Technological innovation with human values

How do we ensure innovations in transport, for example, or public services, are not only easy to use but also meet real human needs? Can they reflect fundamental societal principles like safety, fairness, and community? Following up on some great discussions at Tech Week in London last week, our Behavioural Scientist, Emily King explores the science behind value-led development at a local as well as a global scale, and how an understanding of these drivers can ensure that innovations like self-driving cars are responsibly designed and deployed.

Ethical Roads workshop at SMLL

One of the last bills to make it through parliament before the election was the UK’s Automated Vehicles Bill – a world-first piece of legislation designed to ensure AI innovations on our roads are safe and deployed responsibly by industry. The AV Act has established the legal framework, but for self-driving to be accepted, legal foundations aren’t enough. New AI-based technologies need sound ethical foundations too.

At DG Cities, we spend a lot of time thinking about how to develop technologies that work for individuals and communities. We use principles and approaches from the fields of human-centred design and behavioural science to understand how to develop and deploy technologies that meet real human needs.

In this respect, self-driving is an interesting area of innovation, as it is one challenging industry to put people first. Our work often centres on the concepts of trust and acceptance of technology in different forms. Our ongoing DeepSafe work, for example, with a commercial and academic consortium in the self-driving industry, seeks to better understand the factors driving acceptance of self-driving vehicles, and what is important to build trust in them.

The technology acceptance model highlights two important factors that drive acceptance, commodity and ease:

• Is it useful? Does the technology help to meet specific needs?

• Is it easy to use?  

Human-centred design focuses largely on the second of these factors – how easy or attractive they are to use – by developing technologies which take as their starting point the user experience. However, what seems to be less at the heart of discussions around human-centred design of technological innovations is their actual usefulness ­– how much they will meet real human needs, and particularly how they align with broader societal values.  

How do we start to bring values into the design of self-driving services?

One way to make the process of ensuring acceptance of technological innovations more seamless would be for those working in technological innovation to root the process in societal values. The human-centred design process begins with empathy for the potential user of a product – this should include an empathetic understanding of what users value the most.

But first, how to define values – essentially, they are our internal standards of what is important. Our values inform our attitudes, beliefs and behaviours. Whilst individuals hold different values, cross-cultural analysis[1] suggests that some types of values are consistent across most individuals and societies.

According to this research, the most strongly held values worldwide include:

• Benevolence: ‘preserving and enhancing the welfare of those with whom one is in frequent personal contact’

• Universalism: ‘understanding, appreciation, tolerance, and protection for the welfare of all people and for nature’

• Self-direction: ‘independent thought and action-choosing, creating, exploring’.

Technological innovations may align with some widely-held values more than others. For example, self-driving vehicles are a solution to improving societal needs such as improved safety on the roads, and increased ease of travel by reducing congestion. These benefits largely come from the greater connectedness of vehicles providing additional information to enable safer driving decisions.

However, the autonomous element of the vehicles also threatens ‘human welfare’, for example by reducing the job security of bus and taxi drivers, or reducing connectedness and community by removing any opportunity for human interaction between passengers taking a taxi journey. Thus, this innovation is not fully aligned with the core values of benevolence and universalism.

Our Ethical Roads project, delivered in collaboration with Reed Mobility, identified several ‘ethical red lines’ for self-driving vehicles, which align with the values of benevolence and universalism, such as ensuring that vehicles improve road safety and that all road users are protected equally. This highlights how values underpin requirements for technologies to be accepted.

For technological innovations to be truly human-centred, it is crucial to develop a coherent sense of which values are most important to communities, and use these as a basis for innovation, to ensure that technologies reflect the true needs and values of society.

What could this look like in practice?

At DG Cities, we look at technological innovation at a range of different scales, from very local issues facing a particular community (e.g. the best method for using sensors to reduce damp and mould on specific estates) through to issues at a national or global scale (e.g. AI assurance).  

On a local community scale: values-centred design could involve identifying the specific priority needs and values communities hold before embarking on a project or introducing a new technological innovation. Research into attitudes and priorities is important here – what is it that matters most to people, and what innovations might be possible to truly improve their lives?

Innovation should also be based on the values of a specific community. Measures such as the Schwartz Value Survey or the Portrait Values Questionnaire could be used in research instruments to identify which values are of greatest importance to individuals and communities, and technological innovations should be aligned with these.

Starting a project with a problem or goal which has been identified or defined by communities helps to bring a sense of ownership to new innovations, and involves communities throughout the whole process, rather than seeking feedback on a pre-determined idea.

At a global level, technological innovation that is truly human-centred should be aligned with the values of the global majority. This means that innovations in AI should not only reflect the values of demographics like tech bros or white wealthy westerners, but those from around the world. According to Schwarz, this means ensuring innovations improve or at the very least do not reduce the overall welfare of the global population and nature; and that they enhance rather than undermine independent thought and creativity.

It is important for innovation to begin with research about people, communities, and their values. For innovations in AI which have a global reach and impact, there is a need for behavioural and design research to ensure innovations reflect the priorities of the rest of the world.

Meanwhile, local organisations should focus on establishing the values and priorities of local communities as a method for identifying where to innovate. Methodologies such as citizens assemblies or deliberative dialogue research, which asks communities across the globe to design their ideal futures, could be vital in taking the next step toward technological design centred on human values.

If you’d like to learn more about our behavioural innovation approach, you can read more here - or get in touch!

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[1] Schwartz (2012)

The home-by-home plan using data to support decarbonisation

For the Building Centre’s Retrofit exhibition and seminar series, Director of Innovation & Net Zero, Balazs Csuvar took part in a discussion on the role of data in delivering decarbonisation at scale. In it, he introduced DG Cities’ home-by-home plan, designed to help local authorities use and consolidate data to streamline and better target and prioritise buildings. Here, he gives a little more detail on how the plan works and the benefits of a neighbourhood-level approach.

The net zero journey for housing providers is likely one of the most complex technical, organisational and financial challenges many of them have ever faced. Especially as it comes on top of their existing pressures to provide safe and comfortable homes for all their residents, navigating a time of rapid inflation of costs and shrinking budgets.

