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Enhanced URBAN planning for AGE-friendly cities through disruptive technologies

Project description

A closer look at growing old in the city

The digital era is influencing urban planning, but so is our ageing population. Age-friendly cities, especially in the digital era, are crucial to help ensure urban environments are suitable for everyone. The EU-funded URBANAGE project will assess the potential benefits, risks and impacts of implementing a long-term sustainable framework for data-driven decision-making in the field of urban planning for ageing well in cities. The findings will shed light on how to ensure older adults (who are less digitally literate) can remain engaged in decision-making processes. The project will develop a decision support ecosystem integrating urban digital twins, multidimensional big data analysis as well as modelling and simulation with artificial intelligence algorithms.

Objective

Adapting urban environments to current challenges requires a multidisciplinary understanding of interrelated and complex phenomena. In the context of digital-era massive data production and enhanced analytical capacities, there is still enormous untapped potential in the use of disruptive technologies to support evidence-based decision-making processes in the field of urban planning. Moreover, the impact that such technologies may have in the current urban planning practice is yet to be assessed. Urban planning decision-making involves multiple stakeholders in complex governance settings. Such decisions should be evidence-based, and their results continuously evaluated to correct unwanted impacts, but this is not yet the prevalent paradigm.
Using disruptive technologies in the urban planning decision-making process bears the risk of excluding some parts of the population; in particular, older adults, who are less digitally literate and might show distrust of decisions and engagement based on technology. At the same time, European cities are facing the challenge of adapting to an increasing aging population, so it is crucial to engage this part of the population in decision making processes.
In this context, URBANAGE aims at assessing the potential benefits, risks and impact of implementing a long-term sustainable framework for data-driven decision-making in the field of urban planning for aging well in cities. This model will be developed through an inclusive co-creation strategy with relevant stakeholders (public servants) and users (older adults) and based on a decision-support Ecosystem that integrates multidimensional Big Data analysis; modelling and simulation with Artificial Intelligence algorithms, visualization through Urban Digital twins and gamification for enhanced engagement purposes. Based on a thorough understanding of users’ needs, it will be validated by piloting use-cases in three local planning systems in Europe (Helsinki, Santander and Flander).

Call for proposal

H2020-SC6-TRANSFORMATIONS-2018-2019-2020

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Sub call

H2020-SC6-TRANSFORMATIONS-2020

Coordinator

ENGINEERING - INGEGNERIA INFORMATICA SPA
Net EU contribution
€ 415 557,50
Address
PIAZZALE DELL'AGRICOLTURA 24
00144 Roma
Italy

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Region
Centro (IT) Lazio Roma
Activity type
Private for-profit entities (excluding Higher or Secondary Education Establishments)
Links
Total cost
€ 415 557,50

Participants (11)