WTF for Cities? is a platform to introduce and connect people who are actively and consciously working on the future of cities and to introduce research about the future of cities.
Welcome back to What is The Future for Cities? Podcast! In our last episode, we took a moment to reflect on a year of incredible conversations. Now, with that wisdom in our sails, I want to look forward, to chart the course for what's next on our shared journey.The conversations are only getting deeper. We're going to be exploring some truly fascinating and critical territory. We'll dive into concepts like Residuality Theory and its powerful connection to creating antifragile urban systems. We'll continue to tackle transportation, push the boundaries of community engagement, and investigate the cutting edge of nature-based solutions within our smart cities. We'll even bring you a ministerial-level view on tackling the housing crisis, and so much more.What would you like to know about? What topics or expertise would like to have discussed on the podcast? What experts should we interview on the podcast?But we know that as we build this library of ideas, accessing it becomes a new challenge. That's why I'm thrilled to announce two major projects we're developing. First, the WTF Companion. Imagine being able to converse with the entire podcast archive, asking questions like, "Who have you interviewed about public space?" or "What trends have emerged around the 15-minute city?" and getting a direct answer. We're building it to make our collective knowledge accessible to all.Alongside this, we're compiling our learnings into a book. This will be a reflection on our journey, making it easy for new people to join the conversation and get up to speed on the foundational ideas we've explored together.This ecosystem can't grow alone. We'll be building on our fantastic collaboration with the Smart Cities Council and forging new partnerships with like-minded organizations. We are also creating new avenues for you, our listeners, to support the show directly if you wish to.Because here's the most important thing: this podcast isn't just an academic exercise. It's a platform. It's a catalyst. The conversations we have here are meant to spark collaborations in the real world. We believe we can be the architects of our future, not just victims of it.So let's continue this vital work. Let's continue to build the future of cities, and in doing so, the future for humanity. Thanks for joining on the journey and let's keep working together through the What is The Future for Cities? Podcast!What was the most interesting part for you? What questions did arise for you? Let me know on Twitter @WTF4Cities or on the wtf4cities.com website where the shownotes are also available.I hope this was an interesting episode for you and thanks for tuning in.Episode generated with Descript assistance (affiliate link).Music by Lesfm from Pixabay
Welcome to the 4th birthday episode of What is The Future for Cities? Podcast!As we celebrate another year of "What is The Future for Cities?", it's a fitting moment to pause and reflect on the incredible journey we've taken together over the last 101 episodes, like the dalmatians. From episode 255 to 356, we've traversed a complex and fascinating landscape of urban thought, guided by a diverse chorus of thinkers, planners, technologists, and community leaders. Looking back, the conversations weave a rich tapestry of ideas, revealing dominant themes, emerging trends, and provocative outliers that collectively shape our understanding of the cities of tomorrow.Let me know in the comments: What did you learn this year?What was the most interesting conversation?I would also like to take time to thank you for being a part of the conversation - it is always great to hear from the audience members, getting feedback on the conversations. I appreciate your attention and time you spend with the podcast, and I hope that you will continue to do so in the future, because even better things are coming - more on this in the next episode!You can find the transcript through this link.What was the most interesting part for you? What questions did arise for you? Let me know on Twitter @WTF4Cities or on the wtf4cities.com website where the shownotes are also available.I hope this was an interesting episode for you and thanks for tuning in.Episode generated with Descript assistance (affiliate link).Music by Lesfm from Pixabay
"You either address the [root] cause, or in the future must pay the price of violence and suffering the world has never seen before."Are you interested in the future of agriculture? What do you think about holistic contexts for better urban futures? How can we manage our resources better? Interview with Allan Savory, President at Savory Institute. We will talk about his vision for the future of cities, agriculture, holistic contexts, regeneration vs sustainability, resource management as the main cause for our challenges, and many more. Allan Savory, born in Rhodesia (now Zimbabwe) and educated at the University of Natal, began as a research biologist and game ranger in Northern Rhodesia (now Zambia). His career spanned being a soldier, farmer, rancher, international ecological consultant and Member of Parliament. He opposed Ian Smith's regime, leading to his 1979 exile to the U.S. There, he co-founded the Savory Institute in 2009 that globally promotes his life's work Holistic Management described in his book, Holistic Management: A Commonsense Revolution to Restore Our Environment. (2016). Savory received Australia's 2003 Banksia Award for the person doing the most for the environment on a global scale. His 2013 TED talk explaining desertification garnered over 9 million views.Find out more about Allan through these links:Allan Savory on LinkedIn@AllanRSavory as Allan Savory on XSavory Institute websiteSavory Institute on LinkedIn@SavoryInstitute as Savory Institute on X@savoryinstitute as Savory Institute on InstagramSavory Institute on YoutubeHow to green the world's deserts and reverse climate change - Allan Savory's TED talk on YoutubeAllan Savory's COP26 talk on YoutubeHolistic Management, Third Edition - Allan Savory's bookHolistic Management Handbook, Third Edition - Allan Savory's bookConnecting episodes you might be interested in:No.220 - Interview with Simon Burt about the importance of bees in food productionNo.222 - Interview with Adam Dorr about a brighter futureNo.355R - Holistic Management Shifts Ranchers' Mental Models for Successful Adaptive GrazingWhat was the most interesting part for you? What questions did arise for you? Let me know on Twitter @WTF4Cities or on the wtf4cities.com website where the shownotes are also available.I hope this was an interesting episode for you and thanks for tuning in.Episode generated with Descript assistance (affiliate link).Music by Lesfm from Pixabay
Are you interested in holistic resource management? Summary of the book chapter titled The Foundations of Holistic Management from 2023, part of the Holistic Management e-book by the Savory Institute.This is a great preparation to our next interview with Allan Savory in episode 356 talking about holistic resource management and contexts for collaboration. Since we are investigating the future of cities, I thought it would be interesting to see how holistic management can be utilised as a decision-making framework. This chapter establishes holistic management as a comprehensive approach and introduces four key insights to underpin this framework.Find the book through this link.Connecting episodes you might be interested in:No.155R - Smart city, smarter city, smarter approachesNo.359R - Residuality TheoryNo.360 - Interview with Barry O'Reilly about Residuality TheoryYou can find the transcript through this link.What was the most interesting part for you? What questions did arise for you? Let me know on Twitter @WTF4Cities or on the wtf4cities.com website where the shownotes are also available.I hope this was an interesting episode for you and thanks for tuning in.Episode generated with Descript assistance (affiliate link).Music by Lesfm from Pixabay
Are you interested in the future of agriculture? What do you think about holistic contexts for better urban futures? How can we manage our resources better? Trailer for episode 356 - interview with Allan Savory, President at Savory Institute. We will talk about his vision for the future of cities, agriculture, holistic contexts, regeneration vs sustainability, resource management as the main cause for our challenges, and many more. Find out more in the episode.Episode generated with Descript assistance (affiliate link).Music by Lesfm from Pixabay
Are you interested in the future of urban mobility? Summary of the article titled Urban mobility scenarios until the 2030s from 2021, by Márk Miskolczi, Dávid Földes, András Munkácsy, and Melinda Jászberényi, published in the Sustainability Cities and Society journal.This is a great preparation to our next interview with Andrew J. Cary in episode 354 talking about urban transportation and its effects on the urban environment. Since we are investigating the future of cities, I thought it would be interesting to see what urban mobility scenarios can be projected from the current situations. This article presents 4 distinct scenarios based on 52 existing ones, leading towards self-driving, electric and shared vehicle use.Find the article through this link.Abstract: Urban mobility is particularly affected by technology development. This research focuses on the mobility system of cities in the foreseeable future – that is, until the 2030s. A systematic literature review (SLR) of 62 scientific documents and 52 scenarios predicted and developed by researchers are presented here, providing a comprehensive picture of current urban transport research perspectives. Based on a complex method built for this review, four scenarios (‘Grumpy old transport', ‘At an easy pace', ‘Mine is yours', and ‘Tech-eager mobility') have been created, each forecasting a different path towards future urban mobility. The scenarios so formed describe the expected role and potential of emerging mobility solutions (namely autonomous vehicles, shared mobility, and electrification) and include socio-economic and environmental perspectives. By 2030, most likely pathways are the ‘At an easy pace' or the ‘Mine is yours' scenarios, which means that only an incremental advance, such as a slow shift towards self-driving, electric and shared vehicle use is predicted.Connecting episodes you might be interested in:No.048 - Interview with Hussein Dia about urban transportationNo.326 - Interview with Sarah Bridges about urban public transportYou can find the transcript through this link.What was the most interesting part for you? What questions did arise for you? Let me know on Twitter @WTF4Cities or on the wtf4cities.com website where the shownotes are also available.I hope this was an interesting episode for you and thanks for tuning in.Episode generated with Descript assistance (affiliate link).Music by Lesfm from Pixabay
