As Yuval Noah Harari describes in his book “Sapiens, A Brief History of Humankind”: human society had evolved for thousands of years in small communities that were characterized by strong relationships between individuals and mutual support systems. We are more likely to be part of a community than to be isolated from one. The experiences learned from the SARS-CoV-2 … [Read more...] about Strengthening local communities in cities through innovative models
Hallel Elnir
Hallel Elnir is an urban planner, specializing in international development. In his current position, as a Smart City consultant in the Housing and Urban Development Division at the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB), he leverages innovative technologies to address urban challenges, develop and share knowledge, and create public-private partnerships in the LAC region. Previously Hallel worked in the private sector in Israel, providing advice on strategic planning, execution, and implementation of urban projects, as well as supporting cities’ master plans. Hallel holds a master’s degree in International Development & Urban Planning from the Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Israel, and a Bachelor’s degree in Political Science and Geography from Tel Aviv University, Israel.
Innovative solutions for the new normal – sustainable, resilient and inclusive while physical distancing
In the midst of the public health emergency and physical distancing due to COVID-19, we invite civil society from Latin America and the Caribbean to collaborate creatively to develop solutions for the new normal and the reactivation of our public spaces, while still following physical distancing measures to avoid further contagion of the virus. Together with … [Read more...] about Innovative solutions for the new normal – sustainable, resilient and inclusive while physical distancing
Monitoring informal settlement growth in Manaus, Brazil with drones
Many cities in Latin America and the Caribbean (LAC) face the challenge of rapid informal urban growth, which prevents them from providing basic services to their citizens and have a sustainable urban development. Today, drones, artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning (ML) provide key information for cities to better understand informal growth patterns and improve … [Read more...] about Monitoring informal settlement growth in Manaus, Brazil with drones
Cutting-Edge technologies for Smart Cities in Israel
Successful smart cities rely on more than deploying exciting new technologies in the city. They require a robust ecosystem that can support and sustain ongoing innovation, an ecosystem that comprises of local and central governments, IT companies, universities, startup companies, and citizens. But, how can such an ecosystem be built? Last year, a delegation of specialists … [Read more...] about Cutting-Edge technologies for Smart Cities in Israel
Why should governments and cities use their data better?
One of the most important quotes in any business is, “if you can’t measure it, you can’t manage it”. Today, more than ever, this quote is also true for cities where the rise in use of connected devices in urban space has immensely increased the amount of data generated – 90% of data available in 2016 was created in the two years prior[1]. This growth will continue to be … [Read more...] about Why should governments and cities use their data better?