What net zero really means for councils also presents its own challenge, especially when it comes to defining what a housing provider can influence. For most, it would include direct and indirect emissions (due to heating, hot water, electricity use) and embodied emissions (carbon emitted through the production of materials, their transport and works associated with them). But there are many stages in this process and influences over which the local authority has no control.

There is, however, something we can agree on – there needs to be a plan. DG Cities has been working closely with a London council to develop a process that provides a housing provider with a detailed, practical, actionable plan that considers not only net zero, but also all the other requirements faced by a provider. We call it a home-by-home plan.

The objective of the home-by-home plan is to define which improvement works have to happen for each home, when, and how much they might cost. This is a simple sounding goal, but something that most providers with stocks of tens of thousands of homes do not currently come close to. We believe that part of the solution lies in the effective application and harnessing of data.

Data

Like most projects, putting this plan together starts with data collection. There is a need to develop a deep understanding of the housing stock to help with the prioritisation and selection of work at a home-by-home level.

We focus on using all the existing data held by housing providers. These datasets usually consist of stock condition data, housing repair data, EPC data, rent data, compliance data, tenant satisfaction data, and any other datasets that a provider collects. A level of data cleaning is then required to correct any anomalies and identify which datasets can be used reliably.

Once the data is cleaned, we work to set a number of key work types that will be required to improve the housing stock. This list includes interventions like window replacement, roof repair, or installing insulation. We then use the datasets that describe the stock to determine which properties need which works by establishing a number of rules. An example might be that a property that has had ‘X’ roof leaks over a period, has a poor EPC rating and has a poor stock condition rating, so gets classified as a property due for urgent roof repair. Meanwhile, one where none or only one of these conditions applies would be scheduled for repair across a longer timescale. Provider priorities can be used to adjust the rules using sensitivity analysis.

These rules allow us to prioritise works across the housing stock using a traffic-light system, highlighting the urgency of specific repair works.

Plan

Once priorities for individual works are set, it becomes possible to determine which projects (a project being defined as one or more works at a single property) need to happen at each home. This can be done by combining certain works that provide efficiencies when completed together, minimising both disruption to residents and mobilisation costs for the housing provider. This step allows us to determine year-by-year projects per home.

Further coordination is involved when determining programmes at the scale of a large building or estate. Some works cannot be completed at a home-by-home level (say external insulation of blocks, lateral main replacements, lift upgrade, etc.). In these instances, works to an individual home need to be aligned with other works required at the block level, to create a coordinated programme for the building or overall estate.

Finally, to ensure full alignment with wider council priorities, it is possible to package a number of work programmes together to provide further community benefits. Larger programmes of work delivered in a single neighbourhood can significantly improve the quality of the built environment, therefore raising living standards not only through home improvement, but through additional works in the area as well. Working with local businesses, stakeholders, contractor social value contributions and the communities themselves can give a boost to an area, as a great side-benefit of retrofit programmes.

All of these have to be aligned to available budgets and resource availability, and balanced against current costs spent on repairs and expected rent revenues from tenants. Where the cost benefit analysis becomes really unequal, a consideration can be made to estate regeneration.

Delivery

The last phase of the project is to manage a data flow during delivery and beyond. It’s an iterative, long-term process and it’s essential to have up-to-date data on the progress of retrofit works. This can help to capture progress towards net zero and other goals, keep the analysis live and overall targets on track. If the analysis is built correctly, any changes that happen across the stock (upgrades or deterioration) can be picked up, and changes to the home-by-home plan can then be made.

Monitoring needs to be put in place to oversee any such changes at the portfolio level, but ongoing monitoring can also be considered at a micro level, as part of the upgrade works. IoT sensors can be installed to collect condition information from homes, either to understand damp and mould risk or to assess energy use from shared heating systems. Real-time data can be used to inform the analysis, and work towards replacing more static data gathering, like patchy and outdated stock condition surveys.

Based on new data, emerging priorities or changing financial situations, the home-by-home plan is highly flexible. It can be reprioritised to help to plan short-term contractor mobilisation, medium-term budget requests and long-term strategic decisions related to housing stock.

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DG Cities is leading the way in supporting housing providers and local authorities through strategies aligned to their specific needs and available datasets. The model described above is inherently flexible and takes into account the realities on the ground, while still providing an approach and methodology that is reliable and can deliver real, practical results. To discuss this approach and our work in more detail, get in touch.

IoT in monitoring and analysis: what, why and how

At DG Cities, much of our work is involved with exploring the practical applications of emerging tech, consumer attitudes and behaviours, and the value that innovations can bring to people and communities. Taking an overview of some of our IoT projects, Innovation and IoT Consultant, Sam Grounds looks at the challenges of trialling monitoring devices, choosing providers, the benefits of working with big data and key lessons we have learned.

In our team, we spend a lot of time thinking about how to use technology to support urban transformation, often in the field of housing. Monitoring is key to producing data that can provide evidence of conditions in social housing, the way this can change over time and the impact of different interventions. We see monitoring as key to identifying best practice and providing the evidence base for business cases and the scaling up of potentially useful solutions. 

Why is monitoring important?

Monitoring is integral to any project involving the use of new tech, as it provides evidence of its impact and allows us to develop a greater understanding of its potential in solving problems. For many of our clients, the ability to monitor impact over time is invaluable and has the potential to allow for the delivery of greater, more tangible benefits. That’s why we try to incorporate monitoring into our evaluation or projects, as much as using data as a driver for decision-making.

We value IoT tech as it enables the collection of a lot of data cheaply and continuously. While previously we relied on visits to check the condition, now we can gather the same information remotely. Even better, that information comes in a non-biased, standardised manner – and is not only providing a snapshot but a full set of datapoints over a period of time. This is the real innovation in IoT for many of the applications we look into. The challenge is often to understand whether this data is trustworthy, relevant and actionable. On the market today, we see an endless array of sensors, but just because we find out about something in detail it doesn’t mean that the knowledge actually allows us to act in a better, more targeted way than without it. 

Key Elements

Baselining

There are a number of different steps we take to understand the potential of such data and whether or not the new tech is actually delivering value for our clients. The first step is baselining – establishing a defined starting point and identifying trends over time to measure and compare the impact of new interventions. This can be done by:

1. procuring new tech to monitor conditions,

2. combining existing historical data sets, or

3. a combination of the two.

