Paper by Jorrit de Jong, Fernando Fernandez-Monge et al: “Over the last decades, scholars and practitioners have focused their attention on the use of data for improving public action, with a renewed interest in the emergence of big data and artificial intelligence. The potential of data is particularly salient in cities, where vast amounts of data are being generated from traditional and novel sources. Despite this growing interest, there is a need for a conceptual and operational understanding of the beneficial uses of data. This article presents a comprehensive and precise account of how cities can use data to address problems more effectively, efficiently, equitably, and in a more accountable manner. It does so by synthesizing and augmenting current research with empirical evidence derived from original research and learnings from a program designed to strengthen city governments’ data capacity. The framework can be used to support longitudinal and comparative analyses as well as explore questions such as how different uses of data employed at various levels of maturity can yield disparate outcomes. Practitioners can use the framework to identify and prioritize areas in which building data capacity might further the goals of their teams and organizations…(More)“
Trust in action: The Hague’s efforts to re-engage its citizens
Article by Jan van Zanen: “In today’s complex world, trust in government is more crucial than ever. At last year’s UCLG World Council, I introduced the “Hague Charter for Municipal Peace.”, urging cities to lead in peacebuilding and inclusion. But we want to inspire other cities through our actions as well as our words and have implemented many new initiatives in the Hague to include citizens in decision making.
Engaging citizens strengthens social cohesion and results in more effective, equitable policies. Trust supports democratic institutions, reduces conflict and fosters long-term stability. It’s the foundation of democratic societies, built through transparency, inclusion, and a shared commitment to the common good.
Our commitment to build trust
Yet, trust is eroding – 44% of people in OECD countries report having little or no confidence in their national governments. We see a similar trend in the Netherlands. In 2024, only less than half of Dutch respondents said they trusted the national government. We see the same trend at the local level; however, the decline is less severe (figure 1)…
In 2022, we tested a new way of involving citizens; citizens’ assemblies on a more climate-friendly city. Participants of the assembly were randomly selected and represented diverse socio-economic backgrounds and views on sustainability. Many had never taken part in decision-making before, making this a powerful step toward more inclusive and representative participation.
Participants appreciated that they had a real say in such a critical issue. In addition, participants felt they better understood our city’s climate-policy (figure 2). We also learned valuable lessons, like using spoken communication for some groups and better sharing the process with the public. These insights will improve future participation, and we hope other cities can learn from our experience too.
Figure 2. knowledge about municipal climate policies
“What do you know about the climate policy of the municipality of The Hague?”
Note: The figure shows the amount of perceived knowledge on municipal climate policies before and after participation in the citizen’s assembly, measured on a 1 (Nothing) to 5 (A lot) scale. The higher the score, the higher the perceived knowledge of respondents. ..(More)”.
Sentinel Cities for Public Health
Article by Jesse Rothman, Paromita Hore & Andrew McCartor: “In 2017, a New York City health inspector visited the home of a 5-year-old child with an elevated blood lead level. With no sign of lead paint—the usual suspect in such cases—the inspector discovered dangerous levels of lead in a bright yellow container of “Georgian Saffron,” a spice obtained in the family’s home country. It was not the first case associated with the use of lead-containing Georgian spices—the NYC Health Department shared their findings with authorities in Georgia, which catalyzed a survey of children’s blood lead levels in Georgia, and led to increased regulatory enforcement and education. Significant declines in spice lead levels in the country have had ripple effects in NYC also: not only a drop in spice samples from Georgia containing detectable lead but also a significant reduction in blood lead levels among NYC children of Georgian ancestry.
This wasn’t a lucky break—it was the result of a systematic approach to transform local detection into global impact. Findings from local NYC surveillance are, of course, not limited to Georgian spices. Surveillance activities have identified a variety of lead-containing consumer products from around the world, from cosmetics and medicines to ceramics and other goods. Routinely surveying local stores for lead-containing products has resulted in the removal of over 30,000 hazardous consumer products from NYC store shelves since 2010.
How can we replicate and scale up NYC’s model to address the global crisis of lead poisoning?…(More)”.
