Outer space activities and city evolution

Abstract

Just as the space community is expanding our presence into the solar system and beyond, a group of thought leaders, including visionary policy makers, architects, engineers and allied professionals are peering into the Earth, studying co-relations of various dynamic systems including land, air and sea agents, and finding new ways to report and apply the data from space-based assets, for the immediate betterment of humanity. New cities are emerging, established towns are growing and expanding, and many metropolises are merging to become megalopolises around the globe. And urban infrastructures around the world are coping hard to adjust to new pressures including the huge population migration from rural to urban regions, climate change effects, and vital resources, all in an effort to sustain and enhance the quality of life of the citizen. Providing a safe, productive and nurturing environment for the city dweller is the overarching directive and prime aim of every city and city management. Enhancing and safely delivering a range of cradle-to-grave activities to sustain the quality of life of the citizen including incorporating agile, responsive systems for health and welfare, economic opportunities, leisure and safety are all part of the evolving Smart City paradigm. This paper presents the potential for improving the quality of life of the city dweller by applying mature, adaptable and appropriately viable space technologies. By applying lessons learned so far, and using environmentally friendly space technologies, both employed by or being developed in the space community for outer space activities, space systems and practices can be adopted directly or adapted to enhance city life, while also paying attention to 21st century UN sustainable development goals. Specifically, energy production and distribution, the scaling of environmental control and life support systems to accommodate large populations, atmospheric scrubbing and revitalization, production of potable water and recycling waste water and solids can be deployed at scale in cities. In addition, efficient food production and pollution-free, local and long haul transportation and related autonomous agents and allied robotic technologies coupled with agile 5G+ communication networks that allow Internet of Things(IoT) across a myriad of devices for monitoring and responding to citywide needs like traffic and resource management are all related to spacecraft systems in use or in advanced development stages today. It is concluded that environmentally friendly space activity and allied technologies can have immense positive impact yet to be realized in city evolution, and that the Smart City paradigm being currently rolled out across the world stand to benefit tremendously from integrating outer space technologies into deeper layers of city infrastructure. USC School of Architecture has the most diverse student body among American universities. Aspects of potential, progressive developments possible through the use of advanced space and allied technologies in certain world cities are presented by a diverse group of students from around the globe who sat in the 3-unit Space and City seminar in the Spring of 2020.