Smart[er] cities

This project aims to consolidate a network of scholars working with practice oriented research focusing on the opportunities and challeges of data-driven Smart City projects from the perspective of communication studies.

The end goal of this project is a submission of several research applications for international funding organisations including, but not limited to the European Research Council, Vetenkapsrådet, the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council in Canada (SSHRC), and the Brazilian Research Council (CNPq).

Goal 11 Sustainable Cities and Communities in the UN´s 2030 Sustainable Development Goals aims at ensuring intelligent urban planning that creates safe, affordable and resilient cities with green and culturally inspiring living conditions (UN Agenda 2030).

Big data and artificial inteligence have become important elements in effortos to create sustainable urban planning, including infrastructure, transport, sanitation and, not least, security and crime prevention.

However, many times a technology driven approach to urban planning and social engeneering can marginalise and exclude vulnerable groups locally and globally.

In this context the transdisciplinary perspective of critical communication studies can elucidate 1) how data-driven urban planing and managing can potentially alienate communities at the margins and 2)how alternative urban planning and managing strategies emerge through connections and dialogue forged among communities at the margins.