Spaces for democracy with generative artificial intelligence: public architecture at stake
Paper by Ingrid Campo-Ruiz: “Urban space is an important infrastructure for democracy and fosters democratic engagement, such as meetings, discussions, and protests. Artificial Intelligence (AI) systems could affect democracy through urban space, for example, by breaching data privacy, hindering political equality and engagement, or manipulating information about places. This research explores the urban places that promote democratic engagement according to the outputs generated with ChatGPT-4o. This research moves beyond the dominant framework of discussions on AI and democracy as a form of spreading misinformation and fake news. Instead, it provides an innovative framework, combining architectural space as an infrastructure for democracy and the way in which generative AI tools provide a nuanced view of democracy that could potentially influence millions of people. This article presents a new conceptual framework for understanding AI for democracy from the perspective of architecture. For the first case study in Stockholm, Sweden, AI outputs were later combined with GIS maps and a theoretical framework. The research then analyzes the results obtained for Madrid, Spain, and Brussels, Belgium. This analysis provides deeper insights into the outputs obtained with AI, the places that facilitate democratic engagement and those that are overlooked, and the ensuing consequences.Results show that urban space for democratic engagement obtained with ChatGPT-4o for Stockholm is mainly composed of governmental institutions and non-governmental organizations for representative or deliberative democracy and the education of individuals in public buildings in the city centre. The results obtained with ChatGPT-40 barely reflect public open spaces, parks, or routes. They also prioritize organized rather than spontaneous engagement and do not reflect unstructured events like demonstrations, and powerful actors, such as political parties, or workers’ unions. The places listed by ChatGPT-4o for Madrid and Brussels give major prominence to private spaces like offices that house organizations with political activities. While cities offer a broad and complex array of places for democratic engagement, outputs obtained with AI can narrow users’ perspectives on their real opportunities, while perpetuating powerful agents by not making them sufficiently visible to be accountable for their actions. In conclusion, urban space is a fundamental infrastructure for democracy, and AI outputs could be a valid starting point for understanding the plethora of interactions. These outputs should be complemented with other forms of knowledge to produce a more comprehensive framework that adjusts to reality for developing AI in a democratic context. Urban space should be protected as a shared space and as an asset for societies to fully develop democracy in its multiple forms. Democracy and urban spaces influence each other and are subject to pressures from different actors including AI. AI systems should, therefore, be monitored to enhance democratic values through urban space…(More)”.
Usability for the World: Building Better Cities and Communities
Book edited by Elizabeth Rosenzweig, and Amanda Davis: “Want to build cities that truly work for everyone? Usability for the World: Sustainable Cities and Communities reveals how human-centered design is key to thriving, equitable urban spaces. This isn’t just another urban planning book; it’s a practical guide to transforming cities, offering concrete strategies and real-world examples you can use today.
What if our cities could be both efficient and human-friendly? This book tackles the core challenge of modern urban development: balancing functionality with the well-being of residents. It explores the crucial connection between usability and sustainability, demonstrating how design principles, from Universal to life-centered, create truly livable cities.
Interested in sustainable urban development? Usability for the World offers a global perspective, showcasing diverse approaches to creating equitable and resilient cities. Through compelling case studies, discover how user-centered design addresses pressing urban challenges. See how these principles connect directly to achieving the UN Sustainable Development Goals, specifically SDG 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities…(More)”.
Assessing data governance models for smart cities: Benchmarking data governance models on the basis of European urban requirements
Paper by Yusuf Bozkurt, Alexander Rossmann, Zeeshan Pervez, and Naeem Ramzan: “Smart cities aim to improve residents’ quality of life by implementing effective services, infrastructure, and processes through information and communication technologies. However, without robust smart city data governance, much of the urban data potential remains underexploited, resulting in inefficiencies and missed opportunities for city administrations. This study addresses these challenges by establishing specific, actionable requirements for smart city data governance models, derived from expert interviews with representatives of 27 European cities. From these interviews, recurring themes emerged, such as the need for standardized data formats, clear data access guidelines, and stronger cross-departmental collaboration mechanisms. These requirements emphasize technology independence, flexibility to adapt across different urban contexts, and promoting a data-driven culture. By benchmarking existing data governance models against these newly established urban requirements, the study uncovers significant variations in their ability to address the complex, dynamic nature of smart city data systems. This study thus enhances the theoretical understanding of data governance in smart cities and provides municipal decision-makers with actionable insights for improving data governance strategies. In doing so, it directly supports the broader goals of sustainable urban development by helping improve the efficiency and effectiveness of smart city initiatives…(More)”.