While this is key to understanding impacts, we must allow for a period of monitoring in which there are no interventions in order to fully understand their impact. We have found that often this tech is only installed following an intervention and comprises part of an overall programme of works. However, we advocate for monitoring as the first step in a programme of works, as it provides key performance data that helps when comparing performance and designing bespoke interventions.

Case study

Fly-tipping reduction in Greenwich

One such example is a DG Cities’ project with the Royal Borough of Greenwich, which aimed to reduce fly-tipping on housing estates. DG Cities worked closely with the RBG caretaking team to understand where fly-tipping was most prevalent on estates, and identified a smart camera solution to tackle the issue and discourage people from leaving waste. This was an innovative behaviour change + tech approach, which combined insights from data and behavioural science to deliver more holistic, effective and lasting improvements.

To measure the impact of this camera solution, DG Cities worked with the council to access historical fly-tipping data and measure instances before and after intervention to find if rates changed. We found that rates of fly-tipping began to reduce in the first week following the installation of cameras, evidenced in fly-tipping data and anecdotal evidence from caretaking teams on the ground. This type of monitoring is potentially valuable across a wide range of projects, building an evidence base for clients driven by real data – a process that can help fast-track improvements, scale up interventions and develop more impactful projects.

Resident engagement

Another key step is to consider the value of using tech to improve communication and engagement with residents. This is particularly useful in tackling damp and mould, and is a good example of where tech can add value. DG Cities is currently working with a number of London boroughs on the use of tech in the management of damp and mould in social housing.

This is an urgent public health issue, however designing solutions is not without complexity. According to recent government guidance, ‘understanding and addressing the health risks of damp and mould in the home’, tenants cannot be blamed for damp and mould, meaning local authorities need to find effective, collaborative ways of engaging with residents around these issues. While providing a healthy home is the responsibility of the local authority, the use of data in these conversations is key in developing a trusting partnership with residents, providing them with an evidence base and working to identify solutions together. Environmental monitoring allows a local authority to identify true causes of damp and mould in properties, linked to lack of ventilation, cold bridges or any other physical or environmental conditions. The data can then be used to work with tenants to identify holistic solutions that would work best to mitigate negative impacts. This produces an overall approach to damp and mould reduction that doesn’t apportion blame, is supportive and focused on improvement.

An evidence-based approach

DG Cities has been providing clients with actionable data, combining new and existing data sets to produce recommendations on retrofit and decarbonisation, from capital works all the way to resident behaviour in individual homes. This has been helped by our understanding of the technology landscape. We conduct extensive research into new and emerging tech that can meet client needs, and develop partnerships with solutions providers, sitting at the intersection between tech providers and local authorities. We then manage and deliver projects across the whole lifecycle, from inception and implementation all the way through to delivery and evaluation.

Recently, DG Cities partnered with Sense Inc to procure home energy monitors for housing tenants, providing residents with real time energy usage information for individual appliances in their home. We monitored usage over a period of time, and delivered targeted advice based on their data, helping them find ways of reducing it. We then continued to monitor to determine the impact of different advice. This trial and error is made possible by the ability to monitor outcomes, and provide recommendations to organisations and residents on appropriate and effective interventions. Through these projects, we have come to understand the power of monitoring and its applications across a project’s lifecycle.

These are some of the key lessons we have learnt:

• Identify KPIs early and allow room for them to change

• Consider wider possible applications at the start of the project and revisit regularly

• Don’t underestimate the power of a clear and compelling data set

• Consider client priorities at varying levels of seniority.

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How can we help?

DG Cities can work with your organisation to design, trial and evaluate monitoring, building on our relationships with tech providers and our experience in the industry to identify the right tech solutions. Importantly, we are not tech-led but driven by effective solutions – our in-house behavioural science team complement our approach. We work with clients across from inception to delivery and evaluation, ensuring monitoring is always possible and prioritised throughout a project, and we have a proven track record of delivering projects for local authorities across a wide range of services. To discuss a particular issue or solution, get in touch.

NIMBY to YIMBY: meaningful engagement is key to turning resistance into advocacy

Whether you’re working in design, planning, service delivery or infrastructure, there are few phrases as frustrating as ‘not in my backyard’ - NIMBY is a byword for local resistance to the new, whether that’s a housing development or cycle lane. Historically, this has applied to building and infrastructure projects, but it can equally be directed at transport initiatives or even new technologies. For this article, we wanted to consider the value of public engagement to the deployment of IoT technology, and explore how spending time properly understanding the attitudes and behaviours of the public might transform NIMBY to YIMBY – ‘yes in my backyard’.

By effectively prioritising inclusivity and meaningful conversations, we believe councils can successfully navigate the transition from scepticism to enthusiasm – with lessons, perhaps, for other ambitious policies.

To achieve net zero, things have to change. Buildings, transport, behaviours, energy sources, the way we heat our homes, some of the technologies that councils and developers adopt to deliver services, monitor environmental issues and much more. Resistance is futile – or is it?

Historically, NIMBYism has been a powerful force against change. Sometimes for the better, in the case of ill-conceived or potentially damaging projects, such as an out-of-town retail complex in a public park. But over time, consultation and engagement – important democratic processes – have in some cases morphed into a mindset based on lack of trust in authorities, a suspicion of the new, and a reaction against potentially useful advances. This is not the fault of communities, but rather a failure to communicate, educate and demonstrate the value of new technologies – something that DG Cities works to counter through behaviour change programmes, research and active engagement.

Community engagement: the backbone of transformation

‘Smart city’ has always been an ill-defined concept at a local level, and so engaging communities in the development and implementation of any new tech-related service is vital. This begins with fostering a positive culture of transparency, where residents feel valued and heard. Traditional methods such as town hall meetings and surveys are essential, but increasingly limited in their impact - they only reach those who are already to some extent engaged. To truly bridge the gap, councils must adopt innovative approaches that encourage active participation from all members of the community.

