HOW DATA CAN RESHAPE OUR URBAN SYSTEMS

If global cities are to handle the population explosion already ongoing, they will need to find a way to invert the 20th century phrase "concrete jungle". In other words, if these unnatural habitats and centers of commerce are to survive, thrive, and properly serve their citizenry, then they will need a lot more jungle, and a lot less concrete. 

And that need seems to grow every day. Already, 20 global metropolises have populations greater than New York City. More are coming, too, especially in Asia. So, in a world with finite natural resources, unevenly distributed geographically and so often used inefficiently, how can these densely packed organisms grow sustainably? Or more likely, is that the only way they can survive?

Such are the questions that will propel the next special event in our ongoing SmartWorlds series of Future of Cities Conversations. On the evening of Thursday, Aug. 27, URBAN ECO-SYSTEMS: A DATA-DRIVEN UNDERSTANDING OF OUR CITIES will take to the BuiltWorlds stage and bring together for the first time all three of our SmartWorlds advisors: Peter, Paul, and John. (Hmm, that trio sounds awfully familiar). The panel will be moderated by another leading light in our industry, Susan Heinking, AIA, director of High-Performance and Sustainable Construction at Pepper Construction.

The event is sponsored by Archeworks, Newforma, and the U.S. Green Building Council of Illinois.

Specifically, our acclaimed panelists will be architect and urban planner Peter Ellis, FAIA, of Peter Ellis New Cities; architect, technologist and Smart Cities expert Paul Doherty of The Digit Group; and IBM veteran and former CTO for the City of Chicago, John Tolva, now with PositivEnergy Practice. All three have often been described as visionaries, so we anticipate that their presentations, and discussions with each other will be as entertaining and engaging as they are compelling and even inspiring.

MORE DETAILS & SPEAKERS TO BE ANNOUNCED

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