Unexpected risks of urban wildfires: How smoke and soot threaten cities
Author | Elvira Esparza Urban forest fires are more hazardous because the materials burned release far more than just soot and ash, emitting a complex mix of toxic pollutants. The rising incidence of forest fires due to climate change highlights their severe consequences for both public health and urban environments. During forest fires, the burning […]
Zero emissions trains: are they worth the hype?
Author | Raquel C. Pico Sustainable transportation is one of the key priorities on the list of sustainable development goals. The movement of people, raw materials, and products continues to grow, making reduction a highly complex challenge. As a result, the focus is on developing green transportation and sustainable mobility with a minimal carbon footprint—or, […]
What is the BIM methodology, and how is it transforming civil engineering and construction?
Author | Raquel C. Pico Construction is one of the world’s oldest economic sectors. Humans have needed all types of infrastructure since the beginning of time. Perhaps that is why, from the outside, the industry is often perceived as traditional and resistant to digital transformation. However, this is not entirely accurate, as new technologies are […]
Dubai is on a mission to introduce over 100 flying cars by 2026
Author | Lucía Burbano Dubai is no stranger to breaking records, especially in architecture and urban planning. Now, the city is once again making global headlines with the announcement that, as early as this year, VTOL (Vertical Take-Off and Landing) vehicles will take to its skies. These flying vehicles are at the core of the […]
The mobility pyramid: a roadmap for a future of sustainable urban transport
The Parisian Olympic Village was designed to be more sustainable than ever, but is it helping solve the Urban Heat Island effect?
Internet of forests’ technology introduced to protect rainforests in Colombia
Author | Elvira Esparza Colombia has developed an innovative Internet of Forests (IoF) program to monitor and analyze the health of its tropical rainforest. By digitally connecting forests, the initiative aims to generate sustainable economic and social benefits for rural communities. Colombia ranks second in the world for biodiversity, home to over 50,000 species of […]
How generative AI is shaping today’s cities
Author | Elvira Esparza Generative artificial intelligence plays a pivotal role in the development of smart cities, offering innovative solutions across a wide range of sectors. Linker Vision, through its GenAI Observ platform, is leveraging Vision Language Models (VLMs) and Large-Scale Vision Models (LVMs) to develop cutting-edge applications. These technologies power AI-driven video analysis agents, […]
Drone in a box: a solution for emergency response
Author | Raquel C. Pico Since their emergence a few years ago, drones have demonstrated their potential in solving various challenges and enabling the development of innovative services. Although they initially sparked interest as novel or entertaining gadgets, it quickly became evident that drones could take on critical and essential roles. Emergency services are one […]
What is permeable paving?
Author | Lucía Burbano Water resources are becoming increasingly precious and scarce, necessitating the implementation of sustainable management solutions in urban areas. Permeable paving is gaining attention for its ability to harness rainwater, enabling cities to align sustainable practices with the natural water cycle and implement the sponge city concept. To underscore the urgency of […]
How Washington is testing low carbon district energy systems to improve its sustainability
Author | Lucía Burbano Heating and cooling systems in buildings in the United States make up approximately 43% of the nation’s total energy consumption. Fossil fuels used in these heating and cooling systems contribute significantly to greenhouse gas emissions, increasing air pollution and accelerating the effects of climate change, according to the U.S. Environmental Protection […]