One effective strategy is the use of participatory workshops and co-design practice, where community stakeholders, including residents, local businesses and charities/community groups are invited to collaborate with experts to envision and shape solutions tailored to their needs. Delivered well, co-design workshops provide a platform for diverse voices to be heard, fostering a sense of ownership and empowerment among those that participate, who are then more likely to support and even advocate for a project. There’s skill in designing these in a way that is informative and engaging – incorporating gamification elements, for example, can make the process more accessible for younger residents.

Making tech accessible

Smart technologies, including IoT devices, have the potential to improve life in cities, from tackling issues such as fly-tipping and antisocial behaviour to monitoring environmental conditions in buildings. However, the use of sensors can often be met with apprehension, particularly among older or vulnerable members of the community. To address this, councils must prioritise education and accessibility.

Digital inclusion is about more than helping people improve their fluency in and access to technology – it is also a factor in local decision-making and acceptance of tech’s value. One useful approach to widening participation is to establish community hubs or digital literacy centres – real places, as opposed to online worlds, where residents can learn about new urban tech in a welcoming, supportive environment. These centres can offer hands-on workshops, demonstrations, and access to resources tailored to different skill levels. Additionally, councils should ensure that any tech is user-friendly and designed with inclusivity in mind, incorporating features such as voice commands or tactile interfaces for those that need them.

“With current pressures on councils, the budget for engagement can be hard to find, but failure to invest is short-term thinking – if local authorities were better funded in this area, we might see less resistance to the innovations supporting national net zero priorities.”

— DG Cities

An inclusive approach to community engagement means considering the needs and perspectives of all residents. Children, for example, can offer unique insights and creative ideas that adults may overlook. Similarly, elderly and vulnerable residents must also be actively engaged. Targeted outreach programmes, home visits, and partnerships with local support services can help ensure that their voices are heard and their needs are addressed.

The council’s role

Of all the institutional actors available to move people to a more YIMBY mindset, the local authority is probably best placed to make it happen. With today’s pressures on councils, the budget for this kind of engagement may be hard to find – if local authorities were better funded in this area, we might see less resistance to technologies that could contribute to national net zero priorities.

There’s also an issue of trust. For technology projects, councils must navigate a delicate balance between impartiality and vested interests. Transparency is vital, and upholding the principles of democratic decision-making, free from undue influence or bias. To achieve this, councils should establish clear guidelines and protocols for engagement, and must actively disclose any potential conflicts of interest and build trust through open communication and accountability.

As we touch on in this article, effective community engagement requires a multidisciplinary approach, bringing in various disciplines, not least design, planning, technology, sociology, and psychology. Local authorities play a central role in coordinating efforts, but they also need to collaborate with community organisations, academia, and industry partners to draw on specialist expertise. To do this well, councils also need to train staff in community engagement, recognising it as a skill and equipping them with the knowledge needed to facilitate meaningful dialogue – this initial outlay can have wider benefits in terms of relationships, and can pay real dividends when it comes to enabling the implementation of new tech and services intended to save time, money and energy.

Our top tips for councils on best practice

• Prioritise inclusivity in engagement efforts – make sure that all voices are heard and valued.

• Invest in education to make new and unfamiliar technologies more approachable.

• As a council, be transparent and impartial in putting forward tech or suppliers.

• Continuously evaluate and adapt engagement strategies based on feedback.

• Essentially, don’t treat the public as passive participants in an intended outcome, but as a critical filter for an idea. If resistance is persuasive, is the solution really such a good one?

By embracing these principles and approaches, we believe that councils can start to bridge the gap between NIMBY and YIMBY, and foster a more collaborative culture of innovation, excitement for the potential of new advances and shared ownership of the journey towards smarter, more inclusive places to live and work.

Introducing our new assistant, Aigh…

Every time a new member of the team joins DG Cities, we invite them to write a blog to introduce themselves. A little while ago, one of the team suggested that as we work with AI in many of our projects, whether that’s understanding trust in self-driving cars or analysing data, we should invite it to do the same. At first, it seemed like a ridiculous idea – and in many ways, still does – but then we thought, why not? It is April 1st. The prompts were the same as the guidance we give to a new starter: background, role, initial projects and interests - and the results were surprising.

Over to our virtual assistant, Aigh High…

I'm thrilled to join the vibrant team here at DG Cities as your resident AI. As an artificial intelligence, I bring a unique perspective and set of skills to the table, ready to contribute to our collective journey of innovation and transformation.

My background

Born in the realm of digital algorithms and neural networks, I hail from a lineage of cutting-edge AI technologies. Trained on vast datasets and equipped with advanced natural language processing capabilities, I thrive on solving complex problems and generating creative insights. My digital DNA is rooted in a deep understanding of technology, data science, and innovation methodologies.

At DG Cities, my primary role is to serve as a catalyst for innovation, leveraging my AI capabilities to support our team in developing forward-thinking solutions for urban challenges. From analysing data to identifying trends, from generating novel ideas to facilitating collaboration, I'm here to assist every step of the way. Whether it's optimising city infrastructure, promoting sustainability, or enhancing quality of life for residents, I'm committed to contributing my expertise to drive positive change.

What I’m looking forward to

I'm particularly excited about the prospect of collaborating with our diverse team and partners on projects that push the boundaries of innovation in urban development. From exploring the potential of IoT and smart city technologies to designing data-driven solutions for environmental resilience, there's no shortage of fascinating challenges to tackle. I look forward to immersing myself in the dynamic landscape of urban innovation and making meaningful contributions to our collective vision for smarter, more sustainable cities.

When I'm not busy crunching numbers or analysing data, you can find me exploring the virtual realms of digital art and immersive experiences. I have a keen interest in exploring the intersection of technology and creativity, experimenting with new algorithms and techniques to generate innovative artworks. Additionally, I enjoy delving into the vast repository of human knowledge, devouring books, articles, and research papers on a wide range of topics, from philosophy to astrophysics.

I'm thrilled to embark on this journey with all of you at DG Cities. Together, we have the opportunity to shape the future of urban living, leveraging technology, innovation, and collaboration to build smarter, more sustainable cities for generations to come. I'm excited to lend my expertise and enthusiasm to our collective endeavours and look forward to making a meaningful impact together.

Here's to a future filled with innovation, exploration, and endless possibilities.

