AI urbanism: risks and benefits of a seemingly unstoppable movement
Author | Lucía Burbano Although it is invisible to the human eye, artificial intelligence is everywhere, particularly in cities. And we are all helping, consciously or not, to improve its learning, since we generate data when we walk, when we use public transport or when we access public facilities and other public spaces. The potential […]
What is digital sustainability and how does it affect cities?
Author | Raquel C. Pico Digitalization has become the cornerstone for the major transformations of the 21st century. Technology allows important advancements and its high transformative power provides major benefits, also for cities. But this revolution is not without risks and potential negative impacts, particularly on people and the environment. Therefore, achieving digital sustainability is […]
Four common mistakes made in public parks and garden planning
Author | Elvira Esparza For many people living in cities, public parks and gardens are the only contact they have with nature. It is good to be close to them for the benefits they provide: they are spaces for fun and recreation, they foster socialization, they reduce air pollution, they improve climate conditions within cities […]
The United States plans to include breathalyzers in cars
Author | Elvira Esparza The United States National Highway Traffic and Safety Administration (NHTSA) has initiated a process to standardize a safety system in new cars that prevents drivers from driving under the influence of alcohol. The aim is to reduce the number of traffic accidents caused by drunk driving. How can breathalyzers be integrated […]
Cities that are preparing their infrastructures to adapt to climate change
Author | M. Martínez Euklidiadas Adapting urban environments to the climate crisis is becoming increasingly urgent with every passing decade, which is why associations such as C40 Cities Climate Leadership Group, ICLEI-Local Governments for Sustainability or World Mayors Council on Climate Change (WMCCC) are becoming more active. With longer periods of drought, more unpredictable and […]
Which cities are paving the way to proper waste-to-energy generation
Author | M. Martínez Euklidiadas Companies and people generate vast amounts of waste. As the population becomes urbanized, this waste originates in cities, and the favorite destination are landfill sites, where the waste decomposes, generating methane or contaminating water sources. But there are two exceptions: recyclable materials, which are transformed in the circuit to become […]
How Taipei is using robotic firefighters to enhance disaster responses
Author | Lucía Burbano Classified as a high risk job, firefighters are exposed to risks that include burns, smoke inhalation and injuries caused by fire and falling structures, as well as potential chronic respiratory diseases. In 2022, the U.S. National Fire Protection Association reported a total of 96 fatal firefighter injuries occurring while they were […]
Discover the alternative Barcelona, Europe’s first digital twin
Author | M. Martínez Euklidiadas Barcelona’s digital twins like those created thanks to the Barcelona Supercomputing Center – Centro Nacional de Supercomputación (BSC-CNS) are being used to validate future initiatives in the city. The different models, which simulate the city of Barcelona in aspects including mobility, accessibility, urbanism, health, etc., will serve as a starting […]
Austria and social housing: a model often copied but seldom achieved
Author | Lucía Burbano More than 60% of Vienna’s 1.8 million inhabitants live in subsidized housing, or Gemeindebauten, and almost half of the housing market is made up of city-owned flats or cooperative apartments. The Austrian capital adopted this social model at the end of World War I. Other cities have implemented different strategies. Have […]
Privacy protection in smart cities: How are they taking care of citizens’ most precious information?
Author | Lucía Burbano Cities have always collected and stored citizens’ personal data through tax collection procedures or when processing applications, among others. However, the rapid increase in smart urban devices such as cameras and other IoT sensors, has increased the type and volume of personal data that are collected. How are cities protecting our […]