"As they say: if we are able to look back 200 years, we should be able to look forward 200 years."Are you interested in new ways to the future of urban mobility? What do you think about the scalability of education? How can we #rise&execute for the better future? Interview with Andrew J. Cary, CEO and Co-Founder of SNAAP Transportation. We will talk about his vision for the future of cities, the government's role, scalability of solutions and education, urban mobility, and many more. Andrew Cary, with nearly 40 years of experience across public, private, and non-profit sectors, is a seasoned leader and innovator. As a multilingual public educator, senior officer, and executive director, he has driven success in education, edtech, and non-profits. Currently, as CoFounder/CEO of SNAAP™ Transportation, Andrew applies his entrepreneurial expertise and global business acumen to introduce a sustainable transportation alternative worldwide. He has guided numerous startups and corporations to market success, managing complex relationships across regions like LatAm, Europe, and APAC. Through Future Educational Options and Cary Enterprises LLC, he provides strategic leadership and advisory services to global partners, education ministries, and service providers. Andrew also advises for Chambers of Commerce, StartEd, Sykes Business School, and startups, maintaining offices in the US and Sao Paulo, with plans to expand to Dubai in 2025. Known for his passion and commitment, he is branded #Rise&Execute.Find out more about Andrew through these links:Andrew J. Cary on LinkedInSNAAP Transportation websiteSNAAP Transportation on LinkedIn@RideSnaap as SNAAP Transportation on Xsnaap.transportation as SNAAP Transportation on InstagramRise&Execute - Andrew J. Cary at Collabs.ioMeet Andrew Cary at Bold JourneyConnected episodes you might be intersted in:No.048 - Interview with Hussein Dia about urban transportationNo.326 - Interview with Sarah Bridges about urban public transportNo.353R - Urban mobility scenarios until the 2030sWhat was the most interesting part for you? What questions did arise for you? Let me know on Twitter @WTF4Cities or on the wtf4cities.com website where the shownotes are also available.I hope this was an interesting episode for you and thanks for tuning in.Episode generated with Descript assistance (affiliate link).Music by Lesfm from Pixabay
Are you interested in new ways to the future of urban mobility? What do you think about the scalability of education? How can we #rise&execute for the better future? Interview with Andrew J. Cary, CEO and Co-Founder of SNAAP Transportation. We will talk about his vision for the future of cities, the government's role, scalability of solutions and education, urban mobility, and many more. Find out more in the episode.Episode generated with Descript assistance (affiliate link).Music by Lesfm from Pixabay
"If we talk about the future, we need to have the future [a.k.a. the next generation] at the table."Are you interested in upcoming urban trends? What do you think about the need for investigating multiple futures in foresight? How can we utilise different timeframes to prepare for the future? Interview with Petra Hurtado, Chief Foresight and Knowledge Officer at the American Planning Association. We will talk about her vision for the future of cities, urban trends on different time scales, the future of workplace, technology, and many more. Petra Hurtado, Ph.D., serves as the Chief Foresight & Knowledge Officer at the American Planning Association, where she spearheads APA's foresight practice to foster innovation and resilience in planning. Holding a Ph.D. in urban planning from the Vienna University of Technology, Petra specializes in strategic foresight, futures literacy, urban futures, emerging technologies, urban sustainability, and environmental psychology. Before APA, she worked globally as an advisor, planner, and educator in sustainability. Petra has taught as an adjunct professor at the University of Maryland and Vienna University of Technology, covering foresight, sustainability, and environmental psychology. A sought-after keynote speaker, she has presented at global conferences and guest-lectured at institutions like Harvard GSD and Virginia Tech. Passionate about empowering communities, Petra blends academic rigor with practical insights to inspire action and drive positive change in dynamic urban environments.Find out more about Petra through these links:Petra Hurtado on LinkedInAmerican Planning Association websiteAmerican Planning Association on LinkedIn@APA_Planning as American Planning Association on X@americanplanningassociation as American Planning Association on InstagramAmerican Planning Association on YouTubeAPA Foresight websiteImaginable - book on scenario planning by Jane McGonigalConnecting episodes you might interested in:No.222 - Interview with Adam Dorr about technology as applied knowledgeNo.324 - Interview with Fin Moorhouse about regulatory backlashNo.338 - Interview with Alison Watson about the next generation in the built environmentNo.351R - 2025 Trend Report for PlannersWhat was the most interesting part for you? What questions did arise for you? Let me know on Twitter @WTF4Cities or on the wtf4cities.com website where the shownotes are also available.I hope this was an interesting episode for you and thanks for tuning in.Episode generated with Descript assistance (affiliate link).Music by Lesfm from Pixabay
Are you interested in the urban trends on 3 different time scales? Summary of the report titled 2025 Trend reports for planners from 2025, by Petra Hurtado PhD, Ievgeniia Dulko, Senna Catenacci, Joseph DeAngelis, Sagar Shah PhD, and Jason Jordan, published by the American Planning Association in partnership with the Lincoln Institute of Land Policy.This is a great preparation to our next interview with Petra Hurtado in episode 352 talking about urban trends and their management. Since we are investigating the future of cities, I thought it would be interesting to see how urban planners and individuals can plan for the upcoming trends. This report organises crucial trends and signals into three timeframes: Act Now, Prepare For, and Learn About and Watch.Find the report through this link.Abstract: APA Foresight helps planners navigate change and prepare for an uncertain future. With foresight, planners can guide change, create more sustainable and equitable outcomes, and establish themselves as critical to thriving communities. Foresight is not about predicting the future — it is about understanding drivers of change that are outside our control, how we can prepare for them, and when it is time to act. APA Foresight identifies emerging trends and how scenarios stemming from each may impact the world, our communities, and the planning profession in the years to come. This is the fourth Trend Report for Planners developed by the American Planning Association (APA) in partnership with the Lincoln Institute of Land Policy. As in previous years, the 2025 Trend Report features a list of over 100 existing, emerging, and potential future trends that the APA Foresight team and our Trend Scouting Foresight Community identified as relevant to planning. The trends are structured within three timeframes (Act Now, Prepare, Learn, and Watch), which indicate the urgency of planners' actions. Within each timeframe, trends are grouped into themed clusters. For each trend, the report gives insights and explains why it is important for planners to know about and consider the trend in their work. All trends and signals are based on facts and are neutrally described without judgement.Connecting episodes you might be interested in:No.237R - Cultivated meat and consumers – 2023 consumer trends and insights for the cultivated meat industryNo.273R - Rethinking HumanityNo.275R - Trends in research and development for CO2 capture and sequestrationYou can find the transcript through this link.What was the most interesting part for you? What questions did arise for you? Let me know on Twitter @WTF4Cities or on the wtf4cities.com website where the shownotes are also available.I hope this was an interesting episode for you and thanks for tuning in.Episode generated with Descript assistance (affiliate link).Music by Lesfm from Pixabay
Are you interested in upcoming urban trends? What do you think about the need for investigating multiple futures in foresight? How can we utilise different timeframes to prepare for the future? Trailer for episode 352 - interview with Petra Hurtado, Chief Foresight and Knowledge Officer at the American Planning Association. We will talk about her vision for the future of cities, urban trends on different time scales, the future of workplace, technology, and many more.Find out more in the episode.Episode generated with Descript assistance (affiliate link).Music by Lesfm from Pixabay
Are you interested in the urban energy matrix? What do you think is how our cities can change with abundant energy? How can we generate the right energy from the right sources for our urban communities? This episode is a panel discussion where the panellists discuss the different aspects of the urban energy matrix. Alan Pears, Adam Dorr, Ramez Naam and Mark Nelson talk about their vision for the future of cities, different energy services and sources, learning from the past, transformative present, unprecedented future prospects, energy democracy, and many more. Connecting episodes you might be interested in:No.246 - Interview with Boyd Cohen about abundance No.314 - Interview with Andrew Vass about nuclear energyNo.349R - Superabundant energyWhat was the most interesting part for you? What questions did arise for you? Let me know on Twitter @WTF4Cities or on the wtf4cities.com website where the shownotes are also available.I hope this was an interesting episode for you and thanks for tuning in.Episode generated with Descript assistance (affiliate link).Music by Lesfm from Pixabay
Are you interested in the urban energy matrix? What do you think is how our cities can change with abundant energy? How can we generate the right energy from the right sources for our urban communities?Trailer for episode 350 - a panel discussion where the panellists discuss the different aspects of the urban energy matrix. Alan Pears, Adam Dorr, Ramez Naam and Mark Nelson talk about their vision for the future of cities, different energy services and sources, learning from the past, transformative present, unprecedented future prospects, energy democracy, and many more.Find out more in the episode.Episode generated with Descript assistance (affiliate link).Music by Lesfm from Pixabay
