The future of cities

Abstract

For the fi rst time in history the call to envisioning the future is more than a mere matter of fantasy. Up until now the look ahead had little going for it than science fi ction. But the sustainability movement changed all that and made it part of our concerns today the agenda to ensure for a healthy and viable future tomorrow. It is not sure if the concern was and remains to be one about future generations as much as it is about the realization that even within one's own lifetime things might deteriorate signifi cantly if we donot care for the wellbeing of our places, especially when life expectancy is now 10 years lengthier than it was just 50 years ago. Cities play a strong role in envisioning and developing this future, not the least because they help conserve resources while also serving as engines for economic and social growth. How will they fulfi l that role is the topic of this paper, examining, among other things, the way recent data-harvesting technologies may lead us in the right direction. © 2013 WIT Press.