Ethics of Artificial Intelligence: Vietnam’s Ethical AI Approach to Digital Governance
Author | Lucía Burbano Vietnam has taken steps to incorporate ethics into its national roadmap for Artificial Intelligence. Specifically, ethical AI, transparency, and accountability are being integrated into policy design and legal frameworks, placing the country among the pioneering ASEAN nations not only in AI implementation but also in this ethical governance approach. The recent […]
Sustainable Examples: Inspiring Practices and Projects for a Greener Tomorrow
Author | Lucía Burbano Leading by example, through real, data-backed cases and measurable indicators, is the best proof that something works. When it comes to sustainability, cities are often the best practical case and a driving force behind initiatives in diverse and complex fields that showcase the wide ecosystem of solutions leading to truly sustainable […]
How Bhutan is moving its national identification system to blockchain
Author | Raquel C. Pico For several years now, Bhutan’s public image has been linked to happiness. The country itself has included the well-being of its citizens among its official statistical measures (and prioritizes what it calls Gross National Happiness over the traditional GDP, the Gross Domestic Product). It was also the driving force behind […]
Smart city project: planning, examples, and key success factors
Author | Raquel C. Pico Just over half of the world’s population already lives in a city, a figure set to rise. The United Nations estimates that by 2050, 68% of people will live in urban areas. Migration from rural areas and the concentration of resources in specific regions will drive this increase. For cities, […]
The other sponge cities: how large urban areas attract talent, industry, and services
Author | Raquel C. Pico You are born, you grow up, and when it comes time to pursue a career, you move to the big city to make the most of all your talents. In broad terms, this is the storyline of many films, novels, and series, becoming almost a staple of fiction. It works […]
How Lancaster, California, is using AI tech to speed up permit approvals
Author | Raquel C. Pico Can artificial intelligence completely change the day-to-day life of cities? While the more recreational uses of AI—like editing a photo or answering everyday questions—are what tend to capture the general public’s attention, the potential of this tool goes far beyond that. In fact, this is exactly what is starting to […]
Can AI tools reduce infrastructure losses from disasters?
Author | Elvira Esparza Natural disasters have caused annual losses of around 170 billion euros worldwide over the past 15 years, according to a Deloitte report. These losses will rise to 400 billion by 2050 because climate change is driving an increase in such disasters. Additionally, these catastrophes are expected to occur more frequently in the coming years. […]
From waste to watts: how cities are turning trash into sustainable energy
Author | Elvira Esparza Converting urban and industrial waste into energy is how some countries tackle the massive amounts of trash piling up in landfills, as well as related issues like soil and groundwater contamination. Waste-to-energy (WTE) plants are locations where trash is turned into energy, reducing landfill waste while generating power. The key difference […]
What is a turbo roundabout?
Author | Lucía Burbano In their goal of improving traffic flow and safety, cities continue to seek and implement mobility solutions. One of the most distinctive is the turbo roundabout, developed in the Netherlands in the 1990s and now adopted by many other countries and cities for its positive impact on urban design. How is […]
Kansai airport is fighting to stay above the sea
Text | Raquel C. Pico Airports are one of the hot spots of urban mobility. Those in certain cities, in particular, are also at the center of rather surprising stories, shaped by topography, geography, or sometimes by risky construction decisions made at their inception. This is the case with Japan’s Kansai Airport, which was built […]