Are you interested in the urban energy matrix? What do you think is how our cities can change with abundant energy? How can we generate the right energy from the right sources for our urban communities?Trailer for episode 350 - a panel discussion where the panellists discuss the different aspects of the urban energy matrix. Alan Pears, Adam Dorr, Ramez Naam and Mark Nelson talk about their vision for the future of cities, different energy services and sources, learning from the past, transformative present, unprecedented future prospects, energy democracy, and many more.Find out more in the episode.Episode generated with Descript assistance (affiliate link).Music by Lesfm from Pixabay
Are you interested in the effects of superabundant energy? Summary of the article titled Superabundant energy – What will we do with it? from 2022, by Austin Vernon and Eli Dourado.This is a great preparation to episode 350 with Alan Pears, Adam Dorr, Ramez Naam and Mark Nelson about the urban energy matrix.Since we are investigating the future of cities, I thought it would be interesting to see the potential effects of superabundant energy on cities. This article challenges the current focus on energy efficiency, advocating for a shift towards energy abundance to drive economic growth and improve living standards.Find the article through this link.Abstract: In this policy paper, authors Austin Vernon and Eli Dourado explore what life would be like with endless energy. Coining the term “energy superabundance,” they look at energy policy, not in the usual sense of trying to restrict energy consumption, but as a way to promote energy abundance—a future in which energy is so clean and plentiful, limiting consumption would be entirely unnecessary. Though energy may never be “too cheap to meter,” Vernon and Dourado explain that higher energy consumption directly increases economic growth. Achieving energy superabundance would radically improve the US economy as well as the quality of life for all Americans. They show us a vision of the future that includes flying cars, hyperloop, sub-orbital point-to-point travel, electric autonomous trucking, vertical farming, water-from-air condensation, water desalination, and so much more. In this research-based vision, cities are no longer limited by access to ground transportation. Plastics and cement are made from air, water, and electricity. Vernon and Dourado even predict a carbon shortage. This future is only possible if we remove the many obstacles standing in the way of building new infrastructure. New power plants, transmission lines, transportation infrastructure, and better energy technology are all being held back by red tape that stops us from building a better future. This paper will help us show policymakers and thought leaders what is possible if we are able to reform our policies and reclaim a future of superabundant energy and prosperity.Connecting episodes you might be interested in:No.246 - Interview with Boyd Cohen about abundance No.314 - Interview with Andrew Vass about nuclear energyYou can find the transcript through this link.What was the most interesting part for you? What questions did arise for you? Let me know on Twitter @WTF4Cities or on the wtf4cities.com website where the shownotes are also available.I hope this was an interesting episode for you and thanks for tuning in.Episode generated with Descript assistance (affiliate link).Music by Lesfm from Pixabay
Are you interested in the urban energy matrix? What do you think is how our cities can change with abundant energy? How can we generate the right energy from the right sources for our urban communities?Trailer for episode 350 - a panel discussion where the panellists discuss the different aspects of the urban energy matrix. Alan Pears, Adam Dorr, Ramez Naam and Mark Nelson talk about their vision for the future of cities, different energy services and sources, learning from the past, transformative present, unprecedented future prospects, energy democracy, and many more.Find out more in the episode.Episode generated with Descript assistance (affiliate link).Music by Lesfm from Pixabay
Are you interested in the urban energy matrix? What do you think is how our cities can change with abundant energy? How can we generate the right energy from the right sources for our urban communities?Trailer for episode 350 - a panel discussion where the panellists discuss the different aspects of the urban energy matrix. Alan Pears, Adam Dorr, Ramez Naam and Mark Nelson talk about their vision for the future of cities, different energy services and sources, learning from the past, transformative present, unprecedented future prospects, energy democracy, and many more.Find out more in the episode.Episode generated with Descript assistance (affiliate link).Music by Lesfm from Pixabay
"Are you engaging the community to build solutions to their problems to build the culture of accountability?"Are you interested in the economic powers of mid-sized cities? What do you think about cities as urban laboratories? How can we build a culture of accountability? Interview with Nicholas Lalla, urbanist and author of the book Reinventing The Heart Land. We will talk about his vision for the future of cities, technology, economical power, culture of accountability, and many more. Nicholas Lalla is an urbanist and social entrepreneur, working at the intersection of economic development and emerging technology. He partners with cities to build strategies and initiatives that catalyse inclusive growth. Nick founded Tulsa Innovation Labs, an organization deploying over $200 million to build northeast Oklahoma's innovation economy. He previously led Cyber NYC for the New York City Economic Development Corporation, a cybersecurity initiative The New York Times called “among the nation's most ambitious...” Earlier in his career, at the Urban Land Institute, he launched a national resilience program for cities combatting the effects of climate change. Nick has written for Newsweek, Fast Company, Stanford Social Innovation Review, and Next City, among other outlets.Find out more about Nick through these links:Nick Lalla on LinkedInNick Lalla websiteas Nick Lalla on XReinventing the Heart Land - book by Nick LallaConnecting episodes you might be interested in:No.274 - Interview with Richard Gill about bringing people along not the jobsNo.332 - Interview with Kirsty Braybon about long term economic consequencesNo.338 - Interview with Alison Watson about internship programsNo.347R - The economy forward framework: How midsized cities can achieve inclusive growth in the knowledge economyWhat was the most interesting part for you? What questions did arise for you? Let me know on Twitter @WTF4Cities or on the wtf4cities.com website where the shownotes are also available.I hope this was an interesting episode for you and thanks for tuning in.Episode generated with Descript assistance (affiliate link).Music by Lesfm from Pixabay
Are you interested in mid-sized cities and their economic contributions? Summary of the article titled The economy forward framework: How midsized cities can achieve inclusive growth in the knowledge economy from 2021, by Richard Florida PhD, Ross DeVol, Cordell Carter, Jennifer Hankins, and Nicholas Lalla, published by the Aspen Institute.This is a great preparation to our next interview with Nick Lalla in episode 348 talking about the economic side of urban sustainability. Since we are investigating the future of cities, I thought it would be interesting to see how mid-sized cities can be involved in urban futures from the economic perspective. This article investigates pathways for mid-sized cities to transition to the knowledge economy while ensuring available opportunities and measuring progress.Find the article through this link.Connecting episodes you might be interested in:No.090 - Interview with Professor Matthew McCartney about cities and economicsNo.108 - Interview with Dr Anthony Kent about economic geographiesYou can find the transcript through this link.What was the most interesting part for you? What questions did arise for you? Let me know on Twitter @WTF4Cities or on the wtf4cities.com website where the shownotes are also available.I hope this was an interesting episode for you and thanks for tuning in.Episode generated with Descript assistance (affiliate link).Music by Lesfm from Pixabay
Are you interested in the economic powers of mid-sized cities? What do you think about cities as urban laboratories? How can we build a culture of accountability? Trailer for episode 348 - interview with Nicholas Lalla, urbanist and author of the book Reinventing The Heart Land. We will talk about his vision for the future of cities, technology, economical power, culture of accountability, and many more. Find out more in the episode.Episode generated with Descript assistance (affiliate link).Music by Lesfm from Pixabay
"Smart City should be proactive. That before anything [bad] happens would identify areas that need more attention."Are you interested in the proactive nature of smart cities? What do you think about the need for infrastructure to create adaptability? How can we utilise public-private-academic partnerships for better urban futures? Interview with Dr Mina Sartipi, founding director of the Center for Urban Informatics and Progress (CUIP) and Guerry Professor at the University of Tennessee Chattanooga (UTC). We will talk about her vision for the future of cities, technology, electric and autonomous vehicles, smart cities, and many more. Dr. Mina Sartipi, founding director of the Center for Urban Informatics and Progress (CUIP) and Guerry Professor at the University of Tennessee Chattanooga (UTC), leads Smart City research, including "the testbed," a downtown traffic data project with Chattanooga. Recently named head of UTC's new Research Institute, she focuses on Transportation, Energy, Health, and Social Science. A Bredesen Center faculty member, she mentors minorities and advises Girls in Computer Science (GiCS). Her research includes Cyber-Physical Systems and Big Data Analytics. She'll present at "Chattanooga Connect 2024," advancing urban mobility discussions in a city known for pioneering "gig" internet and quantum networks.Find out more about Mina through these links:Mina Sartipi on LinkedIn@MinaSartipi as Mina Sartipi on XMina Sartipi on Google ScholarMina Sartipi at the University of Tennessee Chattanooga (UTC)Center for Urban Informatics and Progress (CUIP) websiteCenter for Urban Informatics and Progress (CUIP) on LinkedInConnected episodes you might be interested in:No.164R - A discussion of resilience and sustainabilityNo.282 - Interview with Keygan Huckleberry about disaster resilience planningNo.326I - Interview with Sarah Bridges about public transportNo.345R - What do people want in a smart city? Exploring the stakeholders' opinions, priorities and perceived barriers in a medium-sized city in the United StatesWhat was the most interesting part for you? What questions did arise for you? Let me know on Twitter @WTF4Cities or on the wtf4cities.com website where the shownotes are also available.I hope this was an interesting episode for you and thanks for tuning in.Episode generated with Descript assistance (affiliate link).Music by Lesfm from Pixabay