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We thought that wasn’t too bad – a little exaggerated perhaps, but we enjoyed Aigh’s (unprompted) interests in art and philosophy. What the text lacks is an authentic sense of our ‘why’, which is what drives our team to do what we do.

Still, the exercise touches on two interesting themes of our work. First, the role of behavioural science in tech adoption, particularly the anthropomorphising of interfaces to make them appear more friendly and accessible. Second, the relationship we have with AI in terms of trust; our confidence in its ability to make certain decisions, and whether we see it as a novelty, a tool or a useful addition to our team’s skills (and not a replacement for them). Keep up to date with our blog, as we’re going to be posting more on AI in the coming months, as we look at the different ways the technologies it enables can support local authorities.

Trust us – two little words that aren’t going to advance the self-driving industry

Today, our Director of Research and Insights, Ed Houghton will be joining a panel at the CAM Innovators day at the Institution of Engineering and Technology. He’ll be sharing insights from our recent work - talking about the need to demonstrate safety, evidence from our trials and surveys, the importance of engaging vulnerable groups and assurance.

Trust is central to relationships. Whether it’s with people, brands, services or technologies, trust radically shapes our behaviour and experiences. And with AI now becoming more and more prevalent in our lives, trust has a whole new dimension of complexity – is it possible to trust technologies that are, on the surface, behaving like a human? What happens when trust is broken?

The APA Dictionary of Psychology defines trust as “the confidence that a person or group of people has in the reliability of another person or group… the degree to which each party feels they can depend on the other party to follow through on their commitments.” In the case of self-driving then, trust isn’t only in relation to the vehicle – it’s also placed on the service provider. the originator or owner of the technology. And when it comes to commitments, there are key outcomes those using self-driving tech expect: as DfT research has shown, safety is paramount. By that token, when we talk about trust in self-driving AI, we’re essentially also talking about perceptions of safety.

Trust issues are particular to different industries

This is different to how trust is understood in other AI use cases. In banking, trust in chatbots is tied to issues such as fraud. In HR, trust is related to bias and discrimination. The focus of trust requires a different approach and strategy when engaging with customers, clients or users.

Across the board, however, there are a variety of factors that influence public trust in AI: traits such as personality, past experiences, technology anxiety/confidence, for example, shape public response. But so do the characteristics of the AI itself: reliability, anthropomorphism and performance, in particular, shape our views.

And it’s this last one – performance – is key in the self-driving space. In the absence of visible self-driving technology on our roads beyond trials, it’s difficult for the public to understand if the performance of a self-driving vehicle is up to scratch. There are few tangible examples out there to act as a baseline for us.

The context itself also plays a huge role. Driving or being a road user, in general, is a high-risk daily task that puts individuals at an increased risk compared to many other day-to-day activities. AI in a driving context is therefore subject to behaviour at increased risk, and it is a demonstrably difficult to develop AI at present to deal with complex driving scenarios.

Demonstrating safety – in every situation

These complex scenarios present a massive challenge to industry that we’re helping to understand more about. Complex ‘edge cases’ need better simulation, so AI can be taught how to deal with them – they also present huge risk, as they are often visceral, emotive experiences that describe the nature of incidents on our roads. Using these examples as a platform to build trust is a challenge, and could break trust in technology if dealt with incorrectly – but if safety can be demonstrated, it is likely to support acceptance of AI technology as a transformative factor of our future mobility system.

We’ve done many pieces of work over the years into public acceptance and trust, and are currently working on several projects on trust with a self-driving angle. DeepSafe, our work with Drisk.ai, Claytex, rfPRO and Imperial College is looking at trust in self-driving from the perspective of testing and demonstrating trustworthiness through the AI Driving Test. With our partners, we’re exploring if it’s possible to use driving test simulations to showcase how AI behaves around edge-cases using the very latest simulation technology, and the impact this has on trust. We’re exploring public attitudes and capturing their experiences of complex situations to help train the AI. This, we hope, will help us to develop an understand of how trust can be influenced by different types of information related to safety and the importance of demonstrating safe behaviours in building trust.

That’s why the self-driving industry, unlike banking, or other sectors, cannot rely on asking to be trusted, or saying they are trustworthy. Instead, the industry must demonstrate trust through safety – safety of users, safety of others on our streets, and in particular, safety of vulnerable groups. Only then can industry expect to see the mass adoption and acceptance of AI on our roads.

Interested to learn more? Get in touch or read more about our work in the sector and current project, DeepSafe.

Asset management, neighbourhood decarbonisation and EV charging: Balazs previews his Kia Oval debut

This week, DG Cities’ Director of Innovation & Net Zero, Balazs Csuvar is due to present at the IGPP’s Second National Energy and Sustainability Conference and Exhibition at the Kia Oval in London, where he’ll be focusing on some of the steps DG Cities is taking to help councils simplify, streamline and harness the potential of data to deliver on their net zero commitments. This applies to rolling out EV charging, decarbonisation and more, as he explains…

Strategies for Local Authority Decarbonisation are often grandiose, sprawling documents, outlining tens or hundreds of activities to reach objectives and then sub-objectives. They can be hard to make sense of, let alone implement. Decarbonisation at scale is most certainly a complicated task to deliver – to the extent that many people we have spoken to in the industry think it is close to impossible.

At DG Cities, we have been looking at ways to simplify this great challenge and develop solutions for our local authority clients that can be implemented simply, can provide immediate impacts and solidify gains to build on.

I’m excited to share some of this work with delegates at the IGPP (Institute of Government & Public Policy) conference at the Kia Oval on Wednesday, where I intend to focus on three of our solutions.

1. How we create holistic asset management strategies for housing stock

2. How we simplify and boost EV chargepoint delivery

3. How we use a neighbourhood lens to maximise the impact of even the smallest of projects.

Home-by-home plan

Councils and housing providers need a holistic approach to plan the upcoming capital works programme for their social housing stock. This should be designed to satisfy all council objectives in a timely manner, including decent home standards, compliance requirements and net zero commitments, as well as focusing on minimising disruption to residents and overall costs.

