Novel UK standard system to accelerate local energy planning
The United Kingdom has launched a new energy standard to make local energy planning faster and more effective, thanks to the standardization of processes and data sharing between local authorities and grid operators. This plan will benefit communities and save local councils time and money.
Climate Resilience: 4 Key Areas Cities Are Focusing On
Climate change has made extreme weather events increasingly common and more severe. Heat waves, torrential rains, and other natural disasters are forcing cities to make new design decisions. The way to address these challenges lies in climate resilience.
Apartment housing development has been on the decline in many cities – what’s next?
One of the major challenges of this decade is the housing crisis: it affects several countries as a cross cutting issue in which demand for housing is not being met. The slowdown in the construction of apartment buildings is, at first glance, one of the key reasons. The reality, however, is far more complex than a lack of housing developments.
Advantages (and the odd disadvantage) of 3D urban planning
3D printing shows great potential for planning, architecture and construction, but also has some disadvantages that should be addressed
Smart Utilities: Digital Transformation in Urban Services
Historically, public utility systems were designed for one-way supply and centralized control, leading to inefficient asset utilization. By contrast, smart utilities integrate sensors, advanced analytics, and automation to create self-monitoring and self-optimizing networks capable of real-time system oversight, predictive analysis, and dynamic two-way communication between public services and customers.
Pedal to the people: the bicycle as a feminist tool
From the first bicycles to modern programmes and innovations: Explore how cycling have served as a vehicle for social change and women’s emancipation since the 19th century—a symbol of modernity and equality that endures.
Robots, AI, and automation: the 4th industrial revolution is here
Like the first three other industrial revolutions, automation will speed up production, but it will also mean significant challenges to people
Ecological construction: how urbanism is learning from the past and the future
Could the sustainable construction of the future use the ecological construction of the past as a reference? If sustainable architecture is a prerequisite of smart cities, the use of traditional materials and techniques is also necessary.
How some developing cities are integrating smart technology to improve processes
There may be a handful of cities located in developing countries that are classified as smart cities. Although they are less prevalent than in other regions, these pioneering cities are breaking the mold by strategically deploying innovative technologies to tackle urban challenges, drawing on the experiences of other smart cities and adapting solutions to fit local conditions.
Big Data and Smart Cities: How Data Shapes the Urban Future
The use of big data in urban development has transformed the way cities are designed and managed. It allows urban planners to make decisions about infrastructure, transportation, housing, and public services based on the needs of the city.