Are you interested in stakeholder opinions for smart cities? Summary of the article titled What do people want in a smart city? Exploring the stakeholders' opinions, priorities, and perceived barriers in a medium-sized city in the United States from 2021, by Cristina Del-Real, Chandra Ward, and Mina Sartipi, published in the International Journal of Urban Sciences.This is a great preparation to our next interview with Mina Sartipi in episode 346 talking about smart cities as urban evolution and proactive urban management. Since we are investigating the future of cities, I thought it would be interesting to see how stakeholders see the smart city concept. This article reveals that improving quality of life and environmental sustainability rather than technological solutions are required of smart cities, with transparency and social inclusion.Find the article through this link.Abstract: Many cities in the United States are pursuing agendas to implement ICT-based solutions to tackle urban challenges, thus achieving the ‘smart city' label. While the discussion on this urban development paradigm has revolved around the intensive use of technologies, the academic literature increasingly calls for shifting the focus to the people living in the cities. This paper argues that to achieve a people-centred smart city, cities should include the perspectives of all the local stakeholders. Under this assumption, this paper provides the views of the local stakeholders in a medium-sized city in Tennessee, Chattanooga. Particularly, this study explores their perceived smart city concept, the ethical standards that should guide smart city projects, the desired future projects in their community, and the barriers to implementing them. The data was collected using a combination of participatory budgeting, five focus groups, and twenty-eight interviews with city dwellers, entrepreneurs, university faculty, non-profit members, and government officials. The results suggest that, far from the image of a highly technological city, the stakeholders envision a city dedicated to improving the quality of life and environmental sustainability. Furthermore, to achieve this smart city, the projects need to be based on full transparency and the promotion of social inclusion. In contrast to the dominant trend towards the privatization of urban space, this study finds that the stakeholders prefer public based smart city projects such as ICTbased public transport services. However, its successful implementation will have to overcome the barriers caused by funding constraints, public acceptance, and political interests. Cities may use the results of this study to design more responsible smart city projects that strike an optimal point between citizen engagement and technological applications and innovations while supporting all stakeholders' needs.Connecting episodes you might be interested in:No.287R - Essay: On the smart city; Or a ‘manifesto' for smart citizens insteadNo.288 - Interview with Dan Hill about smart citiesYou can find the transcript through this link.What was the most interesting part for you? What questions did arise for you? Let me know on Twitter @WTF4Cities or on the wtf4cities.com website where the shownotes are also available.I hope this was an interesting episode for you and thanks for tuning in.Episode generated with Descript assistance (affiliate link).Music by Lesfm from Pixabay
Are you interested in the proactive nature of smart cities? What do you think about the need for infrastructure to create adaptability? How can we utilise public-private-academic partnerships for better urban futures? Trailer for episode 346 - interview with Dr Mina Sartipi, founding director of the Center for Urban Informatics and Progress (CUIP) and Guerry Professor at the University of Tennessee Chattanooga (UTC). We will talk about her vision for the future of cities, technology, electric and autonomous vehicles, smart cities, and many more. Find out more in the episode.Episode generated with Descript assistance (affiliate link).Music by Lesfm from Pixabay
"We've got to start making projects shovel-worthy, not shovel-ready."Are you interested in digital transformation? What do you think about the phrase: “we've got to start making projects shovel-worthy instead of shovel-ready”? How can we find and create the magic we're looking for in the work we're avoiding? Interview with Mark Coates, Vice President of Infrastructure Policy Advancement at Bentley Systems. We will talk about his vision for the future of cities, digital transformation, the next generation, crisis management, and many more. Mark Coates is Vice President of Infrastructure Policy Advancement at Bentley Systems, where he advises global policymakers and business leaders on sustainable, high-quality infrastructure projects, emphasizing digital adoption for lasting benefits. As a seasoned leader with over 35 years in construction and infrastructure, Mark specializing in digital transformation and smart cities. A former quantity surveyor, Mark has collaborated with major clients like Thames Water, Highways England, and Crossrail. He holds Fellowships with the Chartered Institution of Highways and Transportation and the Chartered Institution of Civil Engineering Surveyors, where he's also a trustee. Currently, he chairs the British Water International Forum and serves on key advisory boards, including the UK's Digital Twin Hub.Find out more about Mark through these links:Mark Coates on LinkedInMark Coates on XMark Coates on InstagramBentley websiteBentley on LinkedIn@BentleySystems as Bentley on X@bentleysystems as Bentley on InstagramBentley on YouTubeInfrastructure Policy Advancement websiteConnecting episodes you might be interested in:No.258 - Interview with Matt Gijselman about sponge cities and blue infrastructureNo.260 - Interview with Haydn Read about smart infrastructureNo.282 - Interview with Keygan Huckleberry about disaster managementNo.338 - Interview with Alison Watson about involving the next gen into the built environmentNo.343R - Creating sponge cities to tackle surface water floodingWhat was the most interesting part for you? What questions did arise for you? Let me know on Twitter @WTF4Cities or on the wtf4cities.com website where the shownotes are also available.I hope this was an interesting episode for you and thanks for tuning in.Episode generated with Descript assistance (affiliate link).Music by Lesfm from Pixabay
Are you interested in the concept of sponge cities? Summary of the white paper titled Creating sponge cities to tackle surface water flooding from 2025, by Mark Coates and Neal Edmondson, published on the Infrastructure Policy Advancement website.This is a great preparation to our next interview with Mark Coates in episode 344 talking about infrastructure and sponge cities, among others. Since we are investigating the future of cities, I thought it would be interesting to see how the infrastructure can alleviate some of the challenges during flooding in urban areas. This white paper advocates for sponge cities as a solution to ever frequently occurring floods, based on the implementation of innovative, nature based sustainable drainage systems.Find the white paper through this link.Connecting episodes you might be interested in:No.257R - Formal model for green urbanism in smart citiesNo.258 - Interview with Matt Gijselman about sponge citiesNo. 279R - How ecosystem services drive urban growth: Integrating nature-based solutionsYou can find the transcript through this link.What was the most interesting part for you? What questions did arise for you? Let me know on Twitter @WTF4Cities or on the wtf4cities.com website where the shownotes are also available.I hope this was an interesting episode for you and thanks for tuning in.Episode generated with Descript assistance (affiliate link).Music by Lesfm from Pixabay
Are you interested in digital transformation? What do you think about the phrase: “we've got to start making projects shovel-worthy instead of shovel-ready”? How can we find and create the magic we're looking for in the work we're avoiding? Trailer for episode 344 - interview with Mark Coates, Vice President of Infrastructure Policy Advancement at Bentley Systems. We will talk about his vision for the future of cities, digital transformation, the next generation, crisis management, and many more. Find out more in the episode.Episode generated with Descript assistance (affiliate link).Music by Lesfm from Pixabay
"In some ways, maybe what we're all doing now is separations with a spatial apparatus."Are you interested in spatial language? What do you think about the ever present urbanism concept? How can we leverage space as an opportunity? Interview with Keller Easterling, an architect, writer, and the Enid Storm Dwyer Professor of Architecture at Yale University. We will talk about her vision for the future of cities, solidarity and collaboration, spatial language, democracy, and many more. Keller Easterling is an architect, writer, and the Enid Storm Dwyer Professor of Architecture at Yale. Her work explores infrastructure, spatial politics, and global urban systems. She is the author of Medium Design, Extrastatecraft, Subtraction, Enduring Innocence, and Organization Space. Her current research focuses on land activism in the U.S. after the Civil Rights Movement. A 2019 United States Artist Fellow, Easterling's work has been exhibited at the Venice Biennale, among others. She also co-authored Call it Home, a multimedia history of suburbia. Her writing appears in Artforum, e-flux, Log, Domus, and numerous international journals.Find out more about Keller through these links:Keller Easterling websiteKeller Easterling at Yale UniversityKeller Easterling on WikipediaKeller Easterling at Verso BooksOlufemi O. Taiwo websiteConnecting episodes you might be interested in:No.246 - Interview with Boyd Cohen about abundant capitalismNo.272 - Interview with Frank Elavsky about anarchist thinkingNo.326 - Interview with Sarah Bridges about public transport as one of the biggest opportunitiesNo.341R - Global urban structural growth shows a profound shift from spreading out to building upWhat was the most interesting part for you? What questions did arise for you? Let me know on Twitter @WTF4Cities or on the wtf4cities.com website where the shownotes are also available.I hope this was an interesting episode for you and thanks for tuning in.Episode generated with Descript assistance (affiliate link).Music by Lesfm from Pixabay
