Mission

Urbban represents an innovative vision that combines geographic sciences with urban planning and architecture. Although technological innovations, such us Smart Cities or BIM, continue to advance, there is an significant lack between information that data can provide and real-world decisions. The upcoming urban transformation can not rely on abstractions or ideologies, and need to be human-oriented, sustainable, contextual and data driven. Using spatial data-based simulations on a city model brings an important new approach into understanding the complexity of the urban and suburban landscape.

Advanced technologies enable better decision making, however Data Science is commonly one of the missing ingredients featuring nowadays urban planning. Today’s cities are struggling with numerous problems such us high-density, traffic congestion or air pollution that can be modeled and improved with Machine Learning Algorithms. In many regions we are witnessing a total crisis of public space with lack of green spaces and poorly integrated urban environment which is an essential need of cities. Design and Urban Science need to be linked to respond effectively to new urban challenges.

Indeed, Urban Planning and Architecture are shifting slowly to new ontologies where data is showing new and unseen patterns. With technology enable to process complex data and non linear models, urban practice will evolve in these next years in order to solve and mitigate complex problems.

How can we achieve it?

As a result of technological advances and globalization many cities around the world are encountering described above problems and facing difficulties in providing adequate solutions. Significantly more people are suffering the negative impacts of air pollution, traffic problems and lack of green public space.

Although the most negative patterns are common in many urban environments, the solutions have to be diverse and specific as diversified the places are. Many various patterns are determinating places we live in and only deep analysis of their complexity can help us to develop better urban spaces.

Through comparison of spatial data sets, we can identify relationships between cities with similar urban patterns and intend appropriated measures. Analyzing the data can strongly influence development of strategic decisions that can improve our lives in cities on several levels. We must act rapidly and the change must be real and sustainable.

TOPICS COVERED

BIM & CIM & GEOBIM

Artificial Intelligence has the capacity to transform the Building Industry with BIM data. Together they can deliver a new approach to understand how design and materials perform, make predictions and create new models . City Information Modeling helps Planning combine Building information for analysis, together with IoT, among other city layers.

urban data science

In the context of a urban data deluge, Urban Planning and Urban Design, have to adapt to new evidence and put in practice new techniques for solving complex problems, fast changes in digitalization and social tendencies. From computer visions, remote sensing, social media, analysis will bring new city interventions, different from the ones we saw in the past.

Urban theory

The last decade has seen an increasing interest in the application of assemblage thinking, in geography, sociology and urban studies. Different interpretations of the Deleuzian concept of assemblage give rise to the multiple articulations of the term in urban studies so far. Other complex theories in Urban Planning and architecture are shaping the urban debate and we like to link new and interesting concepts appearing. From place making to Smart Cities.

URBAN ECONOMICS

Urban economics are more linked to their physical environment. Retail space is determined by city planning laws and the phiscal shape of ground level of buildings. Tourism industry create a great impact on Cities, as visitors concentrate in some areas. Office space, the concentration of tech companies in some districts, gentrification, urban agriculture, among other contribute the modern urban ecnomics debate.

ENVIRONMENT & city

Buildings are one of the main responsables for energy consumption and climate change, but they can be also energy producers, new materials and other techniques can transform buildings to passive or neutral. Green spaces and the way how urban-rural transitions are shaped are essential part of ecological problems.

TRANSPORT PUBLIC SPACE

Urban mobility is adapting quickly to new circumstances, from autonomous vehicles and scooters to a decreasing car ownership. Low carbon economy also demands more space for pedestrians and bikes, increasing the demand for public space.