Trend: Tech and the city

A trend indicates a direction of change in values and needs which is driven by forces and manifests itself already in various ways within certain groups in society.

Digitalisation could lead to important improvements in both the reactivity and efficiency of cities by impacting data-driven decision-making related to mobility, health, sustainability, citizen engagement and city management. Augmented reality is helping city planning and climate change adaptation. The drivers of digitalization in cities are shifting from top-down, technology-driven ones, a to citizen-centred, participatory approaches, with a focus on the needs and empowerment of local populations. In this context, digital literacy and accessibility of digital tools and services gain importance.

New and emerging technologies are helping cities to improve public services (including mobility and well-being), better interact with citizens, increase productivity, and address sustainability challenges. Emerging technologies raise issues related to appropriate legislation, including data privacy and ownership, sharing and standards, and cybersecurity. Furthermore it is necessary to plan for system redundancy and resilience for the future.

The ability to develop fruitful collaboration between relevant people within business, academia, citizens, NGOs, local and national governments may hold the key to a world where we have cities and human settlements that are inclusive, safe, resilient and sustainable, without leaving anybody behind, instead of moving towards further exclusion. The increasing use of digital technology without parallel improvement of accessibility and upskilling could lead to an expansion of the digital divide and to increased inequalities, fuelling further exclusion and social discontent.

This Trend is part of the Megatrend Continuing Urbanisation

Manifestations

Developments happening in certain groups in society that indicate examples of change related to the trend.

The Digital City

Digitalisation could lead to important improvements in both the reactivity and efficiency of cities by impacting data-driven decision-making related to mobility, health (sustainability), real estate business, citizen engagement and city management. The drivers of digitalization in cities are shifting from technology-driven, to citizen-driven, with a focus on the needs and benefit of local populations.  

New machine-learning algorithms could help future urban transportation, by reducing urban traffic congestion, relieving bottlenecks and ‘chokepoints’ of traffic that typically cause bad congestion in cities. Air quality sensors can be integrated into active traffic management systems. Air quality monitoring devices are starting to be used to divert traffic away from heavily polluted areas in real time, promising improved air quality for the future too.

Already occurring elsewhere, Europe’s first road-worthy autonomous delivery-bots promise improved delivery in rural and complicated urban areas and have reduced emissions compared to urban freight, also reducing traffic congestion. These combine techniques from machine learning and mechatronics, for e.g. Kar-go uses a combination of advanced robotics and driverless vehicles. The driverless electric Kar-go delivery vehicle uses artificial intelligence (AI) based on advanced neural networks to remove up to 90% of the cost associated with the last mile of goods shipment.

Signals of change: Digital Journal, EC, Science Daily, Academy of Robotics, Smart Transport, Traffic Technology, Smart Cities Drive, Eupolis

Who is the boss?

Global tech players such as Amazon, Google, Apple, Facebook, Amazon, Airbnb, Uber and Tesla are redefining work, mobility, leisure and everyday life in cities and beyond. There was a time when governments invested in infrastructure and taxpayers had a voice in decision-making. Now, many of these tech giants are involved and/or are taking over. Apple tells us how to interact in the city, Google controls our data, Uber redefines taxi transportation as a service, and Amazon chooses whether a city is suitable or not to host its headquarters. The private sector's venturing into the building of new cities is raising concerns about the price of privatisation, despite the many benefits.

Cities are expected to be home to nearly 70 percent of the world’s population by 2050 with 95 percent of urban population growth taking place in developing countries and they will have a leader one way or another. (For more, see the trend ‘Great power, great risk’ trend, in the 'Technology' Megatrend).

Signals of change: Architecture and Design, New York Post, Panasonic, Architects Journal, Toyota, CBRE

Interesting questions

What might this trend imply, what should we be aware of, what could we study in more depth? Some ideas:

• Is the deepening of city digitalisation and of data platforms for planning and managing a city putting the power in the hands of a few tech firms, or are these assuming a supportive role to local governments? 
• Can smaller cities benefit equally from digitalization and afford implementing technological solutions.
• Are Amazon, Google, Apple, Facebook, Amazon, Airbnb and Tesla our new city mayors?