Are you interested in urban expansion shifts across 3 decades? Summary of the article titled Global urban structure growth shows a profound shift from spreading out to building up from 2024, by Steve Frolking, Richa Mahtta, Tom Milliman, Thomas Esch, and Karen C. Seto, published in the Nature Cities journal. This is a great preparation to our next interview with Keller Easterling in episode 342 talking about spatial politics and urban infrastructure.Since we are investigating the future of cities, I thought it would be interesting to see global urban structural growth across time and its implications. This article introduces the shift from horizontal to vertical expansion and its effects on resource use, climate and urban living.Find the article through this link.Abstract: We present a new study examining the dynamics of global urban building growth rates over the past three decades. By combining datasets for 1,550+ cities from several space-borne sensors—data from three scatterometers and settlement-built fraction based on Landsat-derived data—we find profound shifts in how cities expanded from the 1990s to the 2010s. Cities had both increasing building fractional cover and increasing microwave backscatter (correlating with building volume), but over the three decades, growth rates in building fraction decreased in most regions and large cities, while growth rates in backscatter increased in essentially all regions and cities. The divergence in rates of increase of these metrics indicates a shift from lateral urban expansion to more vertical urban development. This transition has happened in different decades and to different extents across the world's cities. Growth rate increases were largest in Asian cities. This shift toward vertical development has profound consequences for material and energy use, local climate and urban living.Connecting episodes you might be interested in:No.205R - Role of urban planning standards in improving lifestyle in a sustainable systemNo.289R - A fresh look at contemporary perspectives on urban housing affordabilityYou can find the transcript through this link.What was the most interesting part for you? What questions did arise for you? Let me know on Twitter @WTF4Cities or on the wtf4cities.com website where the shownotes are also available.I hope this was an interesting episode for you and thanks for tuning in.Episode generated with Descript assistance (affiliate link).Music by Lesfm from Pixabay
Are you interested in spatial language? What do you think about the ever present urbanism concept? How can we leverage space as an opportunity? Interview with Keller Easterling, an architect, writer, and the Enid Storm Dwyer Professor of Architecture at Yale University. We will talk about her vision for the future of cities, solidarity and collaboration, spatial language, democracy, and many more. Find out more in the episode.Episode generated with Descript assistance (affiliate link).Music by Lesfm from Pixabay
Are you interested in how empowered children can change the future of cities? What do you think about the Taking Children Seriously approach? How can we bring up the next generation in the learning machine, also known as the city? Interview with Aaron Stupple, physician and author of The Sovereign Child, and Logan Chipkin, president of Conjecture Institute and junior author of The Sovereign Child. We talk about their vision for the future of cities, city as a learning machine, children's opportunities to network, protests, and many more. Aaron Stupple is a practicing physician and father of five in Western Massachusetts. He has been promoting critical rationalism and the work of Karl Popper and David Deutsch since 2019 in the form of online community building, a web magazine, and Rat Fest, the annual in-person conference in Philadelphia. He currently explores novel telehealth solutions and champions non-coercive parenting inspired by Popper and Deutsch's philosophy.Logan Chipkin, president of Conjecture Institute, is a Philadelphia-based writer and editor passionate about economics, physics, philosophy, and history. He creates educational content for a Bitcoin startup and develops innovative science funding methods. As Managing Editor of a liberty-focused nonprofit, he's published in Physics World, Gizmodo, Bitcoin Magazine, and more, and authored the fantasy novel Windfall. He collaborates with physicists, edits science works, hosts Rat Fest, and co-founded Conjecture Institute.The Sovereign Child, a book authored by Aaron Stupple and edited and junior authored by Logan Chipkin, advocates for the Taking Children Seriously philosophy, asserting that children, like adults, should have the freedom to make their own choices without parental limits, as their reasoning and emotions function similarly. Drawing from his experience as a father of five, Aaron critiques the harms of rule enforcement and explores surprising alternatives that prioritize respecting children's reasons as equally valid.Find out more about Aaron, Logan, and The Sovereign Child through these links:Aaron Stupple on LinkedIn@astupple as Aaron Stupple on XAaron Stupple on the Tim Ferriss ShowLogan Chipkin on LinkedInLogan Chipkin's website@ChipkinLogan as Logan Chipkin on XLogan Chipkin on YoutubeThe Sovereign Child - book by Aaron Stupple and Logan ChipkinTaking Children Seriously websiteThe Conjecture Institute websiteConnecting episodes you might be interested in:No.114 - Interview with Kelly Boucher about involving the small childrenNo.268 - Interview with Tiff Williams about children giving feedback on their environmentNo.294 - Interview with Erick A. Brimen about creating a new city with the minimum role of governmentNo.339R - The Sovereign ChildWhat was the most interesting part for you? What questions did arise for you? Let me know on Twitter @WTF4Cities or on the wtf4cities.com website where the shownotes are also available.I hope this was an interesting episode for you and thanks for tuning in.Episode generated with Descript assistance (affiliate link).Music by Lesfm from Pixabay
Are you interested in bringing up the next generation as sovereign individuals for better urban futures? Summary of the book titled The Sovereign Child: A Radically Noncoercive Approach to Parenting from 2025, by Aaron Stupple.This is a great preparation to our next interview with Aaron Stupple and Logan Chipkin in episode 340 talking about the challenges and opportunities for the next generation in creating the future of cities. Since we are investigating the future of cities, I thought it would be interesting to see how we can nurture the next generation of thinkers and city-influencers. This book presents a radically noncoercive parenting approach based on Karl Popper and David Deutsch's ideas to create win-win scenarios and foster the children's knowledge acquisition.Find the book through this link.Connecting episodes you might be interested in:No.114 - Interview with Kelly Boucher about involving the next generation in educationNo.268 - Interview with Tiff Williams about kids expressing their opinions about their environmentsNo.337R - Child-Friendly Cities and Communities: opportunities andchallengesNo.338 - Interview with Alison Watson about involving the next generation into the built environmentYou can find the transcript through this link.What was the most interesting part for you? What questions did arise for you? Let me know on Twitter @WTF4Cities or on the wtf4cities.com website where the shownotes are also available.I hope this was an interesting episode for you and thanks for tuning in.Episode generated with Descript assistance (affiliate link).Music by Lesfm from Pixabay
Are you interested in how empowered children can change the future of cities? What do you think about the Taking Children Seriously approach? How can we bring up the next generation in the learning machine, also known as the city? Trailer for episode 340 - interview with Aaron Stupple, physician and author of The Sovereign Child, and Logan Chipkin, president of Conjecture Institute and junior author of The Sovereign Child. We talk about their vision for the future of cities, city as a learning machine, children's opportunities to network, protests, and many more. Find out more in the episode. Episode generated with Descript assistance (affiliate link).Music by Lesfm from Pixabay
"The future of cities will be delivered by that 8-year old. Because that 8-year old is soon 18 and then 28."Are you interested in involving the next generation into the building industry? What do you think about the knowledge and behaviour shortage? How can we encourage real partnerships between schools and the industry? Interview with Alison Watson, Founder and Chief Executive of Class Of Your Own. We will talk about her vision for the future of cities, the next generation, education as increasing confidence and resilience, and many more. Alison Watson MBE is the Founder and Chief Executive of Class Of Your Own (COYO), a social enterprise revolutionizing education in the built environment sector. Starting her industry life as a land surveyor, Alison's industry expertise has fuelled her passion for the past 16 years to educate the next generation in surveying, architecture, engineering, and construction. Through COYO's Design Engineer Construct! (DEC) curriculum, she has empowered thousands of students and teachers globally with innovative STEM programs, work experience, and accredited qualifications via TQUK. Honored with an MBE, an Honorary Doctorate from Heriot Watt University, and an Honorary Fellowship of the Chartered Institution of Civil Engineering Surveyors, Alison now serves as the CICES President (2024-5), championing “Make Space for Education.”Find out more about Alison through these links:Alison Watson on LinkedInAlison Watson on XAlison Watson on InstagramClass of Your Own websiteClass of Your Own on LinkedIn@ClassofYourOwn as Class of Your Own on XClass of Your Own on InstagramDesign Engineer Construct (DEC) websiteDesign Engineer Construct (DEC) on YouTubeConnecting episodes you might be interested in:No.114 - Interview with Kelly Boucher about involving kids intro the built environmentNo.268 - Interview with Tiff Williams about kids discussing their environmentsNo.337R - Child-Friendly Cities and Communities: opportunities and challengesNo.340 - Interview with Aaron Stupple and Logan Chipkin about bringing up the next generation in a non-coercive wayWhat was the most interesting part for you? What questions did arise for you? Let me know on Twitter @WTF4Cities or on the wtf4cities.com website where the shownotes are also available.I hope this was an interesting episode for you and thanks for tuning in.Episode generated with Descript assistance (affiliate link).Music by Lesfm from Pixabay
