The Metaverse as a Virtual Form of Smart Cities: Opportunities and Challenges for Environmental, Economic, and Social Sustainability in Urban Futures

Smart Cities, Journal Year: 2022, Volume and Issue: 5(3), P. 771 - 801

Published: July 8, 2022

Data infrastructures, economic processes, and governance models of digital platforms are increasingly pervading urban sectors spheres life. This phenomenon is known as platformization, which has in turn given rise to the phenomena platform society, where have permeated core societies. A recent manifestation platformization Metaverse, a global project launched by Meta (formerly Facebook) globally operating company. The Metaverse represents an idea hypothetical “parallel virtual world” that incarnate ways living working cities alternative smart future. Indeed, with emerging innovative technologies—such Artificial Intelligence, Big Data, IoT, Digital Twins—providing rich datasets advanced computational understandings human behavior, potential redefine city designing activities service provisioning towards increasing efficiencies, accountabilities, quality performance. However, there still remain ethical, human, social, cultural concerns Metaverse’s influence upon social interactions its prospective scope reconstructing paper undertakes upper-level literature review area from broader perspective. Further, it maps products services explores their contributions respect incarnation, particular focus on environmental, economic, goals sustainability. study may help policy makers better understand opportunities implications tech-mediated practices applied agendas, well assess positives negatives this techno-urban vision. also offers thoughts regarding argument disruptive substantive effects forms reality platformized society. will hopefully stimulate research further critical perspectives topic.

Language: Английский

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The Social Shaping of the Metaverse as an Alternative to the Imaginaries of Data-Driven Smart Cities: A Study in Science, Technology, and Society

Smart Cities, Journal Year: 2022, Volume and Issue: 5(3), P. 832 - 874

Published: July 28, 2022

Science and technology transform the frontiers of knowledge have deep powerful impacts on society, demonstrating how social reality varies with each era world. As a set fictional representations technologically driven future worlds, Metaverse is increasingly shaping socio-technical imaginaries data-driven smart cities, i.e., outcome radical transformations dominant structures, processes, practices, cultures. At core systematic exploration science relationships between scientific knowledge, technological systems, values ethics from wide range perspectives. Positioned within science, this study investigates complex interplay as form wider context in which it embedded. Therefore, adopts an analytical philosophical framework STS, doing so, employs integrated approach to discourse analysis, supported by comparative analysis Ambient Intelligence. This shows that activity socially constructed, politically driven, economically conditioned, historically situated. That is, inherently human hence value-laden, well can only be understood contextualized socio-political-economic-historical gives rise it, sustains makes durable material effects networks. view turn corroborates raises serious concerns determinism, exclusion, marginalization, privacy erosion, surveillance, control, democratic backsliding, hive mentality, cyber-utopianism, dystopianism. argues that, due problematic nature terms its inherent ethical implications, there need more explicit processes practices for enhancing public participation allowing role especially early decision-making process development—when opportunity effective inputs informed choices greatest. The novelty lies first kind respect probing link cities STS perspective. main contribution deepening extending critiques understandings based evaluation warning signals troubling visions conveys animates order help construct desirable alternative futures greater good all citizens. ultimate goal structure ways are morally acceptable collectively most democratically beneficial society.

Language: Английский

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The Metaverse as a virtual form of data-driven smart cities: the ethics of the hyper-connectivity, datafication, algorithmization, and platformization of urban society

Computational Urban Science, Journal Year: 2022, Volume and Issue: 2(1)

Published: July 28, 2022

Recent advances in computing and immersive technologies have provided Meta (formerly Facebook) with the opportunity to leapfrog or expedite its way of thinking devising a global platform called "Metaverse". This hypothetical 3D network virtual spaces is increasingly shaping alternatives imaginaries data-driven smart cities, as it represents ways living virtually inhabitable cities. At heart Metaverse computational understanding human users' cognition, emotion, motivation, behavior that reduces experience everyday life logic calculative rules procedures. implies users become more knowable manageable their predictable controllable, thereby serving passive data points feeding AI analytics system they no interchange influence on. paper examines forms, practices, ethics form paying particular attention to: privacy, surveillance capitalism, dataveillance, geosurveillance, health wellness, collective cognitive echo-chambers. Achieving this aim will provide answer main research question driving study: What ethical implications on post-pandemic urban society? In terms methodology, deploys thorough review current status Metaverse, informatics, science, cities literature, well trends, research, developments. We argue do harm than good due massive misuse hyper-connectivity, datafication, algorithmization, platformization underlying associated architecture computer mediation. It follows needs be re-cast re-orientate how are conceived; recognize characteristics; take into account moral values principles designed realize benefits socially disruptive while mitigating pernicious effects. contributes academic debates emerging field urbanism by highlighting posed speculative fiction illustrates concerns raised pervasive use advanced doing so, seeks aid policy-makers better pitfalls repercussions upon wellbeing core society. also stimulates prospective further critical perspectives timely topic.

Language: Английский

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Unpacking the ‘15-Minute City’ via 6G, IoT, and Digital Twins: Towards a New Narrative for Increasing Urban Efficiency, Resilience, and Sustainability

Sensors, Journal Year: 2022, Volume and Issue: 22(4), P. 1369 - 1369

Published: Feb. 10, 2022

The '15-minute city' concept is emerging as a potent urban regeneration model in post-pandemic cities, offering new vantage points on liveability and health. While the primarily geared towards rethinking morphologies, it can be furthered via adoption of Smart Cities network technologies to provide tailored pathways respond contextualised challenges through advent data mining processing better inform decision-making processes. We argue that value-add from City particular Digital Twins, Internet Things (IoT), 6G. gathered by these technologies, processed Machine Learning techniques, unveil patterns understand characteristics fabrics. Collectively, those dimensions, unpacked support concept, opportunities redefine agendas economic societal needs well align more closely with environmental commitments, including United Nations' Sustainable Development Goal 11 New Urban Agenda. This perspective paper presents sets for cities arguing connectivities should explored now so appropriate protocols devised recalibrated prepare upcoming technology advances, opening resilience crafting.

