Smart Cities & Public Space

This seminar investigates the concept of smart cities with a particular focus on public spaces. The term ‘smart’ in relation to cities has been used since the mid-2000s. Previously, terms like ‘cybercity’, ‘city of bits’, or ‘virtual city’ were used. With the increasing development of the internet and social networks, the term ‘smart’ was introduced to encompass the use of networked infrastructure (internet, transport, energy etc), mainly to increase the efficiency of the city. Now, the concept of smart cities is also taken to embrace the use of ‘big data’ and the Internet of Things, devices that can track and respond to traffic, pedestrian, or energy flows. These developments are presented as the solution to the contemporary challenges faced by urban areas: traffic, pollution, overcrowding, waste, and climate change. In this seminar, we investigate the claimed benefits and the aim of improving efficiency, and also question the costs of these developments, with particular reference to public spaces and public life.

This course took place during the Spring 2020 semester.