Today is my second day at DG Cities and my excitement is only gaining momentum. Two days into the role and already I envision this team of 11 growing in size, quickly becoming a sea of hundreds, all eagerly brainstorming and collaborating to reshape and improve our cities. Or perhaps these are the musings of a graduating millennial wishfully getting ahead of himself. But how could I not, when the setting is so compelling?
It’s been nearly four months since I joined the DG Cities team, and while I had no idea what was in store for me when I first started, I have certainly learned a lot in my time here. I’ve had the chance to work on a number of exciting and diverse projects, all of which have reminded me, more so than ever, of just how rapidly technology is shaping the towns and cities we live in.
Transport conferences, or as they are commonly referred to these days, ‘future mobility’ conferences, are becoming increasingly exciting. They are an opportunity to discuss and dissect a range of technologies and innovations, from self-driving cars to fleets of robo-taxis. The buzz and excitement of such environments and the technological novelties being exhibited propels one’s imagination, sometimes far beyond today’s realities, and into a perfect world of the future.
It was released in the news last month that Google will be monitoring air quality within the Greater London Area, mapping real-time pollution levels using their StreetView cars. The new monitoring programme forms part of Breathe London, an initiative made up of a consortium of partners including various health and scientific experts as well as the Mayor of London. Breathe London aims to develop policy responses that help to improve the wellbeing and air quality of London and other cities worldwide.
The new year has brought with it big changes as I have now emerged from the familiar university bubble and begun my official foray into the working world. I’ve traded in late-night, caffeine-fuelled study groups for early morning (also caffeine-fuelled) brainstorming sessions, and it’s been an exciting transition.
The urban environment is an opportunity area for multiple actors; politicians, businesses and citizens, to make large-scale changes that dramatically reduce our impact on the environment. As a hotbed for new innovations, financial investment and governmental institutions, the city has the power to scale new technologies and influence our daily practices and infrastructure to ensure our cities (and the wider environment) continue to be a healthy and thriving place to live.
Driverless cars present huge opportunities for cities and the people living in them. They stand to change ownership models for cars, usage models through sharing rides, and the built environment through reducing and re-purposing our streets.
Drone technology is already here and, as with most disruptors, we have a choice of acting now to shape it to enable the city and citizen to develop positively, or be passive and risk the potentially negative outcomes.
The cityscape, which cars operate in today, is the result of countless historical decisions. These decisions, often taken in isolation and without the benefit of forecasting the effect of emerging technologies, were rarely truly strategic. Consequently cars, not people, have shaped our cities over the last century. We now have the opportunity to ensure that it is our cities that shape the place drones operate within.
DG Cities recently participated in the CUES Venture Programme focusing on Smart Cities, Artificial Intelligence, Robotics and Social Impact in Cambridge. The event, organised by CUES (Cambridge University Engineering Society, www.cues.org.uk) focused on technology applications and initiatives that could improve the city we live in.
Exciting news - we’re currently looking for a new Project Officer to join our team! The short term requirement would be for someone to join us to work within research and community engagement to support the development of a simulation model for Connected Autonomous Vehicle (CAV) testing and input into research related to Smart Mobility Living Lab : London.