Language: Английский

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Smart Cities and Urban Energy Planning: An Advanced Review of Promises and Challenges

Smart Cities, Journal Year: 2024, Volume and Issue: 7(1), P. 414 - 444

Published: Jan. 31, 2024

This review explores the relationship between urban energy planning and smart city evolution, addressing three primary questions: How has research on cities evolved in past thirty years? What promises hurdles do initiatives introduce to planning? And why some projects surpass efficiency emission reduction targets while others fall short? Based a bibliometric analysis of 9320 papers published January 1992 May 2023, five dimensions were identified by researchers trying address these (1) use at building scale, (2) design integration, (3) transportation mobility, (4) grid modernization grids, (5) policy regulatory frameworks. A comprehensive 193 discovered that previous prioritized technological advancements first four dimensions. However, there was notable gap adequately inherent challenges. often led endeavors underperforming relative their intended objectives. Overcoming requires better understanding broader issues such as environmental impacts, social justice, resilience, safety security, affordability initiatives.

Language: Английский

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How does Blue-Green Infrastructure affect the urban thermal environment across various functional zones?

Urban forestry & urban greening, Journal Year: 2025, Volume and Issue: unknown, P. 128698 - 128698

Published: Jan. 1, 2025

Language: Английский

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The Theoretical, Practical, and Technological Foundations of the 15-Minute City Model: Proximity and Its Environmental, Social and Economic Benefits for Sustainability

Energies, Journal Year: 2022, Volume and Issue: 15(16), P. 6042 - 6042

Published: Aug. 20, 2022

Conventional and emerging paradigms of urbanism require new responses under the current circumstances, especially in relation to integration sustainability dimensions technology advances. The escalating rate urbanization, coupled with climate emergency, fundamentally indeed disrupt challenges that research practice deal with, calling for adopting more innovative approaches urban planning design. With cities contributing around 65% Greenhouse Gas (GHG) emissions experiencing an unprecedented growth population, contemporary policy needs be redefined re-assessed accordingly. While numerous models, such as Compact City, Eco-City, Sustainable Smart have emerged response 15-Minute City has recently gained a steep popularity. This paper explores theoretical, practical, technological foundations particular focus on proximity dimension mixed land-use its environmental, social, economic benefits supported by smart technologies. We argue this evolving model potential gain expansion success regard building sustainable, efficient, resilient, equitable, inclusive line global agendas Development Goal (SDG) 11, it adds strategic value amalgam prevailing their synergies respect increasing while emphasizing environmental dimension.

Language: Английский

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An analysis of Sustainable Development Goals in Italian cities: Performance measurements and policy implications

Land Use Policy, Journal Year: 2022, Volume and Issue: 120, P. 106278 - 106278

Published: July 15, 2022

Language: Английский

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GWPCA-based spatial analysis of urban vitality: a comparative assessment of three high-altitude Himalayan towns in India

Journal of Spatial Science, Journal Year: 2023, Volume and Issue: 69(2), P. 593 - 620

Published: Oct. 18, 2023

ABSTRACTUrban vitality comprises the livingness, vibrancy and attractiveness of urban areas. This research analyzes in three Himalayan towns India: Darjeeling, Kalimpong, Kurseong. Using GWPCA method, 29 indicators across six domains were considered to develop a comprehensive index (UVI). The study also explores how growth design influence these towns. With help LISA Moran's I analyses, determines that town centers display high vitality. findings highlight role expansion patterns European-style blocks maintaining this vibrancy.KEYWORDS: Urban vitalityGWPCAurban expansionspatial analysisGIS AcknowledgmentsFirstly, authors would like express cordial thanks Department Geography Applied Geography, University North Bengal for providing opportunity conducting work. paper was completed during tenure UGC-JRF period. Furthermore, extend their sincere appreciation Editor-in-Chief Associate Editor invaluable comments suggestions. Lastly, are deeply grateful anonymous reviewers insightful remarks innovative ideas, which have substantially enriched content article.Disclosure statementNo potential conflict interest reported by author(s).Credit authorshipS.R. S.M. – Writing Original Draft, Conceptualisation, Formal analysis, Investigation, Methodology, Software, Visualisation, Review & Editing, Supervision. A.B. InvestigationI.R.C. Editing.Data availability statementThe data can be provided upon reasonable request from corresponding author.Informed consentAll co-authors read article before submission every step is informed all co-authors.

Language: Английский

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Challenges and opportunities in European smart buildings energy management: A critical review

Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Journal Year: 2024, Volume and Issue: 199, P. 114472 - 114472

Published: May 15, 2024

The substantial stock of European buildings, accounting for more than 40% energy consumption, has prompted member states to establish a renovation standard with stringent performance criteria. As advancing into the era digital transformation, concept smart buildings emerges as solution create sustainable, efficient, resilient, active, and comfortable living working spaces. This is achieved through intelligent resource use optimization, including management production, storage distribution systems. Smart operate by harnessing monitoring data leveraging artificial intelligence algorithms big techniques. integration contextual information, such building information modelling, physics, or simulation models, enhances resources. Moreover, incorporation metrics like readiness indicator promotes adoption buildings. study delves significance these techniques, expanding on existing research in field It integrates concepts enrichment, smartness, user-centric approaches. Key findings provide insights future opportunities within sector, emphasizing need user awareness strategies, development new algorithms, services that incorporate indicator. also advocates widespread twins.

Language: Английский

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