Two applied research projects: Spatial impacts and potentials of ICTs

Abstract

This chapter aims at describing the methodologies and outcomes of two research experiences (Fig. 3.1), which have been developed in order to test the concepts introduced by the research (smart region, internet of places, and urban digital nodes) and identify the relationships among the different scales involved (local, urban, and regional). Adopting the reference to the system of university campuses within the potential smart region between Milan and Turin, the first research project concerned the Città Studi university campus in Milan. This was chosen in order to explore the internet of places concept by optimizing access to university facilities through the use of mobile services, thereby enhancing the campus itself as a complex of urban digital nodes. The second research project sought to develop the internet of places concept from the university campus scale to the urban scale by applying it to a more extensive area of Milan comprising the Bovisa university campus and the 2015 Expo site. This was chosen in order to explore the urban digital nodes concept by identifying the best localization opportunities and defining the functional components of the UDNs system proposed by the research for the Milan’s north-western sector. These services specifically relate to the features of the spatial and socio-economic context in which each Urban Digital Node is located, as particularly shown by the UDN experimental application within the former QT8 market, at present owned by the Milan municipality.