Are you interested in the concept of child-friendly cities? Our summary today works with the article titled Child-friendly cities and communities: opportunities and challenges from 2024, by Rhian Powell, published in the Children's Geographies journal.This is a great preparation to our next interview with Alison Watson in episode 338 talking about the need to include the next generation when we talk about the built environment. Since we are investigating the future of cities, I thought it would be interesting to see what child-friendly cities and communities can mean. This article explores the challenges and opportunities in planning and creating child-friendly cities through interviews with practitioners.Find the article through this link.Abstract: With greater numbers of children living in urban areas, increasing attention is being paid to Child-Friendly Cities (CFCs) and their potential for transforming local government decision-making to be more inclusive of the needs and interests of children. This paper draws on interviews with CFC practitioners at both local and national levels in 9 cities across 7 countries, to explore the opportunities and challenges that arise in planning and actualising CFC programmes. The data show CFCs can reshape local government decision-making processes, allowing for greater opportunities for children's civic participation, through greater parity of children's interests and voices. However, CFC practitioners also encounter challenges related to uncertain conceptualisations of what makes a city ‘child-friendly', complex governance structures, lack of political will from external partners and intergenerational tensions. In addition, age-based fragmentation has the potential to further marginalise the interests of children and young people in key policy areas.Connected episodes you might be interested in:No.113R - Radical Collabration: flipping the paradigm on learningNo.114 - Interview with Kelly Boucher about involving kids into the futureYou can find the transcript through this link.What was the most interesting part for you? What questions did arise for you? Let me know on Twitter @WTF4Cities or on the wtf4cities.com website where the shownotes are also available.I hope this was an interesting episode for you and thanks for tuning in.Episode generated with Descript assistance (affiliate link).Music by Lesfm from Pixabay
Are you interested in involving the next generation into the building industry? What do you think about the knowledge and behaviour shortage? How can we encourage real partnerships between schools and the industry? Trailer for episode 338 - interview with Alison Watson, Founder and Chief Executive of Class Of Your Own. We will talk about her vision for the future of cities, the next generation, education as increasing confidence and resilience, and many more. Find out more in the episode.Episode generated with Descript assistance (affiliate link).Music by Lesfm from Pixabay
"We don't have to go back to business-as-usual [approaches] just because that's how we did it 20 years ago. That's not what we have to do now."Are you interested in urban evolution? What do you think about the city as a producer instead of consumer? How can we investigate unintended consequences of urban transformations? Interview with Jon Mills, Director at Urbis. We will talk about his vision for the future of cities, urban evolution, transformative forces, unintended consequences, and many more. Jon Mills is an environmental planner and project manager with more than 20 years' experience in Australia and the UK. Jon's predominate experience is in leading teams to assist clients through project positioning and approvals processes for large infrastructure projects particularly within energy and communications sectors with a focus on Renewable Energy, Digital Infrastructure and sustainability planning policy and advice. Jon's work in these areas includes leading statutory planning and environmental approvals strategic papers and policy work for all levels of government and NGO's as well as providing, planning and strategic advice. This includes Environmental planning strategies, built environment sustainability advice (particularly in energy transition) and strategies, policy and advice around digital infrastructure and integration of technology into the cities and regions. Currently Jon is advocating for energy transition to be inclusive of nature positive solutions and for this and other sustainability initiatives to be considered in the planning process. Jon is also part of the Urbis team working with NBN to develop the nationally significant and industry-leading prospectus: 'Accelerating Smarter Development for Australia'.Find out more about Jon through these links:Jon Mills on LinkedInJon Mills on the Urbis websiteUrbis websiteUrbis on LinkedIn@UrbisAustralia as Urbis on X@urbis_au as Urbis on InstagramConnecting episodes you might be interested in:No.314 - Interview with Andrew Vass about nuclear powerNo.324 - Interview with Fin Moorhouse about unintended consequencesNo.335R - A framework for exploring futures of complex urban energy systemsNo.344 - Interview with Mark Coates about infrastructureYou can find the transcript through this link.What was the most interesting part for you? What questions did arise for you? Let me know on Twitter @WTF4Cities or on the wtf4cities.com website where the shownotes are also available.I hope this was an interesting episode for you and thanks for tuning in.Episode generated with Descript assistance (affiliate link).Music by Lesfm from Pixabay
Are you interested in the energy transformation and its effects on cities?Summary of the article titled A framework for exploring futures of complex urban energy systems from 2023, by Sumedha Basu and Catherine S. E. Bale, published in the Frontiers in Climate journal.This is a great preparation to our next interview with Jon Mills in episode 336 talking about energy transitions as one of the driving forces behind urban change. Since we are investigating the future of cities, I thought it would be interesting to see how we could rethink our energy systems for better urban futures. This article recognises current urban energy systems as intricate and interconnected entities with many potential futures.Find the article through this link.Abstract: In order to address the climate crisis and provide citizens with clean, secure and affordable energy, urban energy systems need to transition. This is significant as urban energy systems are increasingly seen as complex systems for their close interactions with local urban society, while being interdependent with higher levels of governance. Decisions taken today will continue to influence the inhabitants of our cities for well over 50 years, locking in energy consumption patterns of the future. How, then, do we make decisions on the interventions needed to bring about a desirable future, and prepare for the probable and possible futures? In this paper, we consider the key characteristics of urban energy systems from a complexity science perspective in order to explore what methodologies in futures and foresight scholarship could be beneficial in supporting urban energy decision-making. To do this we have undertaken an integrative review—a method that allows review, synthesis, critique, and analysis of new and emerging topics across multiple disciplines and multiple literature types—and consider the findings in light of their usefulness in understanding complex systems, which are inherently uncertain. We consider how futures and foresight theories and methods can be applied in urban and energy studies, highlighting examples of where around the world these have been applied by organizations seeking to shape transitions. The many methods and approaches that exist under the futures' umbrella have not been applied to anywhere near their full potential in urban energy studies, despite the limitations of many of the planning and modeling exercises currently used. We use key learnings from existing futures and foresight scholarship, along with our understanding of urban energy systems as complex adaptive systems, to propose a theoretical and practical framework for exploring their futures. The framework encompasses concepts of futures, contextualization, mapping uncertainty, participatory processes, and futures governance. Although there is much further research work needed to test and operationalize this framework in an applied way with city stakeholders, we hope this charts a way forward in addressing the critical challenges faced by urban energy planners and their partners.Connecting episodes you might be interested in:No.222 - Interview with Adam Dorr about energy transformationYou can find the transcript through this link.What was the most interesting part for you? What questions did arise for you? Let me know on Twitter @WTF4Cities or on the wtf4cities.com website where the shownotes are also available.I hope this was an interesting episode for you and thanks for tuning in.Episode generated with Descript assistance (affiliate link).Music by Lesfm from Pixabay
Are you interested in urban evolution? What do you think about the city as a producer instead of consumer? How can we investigate unintended consequences of urban transformations? Interview with Jon Mills, Director at Urbis. We will talk about his vision for the future of cities, urban evolution, transformative forces, unintended consequences, and many more.Find out more in the episode.Episode generated with Descript assistance (affiliate link).Music by Lesfm from Pixabay
"[Cities] are part of the solution. They shouldn't be part of the problem."Are you interested in design and placemaking as creating the city? What do you think about changing our behaviour for better urban futures? How can we learn from the past but not being shackled by it? Interview with James Mant, CEO of Spero AI. We will talk about his vision for the future of cities, AI for planners, placemaking, data in planning, and many more. James Mant supports practitioners in designing walkable, well-planned spaces that align with government objectives, streamline processes, and cut costs. He spearheaded the 2020 PIA award-winning #20minuteneighbourhood policy and #FutureHomes program for the Victorian Government, demonstrating his skill in crafting healthy, compact places with timeless design. Having worked on Plan Melbourne 2017-2050, Melbourne's metropolitan strategy, he offers expertise in impactful, place-based planning. Trained in the UK and Netherlands, and starting his career in Dublin, Ireland, James brings a global perspective to creating efficient, community-oriented urban solutions.Find out more about James through these links:James Mant on LinkedIn@Jamesmant as James Mant on XSpero-ai on LinkedInStreetCo websiteStreetCo on LinkedInstreet_co_planning as StreetCo on InstagramPlanning Institute of Australia websitePlanning Institute of Australia on LinkedInCity People Podcast on SpotifyCity People Podcast on LinkedInConnected episodes you might be interested in:No.244 - Interview with Joe Glesta about 'urban city'No.274 - Interview with Richard Gill about saving people instead of jobsNo.330 - Interview with Mark Coates about digital twinsNo.333RWhat was the most interesting part for you? What questions did arise for you? Let me know on Twitter @WTF4Cities or on the wtf4cities.com website where the shownotes are also available.I hope this was an interesting episode for you and thanks for tuning in.Episode generated with Descript assistance (affiliate link).Music by Lesfm from Pixabay
