Smart and Caring Cities: Toward a New Urban Paradigm
Caring cities are the future of smart cities: spaces that recognize the value of care as a pillar of urban life and integrate it into strategic planning.
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 […]
Connected Smart Cities: How Smart Cities Connect and Thrive
One of the most defining features of a smart city is its capacity to assimilate new technologies. However, what do we understand by technology for smart cities? No, it is not a list of devices “that make urban life easier”.
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 […]
Cities Talent Attraction in Turbulent Times
We present the 6th edition of the Worldwide Observatory for Attractive Cities for Talent, along with a Case Study on Dubai: Security & Quality of Life vs. Global Uncertainty.
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 […]
Ageing gracefully: rethinking urban mobility for an older Europe
Cities must reimagine urban mobility through a lens of accessibility to remain liveable, socially just, and sustainable as its populations increase in age.
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 […]