Robotic services, which have started to appear in urbanenvironments, are going to transform our society.Designers of these robots are not only required tomeet technical and legal challenges, but also addressthe potential social, political, and ethical consequencesof their design choices. In this paper, we present aworkshop format with its related tools intendedfor enabling speculation about such possible futuresand fostering reflection on potential socio-ethicalimplications that might support/oppose these futures.We report the results and discussion of one particularworkshop case, in which the implementation of twoparticular robotic services for a city was envisionedand questioned, i.e., surveillance and delivery of goods.By discussing the results, we illustrate how such aworkshop format might be beneficial for setting theagenda for a more conscious design of urban robots andorienting future research towards meaningful themesrelated to the emerging coexistence scenarios betweencitizens and robots.
from the article: Abstract Based on a review of recent literature, this paper addresses the question of how urban planners can steer urban environmental quality, given the fact that it is multidimensional in character, is assessed largely in subjective terms and varies across time. The paper explores three questions that are at the core of planning and designing cities: ‘quality of what?’, ‘quality for whom?’ and ‘quality at what time?’ and illustrates the dilemmas that urban planners face in answering these questions. The three questions provide a novel framework that offers urban planners perspectives for action in finding their way out of the dilemmas identified. Rather than further detailing the exact nature of urban quality, these perspectives call for an approach to urban planning that is integrated, participative and adaptive. ; ; sustainable urban development; trade-offs; quality dimensions
Post-war urban neighbourhoods in industrialised countries have been shown to negatively affect the lifestyles of their residents due to their design. This study aims at developing an empirical procedure to select locations to be redesigned and the determinants of health at stake in these locations, with involvement of residents’ perspectives as core issue. We addressed a post-war neighbourhood in the city of Groningen, the Netherlands. We collected data from three perspectives: spatial analyses by urban designers, interviews with experts in local health and social care (n = 11) and online questionnaires filled in by residents (n = 99). These data provided input for the selection of locations to be redesigned by a multidisciplinary team (n = 16). The procedure yielded the following types of locations (and determinants): An area adjacent to a central shopping mall (social interaction, traffic safety, physical activity), a park (experiencing green, physical activity, social safety, social interaction) and a block of low-rise row houses around a public square (social safety, social interaction, traffic safety). We developed an empirical procedure for the selection of locations and determinants to be addressed, with addressing residents’ perspectives. This procedure is potentially applicable to similar neighbourhoods internationally.
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“Empowering learners to create a sustainable future” This is the mission of Centre of Expertise Mission-Zero at The Hague University of Applied Sciences (THUAS). The postdoc candidate will expand the existing knowledge on biomimicry, which she teaches and researches, as a strategy to fulfil the mission of Mission-Zero. We know when tackling a design challenge, teams have difficulties sifting through the mass of information they encounter. The candidate aims to recognize the value of systematic biomimicry, leading the way towards the ecosystems services we need tomorrow (Pedersen Zari, 2017). Globally, biomimicry demonstrates strategies contributing to solving global challenges such as Urban Heat Islands (UHI) and human interferences, rethinking how climate and circular challenges are approached. Examples like Eastgate building (Pearce, 2016) have demonstrated successes in the field. While biomimicry offers guidelines and methodology, there is insufficient research on complex problem solving that systems-thinking requires. Our research question: Which factors are needed to help (novice) professionals initiate systems-thinking methods as part of their strategy? A solution should enable them to approach challenges in a systems-thinking manner just like nature does, to regenerate and resume projects. Our focus lies with challenges in two industries with many unsustainable practices and where a sizeable impact is possible: the built environment (Circularity Gap, 2021) and fashion (Joung, 2014). Mission Zero has identified a high demand for Biomimicry in these industries. This critical approach: 1) studies existing biomimetic tools, testing and defining gaps; 2) identifies needs of educators and professionals during and after an inter-disciplinary minor at The Hague University; and, 3) translates findings into shareable best practices through publications of results. Findings will be implemented into tangible engaging tools for educational and professional settings. Knowledge will be inclusive and disseminated to large audiences by focusing on communication through social media and intervention conferences.