Are you interested in place and place-making? Summary of the article titled Place and Place-making in cities: A global perspective from 2010, by John Friedmann, published in the Planning Theory and Practice journal. This is a great preparation to our next interview with James Mant in episode 334 talking about placemaking as creating the streetscape from the building to the middle of the road. Since we are investigating the future of cities, I thought it would be interesting to see the place and placemaking through interactions and citizen attachment. This article advocates for a collaborative approach to placemaking, emphasising the importance of local engagement.Find the article through this link.Abstract: Since the 1990s, interest in place (as opposed to space) has surged across a spectrum of social science disciplines including planning. But the empirical focus has been chiefly on cities along the Atlantic Rim even as vast new areas in Asia, Africa, and Latin America were undergoing accelerated urbanization. This essay outlines a planning perspective to global place-making in the face of fierce inter-city competition for footloose capital. The question of how a place can be defined, and what criteria might serve to delineate a place occupies the first part of this essay. The definition proposed encompasses both a physical/built environment at the neighborhood scale and the subjective feelings its inhabitants harbor towards each other as an emplaced community. Specific criteria are discussed, with brief illustrations from Taiwan and China. But the art of place-making has not informed planners of the swaths of the urban in the newly industrializing global regions of Asia and elsewhere. Their principal preoccupation has been with the branding of cities and the advanced infrastructure required by global capital. In the process, millions of ordinary folks have been displaced and their neighborhoods erased, as speed, movement, and power have been valued more than the fragile social infrastructure of place-based communities. The essay concludes with an argument that place-making is everyone's job, local residents as well as official planners, and that old places can be “taken back” neighborhood by neighborhood, through collaborative people-centered planning. Examples from Japan, China, and Canada are used to illustrate these propositions.Connected episodes you might be interested in:No.225R - Positioning place-making as a social process: A systematic literature reviewNo.226 - Interview with Bruce Marshall about placemakingNo.255R - Participation, co-creation, and public spaceYou can find the transcript through this link.What was the most interesting part for you? What questions did arise for you? Let me know on Twitter @WTF4Cities or on the wtf4cities.com website where the shownotes are also available.I hope this was an interesting episode for you and thanks for tuning in.Episode generated with Descript assistance (affiliate link).Music by Lesfm from Pixabay
Are you interested in design and placemaking as creating the city? What do you think about changing our behaviour for better urban futures? How can we learn from the past but not being shackled by it? Trailer for episode 334 - interview with James Mant, CEO of Spero AI. We will talk about his vision for the future of cities, AI for planners, placemaking, data in planning, and many more.Find out more in the episode.Episode generated with Descript assistance (affiliate link).Music by Lesfm from Pixabay
"[Resilience, sustainability and sovereignty] is building economies in cities and communities that have longevity."Are you interested in nuclear power and its effects on the economy? What do you think about economic longevity as resilience? How can we balance regulation and innovation? Interview with Kirsty Braybon, principal of Braybon Advisory. We will talk about her vision for the future of cities, nuclear power and its legal background, regulatory theory, long-term economic incentives, and many more. Kirsty Braybon, Principal of Braybon Advisory, is a seasoned expert in nuclear, energy, resources, and government sectors. Formerly the inaugural Head of Legal at the Australian Radioactive Waste Agency, she shaped its foundation and advised on the AUKUS program. At the University of Adelaide, she lectures in nuclear law, leading a program focused on AUKUS submarines. With over a decade as a major projects lawyer, Kirsty rewrote South Australia's mining laws and worked in top law firms. She holds degrees from Flinders University, the University of Western Australia, and the University of Montpellier. An award-winning author, she advises Nuclear of Australia and serves on key boards.Find out more about Kirsty through these links:Kirsty Braybon on LinkedIn@KirstyBraybon as Kirsty Braybon on XBraybon Advisory on LinkedInNuclear a defining issue in the upcoming election - Kirsty Braybon on the SkyNews Kirsty Braybon at Nuclear for AustraliaKirsty Braybon at the Resource Law Network Connected episodes you might be interested in:No.313R - Nuclear power as foundation of a clean energy future: A reviewNo.314 - Interview with Andrew Vass about the financial parts of nuclear energyWhat was the most interesting part for you? What questions did arise for you? Let me know on Twitter @WTF4Cities or on the wtf4cities.com website where the shownotes are also available.I hope this was an interesting episode for you and thanks for tuning in.Episode generated with Descript assistance (affiliate link).Music by Lesfm from Pixabay
Are you interested in nuclear energy's role in a carbon-free future? Our summary today works with the article titled Investigating the potential of nuclear energy in achieving a carbon-free energy future from 2023, by Janis Krümins and Maris Klavins, published in the MDPI Energies journal. This is a great preparation to our next interview with Kirsty Braybon in episode 332 talking about nuclear energy and its regulatory framework. Since we are investigating the future of cities, I thought it would be interesting to see another option, nuclear energy, in the energy mix for a carbon-free solution. This article discusses the role of nuclear energy, particularly small modular reactors in achieving a carbon-free energy future.Find the article through this link.Abstract: This scientific paper discusses the importance of reducing greenhouse gas emissions to mitigate the effects of climate change. The proposed strategy is to reach net-zero emissions by transitioning to electric systems powered by low-carbon sources such as wind, solar, hydroelectric power, and nuclear energy. However, the paper also highlights the challenges of this transition, including high costs and lack of infrastructure. The paper emphasizes the need for continued research and investment in renewable energy technology and infrastructure to overcome these challenges and achieve a sustainable energy system. Additionally, the use of nuclear energy raises concerns, such as nuclear waste and proliferation, and should be considered with its benefits and drawbacks. The study assesses the feasibility of nuclear energy development in Latvia, a country in Northern Europe, and finds that Latvia is a suitable location for nuclear power facilities due to potential energy independence, low-carbon energy production, reliability, and economic benefits. The study also discusses methods of calculating electricity generation and consumption, such as measuring MWh produced by power plants, and balancing supply and demand within the country. Furthermore, the study assesses the safety of nuclear reactors, generated waste, and options for nuclear waste recycling. The transition to a carbon-free energy system is ongoing and complex, requiring multiple strategies to accelerate the transition. While the paper proposes that nuclear energy could be a practical means of supporting and backing up electricity generated by renewables, it should be noted that there are still challenges to be addressed. Some of the results presented in the paper are still based on studies, and the post-treatment of waste needs to be further clarified.Connecting episodes you might be interested in:No.313R - Nuclear power as foundation of a clean energy future: A reviewNo.314 - Interview with Andrew Vass about nuclear power and its costsYou can find the transcript through this link.What wast the most interesting part for you? What questions did arise for you? Let me know on Twitter @WTF4Cities or on the wtf4cities.com website where the shownotes are also available.I hope this was an interesting episode for you and thanks for tuning in.Episode generated with Descript assistance (affiliate link).Music by Lesfm from Pixabay
Are you interested in nuclear power and its effects on the economy? What do you think about economic longevity as resilience? How can we balance regulation and innovation? Trailer for episode 332 - interview with Kirsty Braybon, principal of Braybon Advisory. We will talk about her vision for the future of cities, nuclear power and its legal background, regulatory theory, long-term economic incentives, and many more. Find out more in the episode.Episode generated with Descript assistance (affiliate link).Music by Lesfm from Pixabay
"There seems to be an innate optimism that you have to have as a planner. Why else would you come to a profession where you're trying to look forward?"Are you interested in the innate optimism planners have? What do you think about language as technology? How can we learn from the past for better urban futures? Interview with Thomas W. Sanchez, Professor of Landscape Architecture and Urban Planning. We will talk about his vision for the future of cities, humans prevailing, planners' innate optimism, technology, and many more.Thomas W. Sanchez is a Professor in the Department of Landscape Architecture and Urban Planning at Texas A&M University. He earned his PhD in City Planning from Georgia Tech. His research and teaching focus on cities, planning methods, technology, and transportation. His most recent books include Networks in the Knowledge Economy (with Denise Bedford) and Planning Knowledge and Research. His forthcoming book, AI for Urban Planning will be published by Routledge in 2025. Tom serves as the American Planning Association (APA) Education Committee Chair and as a member of APA's Artificial Intelligence (AI) Foresight Community.Find out more about Tom through these links:Thomas W. Sanchez on LinkedInThomas W. Sanchez websiteThomas W. Sanchez at Texas A&M UniversityConnecting episodes you might be interested in:No.006 - Interview with Daniel Prohasky about thinking in thousands years aheadNo.292 - Interview with Anthony Acciavatti about the role of water in citiesNo.328 - Interview with Howard Bloom about a very wide understanding of technologyNo.329R - Artificial intelligence and the local government: A five-decade scientometric analysis on the evolution, state-of-the-art, and emerging trendsWhat was the most interesting part for you? What questions did arise for you? Let me know on Twitter @WTF4Cities or on the wtf4cities.com website where the shownotes are also available.I hope this was an interesting episode for you and thanks for tuning in.Episode generated with Descript assistance (affiliate link).Music by Lesfm from Pixabay
