More than 55% of the world’s population lives in cities, with that number only expected to increase in the coming decades. Despite the rising population in urban areas, local governments continue to raise flags about inadequate infrastructure and the declining quality of life that cities are facing. Perhaps the large scale problems that we typically categorize as urban innovation, inclusion, and infrastructure, can be solved if we get to the root of the smaller troubles, that we may not even know existed. It’s time to take urban issues off the back burner and improve cities not just for today, but for the long term future.
As cities around the world continue to experience the ravaging waves of COVID-19 and unrest that has been caused by the unveiling of deeply rooted societal problems, questions about urban equity and the health of our cities have begun to rise. Empathy is the challenge of our modern time- and the integration of design and technology is eager to help provide solutions. It’s not about tackling just one issue at a time, but the goal is to create a system that addresses challenges holistically in a way that will make cities smarter and the built environment a better place. The future of cities lies in the hands of small scale startups with large scale solutions that have the power to create a robust urban experience.
