What is Urban Decay? (And Why the Answer Matters)
Cities have begun requiring developers of large-format retail stores (aka: “big box stores”) to prepare what is called an “urban decay study.” The study is meant to identify possible environmental … Continue reading
Waste not, want not
The working lives of India’s urban waste pickers show the hidden connections between everything that matters in the city. Managing India’s urban waste will always be about more than just … Continue reading
Building New Cities
Across the planet, hundreds of billions of dollars are being invested in new cities, in countries including China, India, Malaysia, Saudi Arabia, Ecuador, the Philippines, Palestine, Morocco, Afghanistan, Germany and … Continue reading
The Metropolitan Century
The report provides an outline of recent and likely future urbanisation trends and discusses the consequences. The world is in the middle of an urbanisation process that will cause urbanisation … Continue reading
The Future of Cities, Information, and Inclusion
Over the next decade, cities will continue to grow larger and more rapidly. At the same time, new technologies will unlock massive streams of data about cities and their residents. … Continue reading
East Asia’s Changing Urban Landscape
Urbanization is transforming the developing world. However, understanding the pace, scale, and form of urbanization has been limited by a lack of consistent data. East Asia’s Changing Urban Landscape aims … Continue reading
Local democracy as a substitute for data (and rather a good substitute too)
David Satterthwaite – Demand for data generally comes from those who control funds and other resources. National governments and international agencies. Not those who need funds (or schools or potable … Continue reading
The truth about smart cities: ‘In the end, they will destroy democracy’
In truth, competing visions of the smart city are proxies for competing visions of society, and in particular about who holds power in society. “In the end, the smart city … Continue reading
Reading Development 