An architecture thesis carried out at EPFL has found that digital platforms are the most convenient and efficient way to incorporate urban residents’ ideas into initiatives for making their cities more sustainable. However, most cities still lack the requisite technological capabilities to achieve this.
“We feel we’re at a pivotal moment. People are adopting new lifestyles – new ways of living, working and getting around. But the tools used for urban planning haven’t changed,” said Stéphanie Hasler, an architecture researcher at EPFL’s Urban and Regional Planning Community (CEAT). “So there’s a gap between the way city residents live today and the methods used to design their neighbourhoods”.
For her thesis, Hasler compared the cities of Geneva and Singapore. She found that Geneva currently uses data only for broader management purposes, such as to reduce traffic congestion or improve energy efficiency. Efforts to solicit residents’ opinion relate primarily to getting feedback on existing projects, rather than generating new ideas.
Singapore, in contrast, is living up to its title as the world’s preeminent smart city. For example, the city set up a website a few years ago where residents can view plans for current and future projects and given their opinions. The website encourages dialogue because residents can share their opinions without having to make a trip to the local planning office.
According to Hasler, involving residents in the planning phase is essential for making cities more sustainable, particular with regard to transportation and reducing greenhouse gas emissions. But it will require training among city staff who are perhaps resistant to the concept of “connected urban planning”.
