In a roundtable on the most pressing challenges for our cities, a colleague challenged us with the following question: “Do you believe that cities can buy their sustainability?” Between stunned looks and expressions of disbelief, we could not reach a conclusion. The truth is that, as Latin America is one of the most urbanized regions of the world, every decision taken by a … [Read more...] about Smarter and More Sustainable Cities in Latin America? We Must Learn to Buy Better
Open code: urban growth prediction by analyzing satellite images
While urban growth prediction models are not new, they have historically required significant resources in time, expertise, and calculations. That’s why we have developed this open code of urban growth prediction. The model automates this process, allowing urban planners to spatially extrapolate the growth of their city under different scenarios (e.g., future population size, … [Read more...] about Open code: urban growth prediction by analyzing satellite images
OpenStreetMap Extraction tool: generating neighborhood-level maps
Considering the digital revolution, Latin American and Caribbean cities should be poised to generate, analyze, and disseminate urban data. Yet, all too often, our partners do not have the tools necessary for delivering urban services to informal areas, identifying and allocating lands best suited for development while protecting at-risk areas, and working with individual … [Read more...] about OpenStreetMap Extraction tool: generating neighborhood-level maps
OpenMapKit: create and systematize surveys in the field
Paper records are still quite common for field data collection in many housing agencies, where the infrastructure required to create, implement, manage and maintain survey data often includes paywalls or high levels of technical expertise. OpenMapKit solves one of the most immediate needs for government agencies to collect and manage data from the field, incorporating automatic … [Read more...] about OpenMapKit: create and systematize surveys in the field
Public space for all: what makes Copenhagen the city for the people?
Copenhagen is considered one of the cities with the highest standards of quality of life. The Municipality has an Office responsible for promoting the public life of the city where the human dimension and social conditions are its main priorities. Starting in 1960, public strategies and policies around people’s welfare and quality of life began to be integrated into local … [Read more...] about Public space for all: what makes Copenhagen the city for the people?