To gather the team’s thoughts for an end of year piece for DG Cities, I asked everyone to sum up their year in one word. A few were positive: “journey”, “rewarding”, “mixed methods” (that’s two) or the more euphemistic “eventful.” For others, “trying”, “u-turns”, “backwards”, “messy” and “reckless.”
For a purpose-led organisation engaged in projects conceived to improve people’s lives, places, and help us reach net zero, it’s no surprise there’s frustration – a number of recent policy shifts seem to have turned against these aims. Reading the blog by our Head of Research, Ed Houghton on COP28 last week, it’s hard to miss the growing exasperation with the lack of global leadership when it comes to addressing climate change. As he writes, it is falling to the local, to overstretched councils, to deliver on social housing decarbonisation, green transport, connectivity and so much more.
“2024? A focus on net zero neighbourhoods; emphasis on technology as a part of the solution, but not the whole solution… realistic conversations about the role of AI in local authorities, and more tangible examples of AI improving outcomes and job quality – changing jobs (as opposed to fear of replacement).”
What does the team hope to see in 2024?
Ed’s hopes for “more leadership on net zero action” echoed a wider desire for decisive net zero policy in the team. “More certainty on UK net zero to support more business investment, jobs and training for the sector,” said one. “More certainty surrounding policy that can positively lead us towards net zero,” agreed another. “Generally, more policy focus to meeting net zero and improving local services and places.” “A plan for local authority budgets.” For one, it was simply “change.”
For IoT Project Manager, Sam Grounds, the focus was realising the potential of innovations, with “a greater focus on technology and data-led improvements to social housing, with residents at the centre of change.” For another, “more data and AI infrastructure in local authorities.”
2023 could be seen as the first year of AI’s mass adoption, with the popularity of programmes like Claude and Chat GPT for writing, AI-generated images in the mainstream, a slew of courses being hastily devised and sold in prompting, seminars to understand AI’s impact on different industries… DG Cities has been working in autonomous transport and data-led tech for several years now, but this year is perhaps the first we have been able to apply at scale innovations like IoT cameras, damp, mould and energy monitors in social housing trials. At last, we’re seeing more recognition of the practical role that this previously ‘emerging’ tech can play in delivering practical benefits now: improving housing standards and delivering on decarbonisation. A trend we hope will continue.
A goodbye (for now) to Kim Smith
But for Kim Smith, our Head of Smart Mobility, when asked what she’d like to see next year: “more of my garden.” Kim retires from DG Cities this week, although like the hero that swoops in to save the day at the end of a Christmas film, we hope it’s more a ‘see you later’ than a true goodbye. Kim has been a leader in transport planning, delivery, policy and strategy for more than two decades. It’s impossible to pay tribute to her contribution and depth of knowledge, particularly when it comes to Greenwich – we’ll miss her insights, expertise and healthy dose of irreverence.
…but what does the team expect to see in 2024?
We’ve looked at what the team hopes will happen, but what do people think actually will happen in 2024? Here, the responses were more specific to their areas of focus. One predicts more need for the expertise of DG Cities from councils, designing, running and evaluating trials and developing testbeds: “As the climate crisis becomes more urgent, and the private sector makes more and more use of AI, I think there is going to be much greater room for innovation in local authorities.”
Kim predicts a “swerve back to CAM funding” as the sector gains traction with the automated vehicles bill. For our specialist in EV infrastructure, Ash Burton, it’s all about “more creative and innovative solutions to develop and deploy EV charging quickly and effectively.” For others, there were “improvements in and expansion of digital connectivity.”
Predictions for housing were somewhat negative: “continued lack of affordable and good quality housing, increased vocal concern about the housing crisis… and no house building.” And the final response was a little more pessimistic, or realistic perhaps, on the probability of net zero policy change, expecting “nothing until elections.”
Looking ahead
It's fair to say that 2023 hasn’t been without challenges. But it has also had some great moments, particularly in our busy studio in Greenwich’s Design District. We have welcomed three brilliant new members of the team: Emily, Rasheed and Nima. We had a fantastic Digital Greenwich Connect launch at the start of the year. We have delivered a wide range of projects, from a government-funded study into ‘complex to decarbonise’ housing to a trial with Sense to explore how new smart monitors could save people money and energy.
Looking ahead, we’re launching some exciting projects in 2024, continuing our work on a range of initiatives, including DeepSafe, the next phase in the deployment of self-driving services, investigating AI trust, the decarbonisation of council assets and much more. If you’re interested in working with us, you can read more about our services here.
From all of us at DG Cities, thank you for being part of our year, whether you have shared your views with our researchers, collaborated with us on a project, commissioned us or just enjoyed our features and posts. We hope you, like us, will have the chance for some time to rest and reflect over the Christmas break. We’re looking forward to the new year, to coming back with recharged energy, ideas and passion to deliver for the people and places where we believe we can make a difference.
