups where the algorithms used were trained on biased data. If the data used to train an algorithm is biased, the algorithm will learn to reproduce that bias and make decisions that are unfair or discriminatory toward certain groups. For example, if an algorithm used for housing allocation is trained on data that reflects existing patterns of segregation and discrimination, it may perpetuate those biases and exclude people with disabilities from certain neighborhoods or housing opportunities.

Another way that data-driven urban planning and governance can lead to bias and discrimination is through the lack of representation and inclusion in the decision-making process. Data-driven approaches to urban planning and governance often rely on data collected from a limited and potentially unrepresentative sample of the population. If certain groups, including people with disabilities, are not included in the data collection and decision-making process, their needs and concerns may not be taken into account. This can result in urban policies and practices that are not inclusive or accessible, and that exacerbate existing inequalities and discrimination. In order to address these types of concerns, strategies need to be put in place that can mitigate bias and discrimination in data-driven urban governance, such as through dedicated data auditing and bias detection exercises that lead to the use of diverse and inclusive data sets.

Overall, the use of data analytics and AI-based algorithms is enabling urban planners and city officials to make more informed, data-driven decisions about the development and management of cities. Provided there is good oversight of the data collection and interpretation processes used, this can lead to more efficient, sustainable, and livable urban environments for all residents. But it is vital that the risks and drawbacks of using these approaches and technologies are recognized and measures put in place that actively ensure that the data sourced is accurate and inclusive of all of a city’s residents.

Callout Box—News Article

• Digital twin cities: The new frontier on our connected streets

• Source: The Mandarin

Consider This

Combined with the smart city movement, new macroeconomic conditions have prompted governments all over the world to invest in the planning and development of modern cities that reimagine the way we live and work. But rebuilding busy, often congested cities, while keeping them functioning is a challenging and sometimes expensive proposition. While urban planners and governments have been collecting big-picture data for some time, new technologies are encouraging the capture of ever more granular data. This enables initiatives such as “digital twins” that can help in planning efforts by comparing cities with national or global counterparts.

The use of data-driven intelligence and digital twins in urban planning is changing the way cities are built and rebuilt, allowing for more efficient and sustainable solutions to be developed. Digital twins allow urban planners to simulate proposed designs and test their impact on a city’s environment, while data-driven intelligence allows for the capture of granular data on factors such as the movement of traffic or people or the distribution of canopy cover or public facilities to inform planning decisions. These approaches are being used in cities around the world to address issues such as traffic congestion, unaffordable housing, vandalism and youth crime, accessibility, and environmental degradation. The global smart cities market is expected to grow significantly in the coming years, with a focus on using technology and data to create cleaner, better connected, more sustainable, and more inclusive urban environments.