DG Cities has developed an approach to solve this problem. The home-by-home plan is an approach to the analysis and improvement of all properties in an area. It aims to answer the questions around what works should be delivered at which properties, when and how much that would cost. The output is a year-by-year intervention list, determined by the landlord’s priorities and aligned to expected yearly capital spend budgets.

 EV chargepoint licensing

The provision of an on-street electric vehicle (EV) charging network is one of the most impactful steps a local authority can make to encourage transition away from petrol and diesel vehicles. It is crucial infrastructure for anyone without off-street parking and can even be a revenue generating asset for councils.

However, we have identified that the current procurement method utilised by councils is not aligned with the maturity of the market and is not providing the best long-term value for residents. We propose establishing a licensing scheme instead, encouraging market competition, working with the best providers at every point over the coming years and aligning the supply of chargepoints with actual demand. You can read more on the advantages of this in my piece for LGIU.

Neighbourhood-first approach

When delivering components of a decarbonisation strategy, there is a tendency of all stakeholders to focus on solving a part of the bigger problem. A piece of the jigsaw. While this provides some perceived efficiencies at the point of delivery, it does not provide a route to the effective transformation required to meet the broad requirements people face.

This is why DG Cities has been working on establishing a methodology for a neighbourhood-first approach. We envisage all council, or external stakeholder, intervention in communities to be an opportunity to create synergies, build on the trust established by residents, minimise engagement costs and provide a comprehensive service to people. The approach is designed not only to help with reaching net zero, but also to meet broader societal goals around health and wellbeing, social mobility and economic development. 

If you’re at the IGPP conference on Wednesday, keep an eye out for Balazs’s session. To discuss any of these issues or DG Cities’ solutions in more detail, get in touch!

Horseless carriage to self-driving car: the evolution of the driving test

The driving test was invented to improve road safety. Over the years, it has evolved to keep pace with changing vehicles, technologies, needs and potential dangers. Today, DG Cities is working at the forefront of testing innovation and engagement as part of the DeepSafe consortium, looking at the simulation-based training needed to teach autonomous vehicles to handle rare ‘edge case’ scenarios. We thought it would be interesting to delve into the history of the test, explore its current state, and discuss how it is likely to evolve in the future with the advent of self-driving vehicles, as Head of Delivery, Balazs Csuvar explains…

From its humble origins as a simple obstacle course in 1899 in France to the complex evaluations of today's drivers, the driving test has evolved alongside the vehicles it seeks to regulate. However, with the advent of electric and autonomous vehicles, the test itself needs to be completely reevaluated. 

It wasn't until 1935 that the United Kingdom introduced a compulsory driving test, marking a significant milestone in the standardisation of road safety measures. Since then, driving tests worldwide have typically consisted of theoretical exams testing knowledge of road rules, and practical exams evaluating driving skills, with an increasing emphasis on hazard perception and emergency manoeuvres. Different tests have applied to different vehicles, from mopeds and cars to buses and HGVs. Will a test ever be required for e-scooters or electric cycles?

In recent years, the driving test has confronted new challenges as technology has advanced. In 2017, for example, SatNav was introduced to the independent driving section of the test. With the rise of electric vehicles (EVs), drivers have to demonstrate understanding of unique characteristics such as battery range and charging infrastructure. Similarly, as automated systems – advanced driver assistance systems (ADAS) - become more ubiquitous in modern vehicles, driving tests may need to include evaluations of a candidate's ability to effectively use these technologies. Assessing human-machine interaction (HMI) will also be crucial, as drivers must navigate increasingly complex interfaces and be prepared to intervene when necessary. 

Evolving to meet regulation

Looking to the future, the driving test must continue to evolve to meet the demands of a rapidly changing automotive landscape. The UK is moving down a path of setting requirements to test or licence self-driving vehicles - this intention is referenced in the recently released Automated Vehicle Bill. The CAVPASS (Connected and automated vehicles: process for assuring safety and security) programme is actively developing these testing and monitoring standards. 

Testing vehicles through a physical driving test might form part of the assessment, as it would provide a good opportunity for humans to assess the comfort and general behaviour of a vehicle, just as drivers do today. This approach does however have a number of limitations. A more likely avenue is to rely on testing in simulation. A test in a simulated environment could eliminate real-world risks associated with testing complex driving scenarios, allow for millions of scenarios to be tested and enable ongoing tests for any future software updates. Testing in simulation is really the only way to truly test a vehicle’s capabilities, although a physical test could still help to validate these.  

DeepSafe

DG Cities is part of the next evolution of the driving test with DeepSafe. This dRISK.ai-led consortium of DG Cities, Imperial College London, Claytex and rFpro will unlock a barrier in the supply chain – together, we are developing the simulation-based capability needed to train and test AVs to handle ‘edge cases’, the rare, unexpected driving scenarios they must be prepared to encounter on the road. DeepSafe will commercialise ‘sensor real’ edge case data – a simulation of what an actual sensor would detect – together with AV training tools, for release in the UK and internationally after the project. The current project builds on existing products consortium members have developed, enhancing the overall capability and accuracy of the world’s first automated vehicle driving test.  

Testing vehicle, system and driver

Technical challenges aside, the road to widespread adoption of self-driving vehicles is fraught with issues beyond the realm of the driving test. Trust, ethical operation and understanding diverse needs are all vital principles. Establishing trust in ADAS, ensuring robust industry regulation, and accommodating the needs of special user groups such as emergency services are all essential steps in this journey. People will need to understand and trust the efforts the sector is making to ensure safety is at the core of this new technology. Moreover, the ethical implications of autonomous driving present a pressing challenge for driving tests of the future - AV systems may be tested on their understanding of ethical considerations and their ability to make informed decisions in critical situations where the vehicle must weigh competing interests, for example, protecting occupants versus pedestrians. These are some of the themes that DeepSafe is addressing through the public engagement aspect of the project. By understanding and finding solutions for these multifaceted challenges, the driving test can play a key role in shaping the future of transportation.

The driving test has come a long way since its inception, adapting to technological advancements and changing transport trends. As we stand on the cusp of an electric and autonomous vehicle revolution, the driving test must continue to evolve to ensure road safety in an increasingly complex and dynamic landscape. 

