Living+ Forum 2020: Human-centered computational city planning

In 2020 the Living+ Forum addressed the topic of computational city planning. The lecture series included 12 guest lectures which took place between Jan 9 and Feb 20. 

Due to increasingly dynamic, intricate urban realities and constantly changing lifestyles of urbanites, new tools in planning might become essential in order to better meet the needs of cities and their citizens. This year's Living+ Forum explored how computational methods – referring to novel ways of acquiring, processing and analyzing data enabled by digital devices – can be used to achieve a more accurate picture of the urban environment and its elements, and to make planning more effective and user-centred. 

To mention a few examples, we had an architect Jarmo Suomisto from the city of Helsinki discussing the utilization of city information models, and professor Pia Fricker from Aalto University, who inspired the audience by introducing ways to make sense of complex reality by applying computational modelling and system thinking into dealing with urban environments and challenges. In the two final lectures by Ken Dooley and Johanna Ylipulli, we learned about how the data tracking of citizens’ behavior and movements as well as data mining offer untapped potential for planning cities and their services in the future, but also raise questions about privacy and ethics. We concluded the lecture series with an open discussion, where different viewpoints on how to approach this dilemma were raised. 

Living+ Forum 2020 focused on Human-centered computational city planning.

Venue: Living+ Hub, seminar class 266

Time: Thursdays 9.1.-20.2.2020 at 3-5 pm

Presentations in Living+ Forum 2020 explored various ways to utilize computational methods and digital tools in city planning for more creative, efficient and participative processes – and for more livable cities. 

Program / ARK-E2009 Living+ Forum (2 ECTS)

1. Participation and collaboration in smart city planning / January 9
   Aija Staffans, Aalto University
2. Knowledge management in smart city planning / January 16
   Jarmo Suomisto, City of Helsinki: "Digital Cities and Good Life"
   Otso Helenius, Aalto University
3. Computational landscape / January 23
   Lauri Lemmenlehti, Plehat
   Teemu Kokkonen, Aalto University
4. Gamifying city planning and design / January 30
   Olli Poutanen, FCG: "Generative Techniques in Architecture and Service Design"
   Teemu Jama, Aalto University
5. Seminar on urban renewal in the context of multi-owned housing  / February 6
   Location update: Undergraduate centre (Otakaari 1), U270 U8
6. Computational design methodologies & Active participation in urban planning  / February 13
   Pia Fricker, Aalto University / "Decoding the city – computational design methodologies for responsive environments"
   Pilvi Nummi, Aalto University / "Social media as an information source for urban planning"
7. Passive participation & Digital citizenship / February 20
   Ken Dooley, Aalto University
   Johanna Ylipulli, Aalto University