De veranderingen die op ons afkomen, bijvoorbeeld digitalisering en de energietransitie, brengen vragen en onzekerheid met zich mee over de toekomst. Hoe kunnen we die toekomst begrijpen en ermee omgaan Een ontwerpende aanpak voor toekomstverkenningen kan helpen.Doel Hoe kunnen organisaties toekomstverkenningen verbinden met adaptief anticiperend handelen in het heden om betekenisvol te innoveren in de huidige veranderlijke wereld? Het onderzoek draagt bij aan de kennisontwikkeling over adaptieve organisaties. Ook worden er tools ontwikkelt voor de praktijk. Resultaten Dit onderzoek loopt nog. Na afloop vind je hier de resultaten. In de praktijk De inspiratie voor dit onderzoek ontstond tijdens een aantal toekomstverkenningen waarin de ontwikkeling van future probes centraal stonden: Future Health Battle in 2014, Urban Futures Lab in 2015 en Healthy Inclusive City Challenge 2016. Tijdens meerdaagse interactieve programma’s werkten teams met o.a. studenten en beleidsmakers samen aan provocatieve “wat als” -vraagstukken. Deze werden omgezet in visuele ‘probes’; verbeeldingen die een concrete impressie geven van een mogelijke toekomst. Probes zijn vaak speculatieve producten of diensten, maar zonder de intentie om ze in productie te nemen. Ze bieden de mogelijkheid om te leren van de toekomst door discussies te voeren met betrokkenen over de (on)wenselijkheid van dit soort toekomstige ontwikkelingen. De onderzoeken leveren altijd inzichten op in waarden en drijfveren. Download de volgende publicaties voor een indruk en overzicht van Urban Futures Lab en Future Health battle. Download publicatie Urban Futures lab Download publicatie Future Health Battle Bekijk ook de video's voor een sfeerimpressie. Video Urban Futures lab Video Healthy Inclusie City Challenge Looptijd 01 april 2019 - 01 april 2023 Aanpak Future probing zet verbeeldingskracht en systemisch ontwerpen zodanig in dat betrokkenen van een innovatievraagstuk mogelijke toekomsten daadwerkelijk ervaren. Met deze ervaring en bijbehorende inzichten, kunnen innovaties in het heden betekenisvoller worden vormgegeven. We gaan onderzoeken hoe deze complexe processen precies werken. Nieuws Jezelf lokaal verwarmen in plaats van je hele huis stoken Probing duurzame warmtevoorziening ten behoeve van energietransitie in samenwerking met Energie U en studenten Communicatie en Multimedia Design. HU Studenten Future lab presenteren de toekomst Probing the future is een onderwijsmodule bij de opleiding Communicatie en Multimedia Design. The Future is Calling - Werken, leren en mobiliteit Vervolg op het probing traject met Ministerie I&W omtrent toekomst van (non-)mobiliteit. Van inzichten naar inspiratie naar concrete experimenten Resultaat van dit vervolg traject: near future experimenten. De mobiele toekomst in beeld gebracht Probing the future of mobility in samenwerking met Ministerie I&W, studenten minor Co-design. Studenten ontwerpen amfibisch huis Amfibisch zelfvoorzienend wonen als NL overstroomt, studenten werktuigbouwkunde, technische bedrijfskunde en elektrotechniek. Verslag Community Meeting 3 - Smart Urban Mobility Toekomst van mobiliteit op Utrecht Science Park in samenwerking met Community Smart Urban Mobility van CoE SSC. Het boek Smart Sustainable Cities is uit Caroline Maessen en Marieke de Roos schreven samen een hoofdstuk.
Cycling booms in many Dutch cities. While smart cycling innovations promise to increase cycling’s modal share in the (peri-)urban transport system even further, little is understood of their impact or cost and benefit. The “Smart Cycling Futures (SCF)” program investigates how smart cycling innovations ─ including ICT-enabled cycling innovations, infrastructures, and social innovations like new business models ─ contribute to more resilient and liveable Dutch urban regions. Cycling innovations benefit urban regions in terms of accessibility, equality, health, liveability, and decreasing CO2-emissions when socially well embedded. To facilitate a transition to a sustainable future that respond to pressing issues, the SCF research project runs urban living labs in close collaboration with key stakeholders to develop transdisciplinary insights in the conditions needed for upscaling smart-cycling initiatives. Each living lab involving real-world experiments responds to the urgent challenges that urban regions and their stakeholders face today. The proposed research sub-programs focus on institutional dynamics, entrepreneurial strategies, governance and the socio-spatial conditions for smart cycling. Going beyond analysis, we also assess the economic, social, and spatial impacts of cycling on urban regions. The research program brings together four Dutch regions through academic institutions (three general and one applied-science universities); governmental authorities (urban and regional); and market players (innovative entrepreneurs). Together, they answer practice-based questions in a transdisciplinary and problem-oriented fashion. Research in the four regions generates both region-specific and universally applicable findings. Finally, SCF uses its strong research-practice network around cycling to co-create the research and run an outreach program.
