Five urban trends shaping city design globally
Author | Lucía Burbano Smart cities are driven by a commitment to excellence; they aspire to greater sustainability, innovation, inclusiveness, and health, while fostering opportunities and nurturing improved communication with their residents. In order to achieve their goals, technology serves as a powerful ally, but so does human-centric management in issues such as effective governance […]
Why, two decades on, Singapore’s Intelligent Transport System is considered the best in the world
Author | Lucía Burbano When it comes to the development of smart cities, Singapore stands as a pioneering force across so many facets, warranting not just an article but an entire book. Focusing solely on its virtues and advancements in the realm of smart mobility and data management and analysis used to increase sustainability, reduce […]
Public toilets, technology and accessibility
This is a guest post by Lucía Bellocchio, founder and executive director of Trend Smart Cities. Lucía has extensive experience working on urban innovation, and has written in leading media outlets in South America like La Nación, El Observador, Clarín or TN. When spring arrives, people flock to outdoor spaces seeking some time in the […]
How private companies are exerting a growing influence on urban planning processes
Author | Lucía Burbano The collaboration between the public and private sectors has facilitated the execution of highly innovative projects that might have otherwise struggled to materialize. The landscape of urban development partnerships is diverse, mirroring the growing trend among cities to entrust private entities with enhancing their quality. These companies need not always be […]
Why depopulation and birthrate decline are on the rise
Author | Raquel C. Pico The headline dominated media coverage in the early months of 2024: Spain’s 2023 birth count of 332,075 marked a historic low, echoing across front pages as the lowest figure since records commenced in 1941. The number of births was not a new revelation; for years, media outlets have been drawing […]
New York will have a vast island-laboratory to explore the effects of climate change
Author | Elvira Esparza Governors Island in New York is set to become a cutting-edge laboratory, where groundbreaking solutions for addressing climate change will undergo testing and implementation. This initiative will not only impact the city but also extend its influence globally. The Climate Solutions Challenge offers companies a platform to test these innovations, aiming […]
Could genetically modified species be the key to greener cities?
Author | Raquel C. Pico In contrast to organic agriculture, which emphasizes the exclusive use of natural resources, alternative methods of crop cultivation are emerging. Some involve the technological advancement of farming practices, while others use genetically modified organisms to enhance efficiency. Genetically modified organisms, commonly known as GMOs, originate from genetic engineering, a process […]
How the United States is preparing for the advent of zero-emission transportation
Author | Elvira Esparza The United States has devised a plan aimed at achieving zero-emission status for all new commercial vehicles sold by 2040, by establishing essential charging infrastructure along major freight transportation corridors. This pioneering initiative holds tremendous potential, particularly for a country where the majority of freight transportation, over 70% based on the […]
The Wave House: The world’s largest 3D printed building
Author | Lucía Burbano Contrary to being dismissed as a passing trend, the widespread emergence of 3D-printed building projects worldwide confirms that this technology is a real and forward-thinking pursuit. The Wave House stands as the latest example of this trend, representing a pioneering project within industrial construction. It joins a growing cohort of architectural […]
What are the imminent remote working trends that will affect cities?
Author | Raquel C. Pico The need for social distancing brought on by the pandemic catalyzed the remote working trend unlike any other phenomenon. Before the health crisis, not all workers, and certainly not all employers, were equipped to embrace remote work—a practice enabled by new technologies that allow work obligations to be fulfilled without […]