327R_Cities through the ages: One thing or many? (research summary)
Are you interested in urban evolution across time? Our summary today works with the article titled Cities through the ages: One thing or many? from 2019, by Michael E. Smith and José Lobo, published in the Frontiers in Digital Humanities journal. This is a great preparation to our next interview with Howard Bloom in episode 328 talking about urban evolution from the bacteria to space exploration. Since we are investigating the future of cities, I thought it would be interesting to see the nature of cities throughout the ages. This article investigates cities as energised crowing, also known as one thing, and many things, such as political sites and economic environments.Find the article through this link.Abstract: The variability among cities, from the ancient world to the present, can be organized usefully in two ways. First, a focus on the dominant urban activities and processes leads to the recognition of two basic urban types: economic cities and political cities. Most cities today are economic cities in which growth proceeds through agglomeration processes. By contrast, most cities in the ancient world (and some today) are political cities, in which power and administration play a major role in structuring cities and generating change. Second, an alternative focus on processes of social interaction within the urban built environment leads to the recognition that there is only one kind of settlement that includes all cities—economic and political; past and present. Cities in this sense are settings for “energized crowding.” Processes of interaction generate both economic and political growth, and they produce and influence the built forms and social characteristics of all cities. Our model helps scholars distinguish the unique from the universal traits of cities today and in the past.Connecting episodes you might be interested in:No.090 - Interview with Professor Matthew McCartney about the economic side of citiesNo.318 - Interview with Mark Lutter about different economics across the world in citiesYou can find the transcript through this link.What was the most interesting part for you? What questions did arise for you? Let me know on Twitter @WTF4Cities or on the wtf4cities.com website where the shownotes are also available.I hope this was an interesting episode for you and thanks for tuning in.Episode generated with Descript assistance (affiliate link).Music by Lesfm from Pixabay
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328I_Trailer_Howard Bloom, author and founder of the Howard Bloom Institute
Are you interested in technological innovation like writing? What do you think about cities as the guiding light for humanity? How can we utilise technology while still planning with community in mind?Trailer for episode 328 - interview with Howard Bloom, author and founder of the Howard Bloom Institute. We will talk about his vision for the future of cities, blinding humanity, human and urban evolution, space exploration, and many more.Find out more in the episode.Episode generated with Descript assistance (affiliate link).Music by Lesfm from Pixabay
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326I_Sarah Bridges, Technical Director at Aurecon and Director of Precinct Planning within the AJM Joint Venture
"The city is a collision of people and ideas."Are you interested in the benefits of investing in public transport? What do you think about design by democracy? How can we create heterogenous cities with infrastructure as the backbone? Interview with Sarah Bridges, Technical Director at Aurecon and Director of Precinct Planning within the AJM Joint Venture. We will talk about her vision for the future of cities, public transport, removing bad solutions, collision of ideas, and many more. Sarah Bridges is an accomplished project director with urban design and architectural background, specialising in complex urban projects that prioritise sustainability and community connectivity. As Technical Director at Aurecon and Director of Precinct Planning within the AJM Joint Venture, she plays a pivotal role in shaping city infrastructure and urban renewal projects across Victoria. With expertise in place-based outcomes, she leads multidisciplinary teams to deliver high-profile public and private projects from business case development through to implementation. Passionate about empowering communities, Sarah is dedicated to designing urban environments that support low-carbon living and enhance people’s ability to connect with their surroundings.Find out more about Sarah through these links:Sarah Bridges on LinkedInAurecon websiteAurecon on LinkedInConnecting episodes you might be interested in:No.206 - Interview with Amir Hussain about keeping character and welcome everyoneNo.214 - Interview with Andrew Vass about cost vs valueNo.325R - Economic and social impacts of public transport investmentsWhat was the most interesting part for you? What questions did arise for you? Let me know on Twitter @WTF4Cities or on the wtf4cities.com website where the shownotes are also available.I hope this was an interesting episode for you and thanks for tuning in.Episode generated with Descript assistance (affiliate link).Music by Lesfm from Pixabay
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325R_Economic and social impacts of public transport investments: A scoping literature review (research summary)
Are you interested in the benefits of public transport? Summary of the book chapter titled Economic and social impacts of public transport investments: A scoping literature review from 2023, by Paulo Anciaes and Jacob Albin Korem Alhassan, part of the Advances in Transport Policy and Planning book, published by Elsevier.This is a great preparation to our next interview with Sarah Bridges in episode 326 talking about public transport investments as one of the biggest opportunities for urban futures. Since we are investigating the future of cities, I thought it would be interesting to see the real benefits of public transport for the urban context. This chapter explores the effects of investments and disinvestments in public transport across the urban fabric.Find the chapter through this link.Abstract: This chapter reviews the wider economic, social, and health impacts of investments and disinvestments in public transport. Most studies on economic impacts have analysed the case of high-speed rail, with fewer analysing conventional intercity railways or urban public transport systems. The economic impacts of high-speed rail tend to be positive, although they are not equally distributed among the regions served. Investments in public transport have also been linked to an increase in housing prices and gentrification. Research on social and health impacts of public transport is limited and fragmented. Studies have found that the accessibility increase provided by new public transport connections contributes to increased participation in social activities. At the same time, public transport infrastructure can disconnect communities on opposite sides of the infrastructure. Research on public transport disinvestment is limited. The few available studies have shown that disinvestment is linked to several negative health and social impacts. Insufficient consideration of equity aspects also limits our understanding of the complexity of the full economic and social effects of investments and disinvestments in transport.Connecting episodes you might be interested in: No.194 - Interview with Oliver Stoltz about transport planning No.269R - The use of the smart technology for creating an inclusive urban public spaceYou can find the transcript through this link.What wast the most interesting part for you? What questions did arise for you? Let me know on Twitter @WTF4Cities or on the wtf4cities.com website where the shownotes are also available.I hope this was an interesting episode for you and thanks for tuning in.Episode generated with Descript assistance (affiliate link).Music by Lesfm from Pixabay
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326I_Trailer_Sarah Bridges, Technical Director at Aurecon and Director of Precinct Planning within the AJM Joint Venture
Are you interested in the benefits of investing in public transport? What do you think about design by democracy? How can we create heterogenous cities with infrastructure as the backbone? Trailer for episode 326 - interview with Sarah Bridges, Technical Director at Aurecon and Director of Precinct Planning within the AJM Joint Venture. We will talk about her vision for the future of cities, public transport, removing bad solutions, collision of ideas, and many more. Find out more in the episode.Episode generated with Descript assistance (affiliate link).Music by Lesfm from Pixabay
WTF for Cities? is a platform to introduce and connect people who are actively and consciously working on the future of cities and to introduce research about the future of cities.
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