Our summary today works with the article titled Artificial intelligence and the local government: A five-decade scientometric analysis on the evolution, state-of-the-art, and emerging trends from 2024, by Tan Yigitcanlar, Sajani Senadheera, Raveena Marasinghe, Simon Elias Bibri, Thomas Sanchez, Federico Cugurullo, and Renee Sieber, published in the Cities journal. This is a great preparation to our next interview with Thomas Sanchez in episode 330 talking about urban and technological evolution. Since we are investigating the future of cities, I thought it would be interesting to see how AI is utilised in urban governance. This article investigates the evolution, current state and emerging trends of AI in local governments across 5 decades.Find the article through this link.Abstract: In recent years, the rapid advancement of artificial intelligence (AI) technologies has significantly impacted various sectors, including public governance at the local level. However, there exists a limited understanding of the overarching narrative surrounding the adoption of AI in local governments and its future. Therefore, this study aims to provide a comprehensive overview of the evolution, current state-of-the-art, and emerging trends in the adoption of AI in local government. A comprehensive scientometric analysis was conducted on a dataset comprising 7112 relevant literature records retrieved from the Scopus database in October 2023, spanning over the last five decades. The study findings revealed the following key insights: (a) exponential technological advancements over the last decades ushered in an era of AI adoption by local governments; (b) the primary purposes of AI adoption in local governments include decision support, automation, prediction, and service delivery; (c) the main areas of AI adoption in local governments encompass planning, analytics, security, surveillance, energy, and modelling; and (d) under-researched but critical research areas include ethics of and public participation in AI adoption in local governments. This study informs research, policy, and practice by offering a comprehensive understanding of the literature on AI applications in local governments, providing valuable insights for stakeholders and decision-makers.Connecting episodes you might be interested in:No.259R - Lessons from nine urban areas using data to drive local sustainable developmentNo.304 - Interview with Nick Bray about agentic AIsYou can find the transcript through this link.What was the most interesting part for you? What questions did arise for you? Let me know on Twitter @WTF4Cities or on the wtf4cities.com website where the shownotes are also available.I hope this was an interesting episode for you and thanks for tuning in.Episode generated with Descript assistance (affiliate link).Music by Lesfm from Pixabay
Are you interested in the innate optimism planners have? What do you think about language as technology? How can we learn from the past for better urban futures? Trailer for episode 330 - interview with Thomas W. Sanchez, Professor of Landscape Architecture and Urban Planning. We will talk about his vision for the future of cities, humans prevailing, planners' innate optimism, technology, and many more.Find out more in the episode.Episode generated with Descript assistance (affiliate link).Music by Lesfm from Pixabay
"So that audacity to reach for the skies has been built into us ever since life reached the land."Are you interested in technological innovation like writing? What do you think about cities as the guiding light for humanity? How can we utilise technology while still planning with community in mind?Interview with Howard Bloom, author and founder of the Howard Bloom Institute. We will talk about his vision for the future of cities, blinding humanity, human and urban evolution, space exploration, and many more. Howard Bloom, dubbed the Einstein and Freud of the 21st century by Channel 4 TV, is an author of eight books, including The Lucifer Principle. His book Global Brain sparked a symposium by the Secretary of Defense's office, with attendees from DARPA, MIT, and IBM. Bloom's work spans The Washington Post, Wired, and Scientific American. Initially a microbiologist and physicist, he explored mass behaviour—from quarks to humans. He champions omnology, a science of the panoramic, weaving together all disciplines to see the universe's grand patterns. In the 1970s-80s, he ran a top music PR firm, boosting stars like Michael Jackson and Prince, before returning to science in 1988. He's since lectured across twelve scientific fields, co-founded the Asian Space Technology Summit, and inspired the Howard Bloom Institute in 2021.Find out more about Howard through these links:Howard Bloom websiteHoward Bloom on Wikipedia@HowardxBloom as Howard Bloom on X@howlbloom as Howard Bloom on InstagramHoward Bloom Institute website@howard_bloom_institute as Howard Bloom Institute on InstagramConnecting episodes you might be interested in:No.288 - Interview with Dan Hill about cities as knotsNo.304 - Interview with Nick Bray about AINo.317R - Economic and social impacts of public transport investmentsNo.327RWhat was the most interesting part for you? What questions did arise for you? Let me know on Twitter @WTF4Cities or on the wtf4cities.com website where the shownotes are also available.I hope this was an interesting episode for you and thanks for tuning in.Episode generated with Descript assistance (affiliate link).Music by Lesfm from Pixabay
Are you interested in urban evolution across time? Our summary today works with the article titled Cities through the ages: One thing or many? from 2019, by Michael E. Smith and José Lobo, published in the Frontiers in Digital Humanities journal. This is a great preparation to our next interview with Howard Bloom in episode 328 talking about urban evolution from the bacteria to space exploration. Since we are investigating the future of cities, I thought it would be interesting to see the nature of cities throughout the ages. This article investigates cities as energised crowing, also known as one thing, and many things, such as political sites and economic environments.Find the article through this link.Abstract: The variability among cities, from the ancient world to the present, can be organized usefully in two ways. First, a focus on the dominant urban activities and processes leads to the recognition of two basic urban types: economic cities and political cities. Most cities today are economic cities in which growth proceeds through agglomeration processes. By contrast, most cities in the ancient world (and some today) are political cities, in which power and administration play a major role in structuring cities and generating change. Second, an alternative focus on processes of social interaction within the urban built environment leads to the recognition that there is only one kind of settlement that includes all cities—economic and political; past and present. Cities in this sense are settings for “energized crowding.” Processes of interaction generate both economic and political growth, and they produce and influence the built forms and social characteristics of all cities. Our model helps scholars distinguish the unique from the universal traits of cities today and in the past.Connecting episodes you might be interested in:No.090 - Interview with Professor Matthew McCartney about the economic side of citiesNo.318 - Interview with Mark Lutter about different economics across the world in citiesYou can find the transcript through this link.What was the most interesting part for you? What questions did arise for you? Let me know on Twitter @WTF4Cities or on the wtf4cities.com website where the shownotes are also available.I hope this was an interesting episode for you and thanks for tuning in.Episode generated with Descript assistance (affiliate link).Music by Lesfm from Pixabay
Are you interested in technological innovation like writing? What do you think about cities as the guiding light for humanity? How can we utilise technology while still planning with community in mind?Trailer for episode 328 - interview with Howard Bloom, author and founder of the Howard Bloom Institute. We will talk about his vision for the future of cities, blinding humanity, human and urban evolution, space exploration, and many more.Find out more in the episode.Episode generated with Descript assistance (affiliate link).Music by Lesfm from Pixabay
"The city is a collision of people and ideas."Are you interested in the benefits of investing in public transport? What do you think about design by democracy? How can we create heterogenous cities with infrastructure as the backbone? Interview with Sarah Bridges, Technical Director at Aurecon and Director of Precinct Planning within the AJM Joint Venture. We will talk about her vision for the future of cities, public transport, removing bad solutions, collision of ideas, and many more. Sarah Bridges is an accomplished project director with urban design and architectural background, specialising in complex urban projects that prioritise sustainability and community connectivity. As Technical Director at Aurecon and Director of Precinct Planning within the AJM Joint Venture, she plays a pivotal role in shaping city infrastructure and urban renewal projects across Victoria. With expertise in place-based outcomes, she leads multidisciplinary teams to deliver high-profile public and private projects from business case development through to implementation. Passionate about empowering communities, Sarah is dedicated to designing urban environments that support low-carbon living and enhance people's ability to connect with their surroundings.Find out more about Sarah through these links:Sarah Bridges on LinkedInAurecon websiteAurecon on LinkedInConnecting episodes you might be interested in:No.206 - Interview with Amir Hussain about keeping character and welcome everyoneNo.214 - Interview with Andrew Vass about cost vs valueNo.325R - Economic and social impacts of public transport investmentsWhat was the most interesting part for you? What questions did arise for you? Let me know on Twitter @WTF4Cities or on the wtf4cities.com website where the shownotes are also available.I hope this was an interesting episode for you and thanks for tuning in.Episode generated with Descript assistance (affiliate link).Music by Lesfm from Pixabay
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