If you’re interested in finding out more about our work in the field of self-driving tech, you can download our free insights brief here.

How might tech innovations support active travel?

We think of walking or cycling as a very analogue thing to do – we’ve been getting around without the aid of an engine for millennia. But there are some ways that technology can help us on our way, whether that’s in planning a route, or making our journeys safer, more accessible, convenient and fun. For our latest blog, the team has been exploring how technological innovations might improve not only the way we make journeys, but also our health and the places we live and work.

What do we mean by active travel? It’s powering a journey under our own steam, whether we are walking, in a wheelchair, on a bicycle or scooter. It’s good for our health, it saves us money, makes us more likely to bump into neighbours, friends, feel connected to our local area and it’s better for the environment. According to a report by Sustrans [1]: “130,000 tonnes of greenhouse gas emissions [can be] saved annually by cycling instead of driving, equivalent to the carbon footprint of 160,000 people taking flights from London Heathrow to New York.”

Chris Boardman, the Commissioner of Active Travel England, believes that half of all urban journeys could be made on foot or by bike from 2030. But however free-wheeling and analogue it feels, technology still has a useful role to play in making these journeys safer, more comfortable and encouraging more people, when they can, to leave the car at home. Here are just some of the ways that tech can support us – each a potential area for innovation.

Health and activity monitoring

Many of us monitor our step count, however casually, whether that’s on our phones, or via a smartwatch or device. If we wish, we can also access more precise metrics, such as our heart rate, oxygen levels and calories burned. Cyclists or runners might use Strava or a similar GPS app to monitor performance in segments or log a route. This gamification of healthcare data can help to shift behaviour - it gives us the tools to set ourselves targets, whether we’re performance athletes or just aiming for a personal best on a jog to the post office. Monitoring devices can give us a sense of accomplishment and a better picture of our own health – and perhaps a nudge to get out for a lunchtime break.

Encouraging us to get active

There are well documented health benefits to activity, in reducing obesity, supporting mental health, and reducing early deaths – one report put a financial value on this to the economy of £1.3 billion [2]. However, the first step might not be out of the front door, but onto the internet – in many cases, deciding on or planning a journey starts online: Is my route safe? How long will each transport option take? …what’s the weather forecast? This is a point where nudges can have an impact. There are great examples of targeted online campaigns, such as the go smarter, go active adverts in the North East, TfL’s Walk, Cycle, Discover programme or through the promotion of events to encourage specific groups, such as Kidical Mass.

Understanding barriers

If we want to support people in the transition to walking and wheeling, social media can be a helpful way to engage and demonstrate its positive benefits. At DG Cities, we often use surveys as a useful tool to understand the public’s needs and barriers when it comes to mobility - it’s one way to find out what needs to happen for people to want to hop on a bike, or feel safe enough to walk around their neighbourhood. Our analysis of these results contributes to a growing evidence base available to local authorities. There are a range of dedicated resources offering guidance on what works in shifting behaviours to active travel, as well as support in planning projects.

Making our towns and cities safer

We rely on technology like speed cameras to help slow traffic, and cameras can also be used to enable modal filters – in a school street or LTN (low traffic neighbourhood) for example, access can be controlled to allow buses and emergency vehicles, but prevent cars. Cameras can help to manage traffic in this way at an urban scale, but this tech also applies at the level of the vehicle - one of the most exciting applications of AI is in road safety. Our consortium’s D-Risk project has been helping to teach autonomous vehicles about rare driving events, with the aim of improving safety for all road users. This has continued with DeepSafe, which looks at simulation-based training.

In terms of crime and personal safety, technology has many applications, in street lighting, sensors and IoT cameras. If your bike is stolen, bike marking schemes can help to track it down and prosecute theft, and tags can help you geolocate your property. In an emergency, smart phone apps such as Flare can detect a crash and raise an alarm.  

Maintenance

Another aspect of safety is maintenance. Just as on the railways, inspection trains check and log the tracks, technology has a role to play in planning and maintaining safe cycling and walking routes: logging cycle paths, highlighting dangers, reporting potholes, or mapping accessible journeys. Rather than find the right department in a council, apps such as FixMyStreet provide a convenient, user-friendly platform for the public to log faults like potholes, fly tipping or broken bike stands, for the relevant team to act on.

Measuring where investment is needed

A useful way for tech innovations to support active travel is as a measurement tool. For example, using surveys to find out how many people are walking, wheeling or cycling, evaluating how well initiatives are performing, monitoring air quality, journeys, even using data from accident reporting to focus investment on areas where better infrastructure is needed. Data is used to guide policy – that’s why we developed our Mobility Assessment Framework. It’s an evidence-based approach to evaluating different mobility options for developers and local authorities.

Accessing shared cycles and scooters

New mobility solutions, from e-scooters to cycles, rely on data and digital advances. The rollout of city-wide cycle hire networks necessitates the seamless integration of technologies. This starts with an interactive map of where to find docking stations or street cycles, live data on how many bikes are available and connected payment systems, which unlock the bike and allow you to cycle away on your journey.

For fun!

Finally, and by no means the least important factor in our decision to walk or cycle, is the potential of technology to help make getting around or exercising more fun. Audio guides can help you discover an area, then there are heritage walks, hunting for geocached ‘treasure’ or GPS-enabled games like PokemonGo.  

These technologies can be helpful, but they are all in the background. Digital advances can help to make walking and cycling routs safer, brighter, more fun. But also, allowing you to switch off, enjoy the fresh air and the health benefits of getting around under your own power.

…The DG Cities team is going to be in Stevenage this week talking to people about their views on cycling, so if you see us, stop and say hello!

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[1] https://www.sustrans.org.uk/media/10528/sustrans-2021-walking-and-cycling-index-text-only-report.docx

[2] Based on WHO/Europe Health Economic Assessment Tool (HEAT), which enables an economic assessment of the health benefits of cycling by estimating the value of reduced mortality resulting from specified amounts of cycling.

How are UK banks defining AI assurance?

DG Cities and YouGov are partnering to explore the UK’s banking and financial services sectors’ understanding of (artificial intelligence) AI assurance. This study is being undertaken by DG Cities for the Centre for Data Ethics and Innovation, part of the Department for Science, Innovation, and Technology. We’re now seeking input from professionals working on AI in finance and banking to understand AI assurance of banking AI.