Making Civic Trust Less Abstract: A Framework for Measuring Trust Within Cities
Report by Stefaan Verhulst, Andrew J. Zahuranec, and Oscar Romero: “Trust is foundational to effective governance, yet its inherently abstract nature has made it difficult to measure and operationalize, especially in urban contexts. This report proposes a practical framework for city officials to diagnose and strengthen civic trust through observable indicators and actionable interventions.
Rather than attempting to quantify trust as an abstract concept, the framework distinguishes between the drivers of trust—direct experiences and institutional interventions—and its manifestations, both emotional and behavioral. Drawing on literature reviews, expert workshops, and field engagement with the New York City Civic Engagement Commission (CEC), we present a three-phase approach: (1) baseline assessment of trust indicators, (2) analysis of causal drivers, and (3) design and continuous evaluation of targeted interventions. The report illustrates the framework’s applicability through a hypothetical case involving the NYC Parks Department and a real-world case study of the citywide participatory budgeting initiative, The People’s Money. By providing a structured, context-sensitive, and iterative model for measuring civic trust, this report seeks to equip public institutions and city officials with a framework for meaningful measurement of civic trust…(More)“.
Using Gamification to Engage Citizens in Micro-Mobility Data Sharing
Paper by Anu Masso, Anniki Puura, Jevgenia Gerassimenko and Olle Järv: “The European Strategy for Data aims to create a unified environment for accessing, sharing, and reusing data across sectors, institutions, and individuals, with a focus on areas like mobility and smart cities. While significant progress has been made in the technical interoperability and legislative frameworks for data spaces, critical gaps persist in the bottom-up processes, particularly in fostering social collaboration and citizen-driven initiatives. What is often overlooked is the need for effective citizen engagement and collaborative governance models to ensure the long-term viability and inclusivity of these data spaces. In addition, although principles for successful data sharing are well-established in sectors like healthcare, they remain underdeveloped and more challenging to implement in areas such as mobility. This article addresses these gaps by exploring how gamification can drive bottom-up data space formation, engaging citizens in data-sharing and fostering collaboration among private companies, local governments, and academic institutions. Using bicycle usage as an example, it illustrates how gamification can incentivise citizens to share mobility data for social good, promoting more active and sustainable transportation in cities. Drawing on a case study from Tallinn (Estonia), the paper demonstrates how gamification can improve data collection, highlighting the vital role of citizen participation in urban planning. The article emphasises that while technological solutions for data spaces are advancing, understanding collaborative governance models for data sharing remains crucial for ensuring the success of the European Union’s data space agenda and driving sustainable innovation in urban environments…(More)”.
Measuring the Shade Coverage of Trees and Buildings in Cambridge, Massachusetts
Paper by Amirhosein Shabrang, Mehdi Pourpeikari Heris, and Travis Flohr: “We investigated the spatial shade patterns of trees and buildings on sidewalks and bike lanes in Cambridge, Massachusetts. We used Lidar data and 3D modeling to analyze the spatial and temporal shade distribution across the City. Our analysis shows significant shade variations throughout the City. Western city areas receive more shade from trees, and the eastern regions receive more shade from buildings. The City’s northern areas lack shade, but natural and built sources of shade can improve shade coverage integration. This study’s findings help identify shade coverage gaps, which have implications for urban planning and design for more heat-resilient cities…(More)”
AI in Urban Life
Book by Patricia McKenna: “In exploring artificial intelligence (AI) in urban life, this book brings together and extends thinking on how human-AI interactions are continuously evolving. Through such interactions, people are aided on the one hand, while becoming more aware of their own capabilities and potentials on the other hand, pertaining, for example, to creativity, human sensing, and collaboration.
It is the particular focus of research questions developed in relation to awareness, smart cities, autonomy, privacy, transparency, theory, methods, practices, and collective intelligence, along with the wide range of perspectives and opportunities offered, that set this work apart from others. Conceptual frameworks are formulated for each of these areas to guide explorations and understandings in this work and going forward. A synthesis is provided in the final chapter for perspectives, challenges and opportunities, and conceptual frameworks for urban life in an era of AI, opening the way for evolving research and practice directions…(More)”.