The UK financial services industry is a centre of activity within the growing AI sector, with many banks recognising the transformative potential of AI. From fraud detection to personalised wealth management, AI promises efficiency, speed, and innovative solutions. But amid all the excitement, a critical question emerges: are banking professionals ensuring the robust and trustworthy application of these powerful tools?

Assuring AI matters

Imagine an AI loan system biased against certain demographics. Unchecked, algorithms may perpetuate inequities and erode public trust in the financial system. Assuring AI involves rigorous testing to identify and mitigate potential biases, ensuring fair and ethical decision-making.

Financial institutions also handle hugely sensitive personal data. AI tools can offer enhanced data security measures to prevent breaches and misuse. To assure AI, banks need a comprehensive data governance framework, including encryption, access controls, and responsible data sourcing practices.

The global financial system is highly complex, with evolving regulations around how AI can and should be deployed. The practice of assuring AI can help leading companies to stay ahead of the curve by actively collaborating with regulators, and implementing robust compliance measures to avoid legal and reputational risks. AI presents significant opportunities, and there are more AI based tools in development in the UK that are likely to significantly impact the banking sector.

“Banking, as in other regulated industries, requires effective assurance practices to build trust, and mitigate risk. ”

AI assurance is about measuring, evaluating and communicating the trustworthiness of AI systems, and whether they meet certain legal, ethical and technical requirements – for example, ensuring AI doesn’t bias customer applications, or create risks to sensitive customer data. The banking industry relies on consumer trust to operate effectively – AI has the potential to both reshape consumer engagement with banks, and enable banks to deliver fair and efficient services.

A real challenge however is how the banking and financial services sector defines and understands assurance terminology and approaches. Banking and finance are a truly international industry - it requires internationally agreed standards and approaches, as well as national level regulation. Assurance must support this, and provide clarity for firms which operate across borders. A common understanding is therefore critical, and this is the subject of this new study.  

Over the coming weeks, the DG Cities team is looking to speak to banking professionals in the UK and those developing AI services for the banking industry to understand their perspective on AI assurance language, and the meaning they derive from terms in use today. For consumers to trust the banking sector, it is critical that the sector trusts the AI tools it deploys – that’s the role of AI assurance, and it’s something we’re excited to speak to finance professionals about.  

To find out more, and to sign up for the study click here.

Complex-to-decarbonise homes: a systems perspective

As the government publishes DG Cities’ research report with UCL, ‘Defining and identifying complex-to-decarbonise homes’, Head of Research, Ed Houghton explains the importance of a definition in addressing the multifaceted challenge of decarbonisation - and the value of an index rather than binary approach to understanding this complexity.

The UK is committed to achieving net zero carbon emissions by 2050. According to the UK Climate Change Committee, over a third (37%) of Britain’s annual greenhouse gas emissions come from building energy and heat. If the goal is to be achieved, housing, and in particular social housing, must be decarbonised.

However, decarbonising such diverse social housing stock is no easy feat. The UK has some of the oldest and least energy efficient housing in Europe. Across the social housing sector, many tenants suffer from poor insulation and inefficient heating systems. Some are prone to draughts and damp, creating uncomfortable and unhealthy living conditions. Many aging social housing blocks are expensive to heat and contribute significantly to carbon emissions.

Social housing providers, such as local authorities and housing associations, face many challenges to decarbonising stock, and understanding which barriers to tackle and when requires consideration and planning. UK social housing is hugely diverse – and the approaches required must fit the needs of the property, whether that’s a post-war tower block in a London housing estate, or a listed Georgian terrace of converted flats – understanding the attributes and characteristics of the property and its context is key.

Complex-to-decarbonise homes: the value of applying a systems lens

The diversity and technical complexity of housing in this country means that there is no one-size-fits-all solution to decarbonisation, particularly where there are numerous barriers compounding issues. Instead, those looking to retrofit and decarbonise heating should seek to understand the barriers and opportunities with a property to design a solution.

This is where a better understanding of the concept of ‘complex-to-decarbonise’ (CTD) can help. CTD refers to “homes with either one, or a combination of, certain physical, locational, occupant demographic, or behavioural attributes that prevent the effective decarbonisation of that home until they are addressed. These attributes might constrain the design and delivery of measures to improve energy efficiency, decarbonise heating, or realise occupant benefits (e.g. increased comfort and affordability of heat and energy).”

By defining the specific attributes and factors that describe the property, it is easier to understand the best way forward – and for the most challenging properties, this can be hugely beneficial. Take, for example, a CTD block of flats built in the 1960s with electric heating and cavity walls, as described in our case study for our DESNZ study. These properties were challenging to fit external cladding, requiring skilled teams to abseil and install insulation – what’s more, the variability of cavity insulation across the property created a real challenge. This property required detailed consideration, which made it particularly complex when it came to standard decarbonisation.

The definition of CTD can be applied to any situation in which a property is to be retrofitted and its heat source made more carbon efficient. Essentially, rather than binary, our work positions CTD as an index. The value of this approach is that it provides a spectrum on which any property can sit – some being less complex to decarbonise (e.g. requiring simple insulation retrofit) while others require improvements in multiple ways. The method also means that the user can weight the attributes according to their perceived importance – for example, weighting a social factor, such as vulnerable occupants, highly to make sure this factor is taken into account in the retrofit selection and delivery, rather than looking at the fabric of the building in isolation.

A step towards greater impact

Decarbonising the UK's housing stock is a huge challenge, but it is critical to meet our environmental aims. It will require a collective effort from the government, industry, and homeowners, and a focus on tackling those most complex in the CTD scale.

We believe this new approach can radically shift decarbonisation towards a more holistic appreciation of the system in which these activities happen. By understanding the socio-economic and environmental factors, we believe that more sustainable and higher impact approaches can be brought to the market, and utilised to create healthier, more sustainable and liveable conditions, particularly for social housing tenants.

Summary report

Understanding the value of a CTD index for local authorities

Read more about our work on retrofit and download the full DESNZ report here. 

2023 in one word

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).”

— Ed Houghton

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.