Latest news with #urbaninnovation
Forbes
2 days ago
- Science
- Forbes
Cognitive Cities Are Rising To Define The Urban Future
Cities, where almost 60 percent of all humans now live, often struggle with a long list of issues that include traffic congestion, inefficient public services, high carbon emissions, economic and public safety challenges, and aging water and energy systems. As a result, there's a large and growing demand for novel solutions. It won't come as a surprise that new technologies are playing an increasingly important role in addressing a wide range of urban needs. The term smart city, which first began to appear in the 1990s, is often used to describe an urban area that adopts innovative digital technologies, data, sensors, and connectivity to improve a community's livability, workability, and sustainability. The smart city movement has had plenty of successes (and their fair share of failures and backlash), and public agencies committed to the use of innovative technologies and data to drive better governance can be found in every part of the world. Now a new concept is emerging that builds upon the success and limitations of smart cities. It's called the cognitive city and it's when AI, used in conjunction with other related emerging technologies, creates a more intelligent, responsive, and adaptable urban experience. This shift is unsurprising. It's happening as the intelligence age drives the emergence of a cognitive industrial revolution, an economic transformation that is forcing every organization to make sense of and see the opportunities in a world of thinking machines. At their core, cognitive cities are AI-powered and data-driven. They use these technologies and others to understand patterns in the urban space to help with decision-making, planning, and governance, and to power innovative urban solutions. Instead of being reactive, the aim is for city services to be proactive by anticipating needs and challenges. Over time, the city learns about its community, helping it to evolve to meet current and future needs. This may all sound a little too abstract, so let's put it in perspective by exploring two cognitive cities being constructed right now. Perhaps the most famous cognitive city underway is in the northwestern region of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. Called NEOM, this area includes The Line. Instead of being built in a traditional radial shape, The Line is a long, narrow strip, proposed to be 106 miles in length, 656 feet in width, and 1640 feet in height. Advanced cognitive technologies are at the heart of this city, enabling the optimization of transportation, resource management, and energy consumption—it will all be non-carbon based. The city is being designed to understand residents' needs and support personalized and proactive services such as healthcare, activity scheduling, and temperature management. The city of Aion Sentia, underway in Abu Dhabi in the United Arab Emirates, has even bolder aspirations. It's being designed to anticipate even more resident needs. If you like to buy a latte from your favorite coffee store each day at 8am, it's going to be ready for you. If you have an anniversary upcoming, you'll be reminded, and reservations will automatically be made at your favorite restaurant. Central to this cognitive city will be a city-provided app that will be your urban assistant. For example, if you get an energy bill that is higher than expected, you'll be able to tell the app, and it will figure out what you need to do to reduce your energy use. Feeling ill, the app will make a medical appointment and take care of all the related logistics. Other cities embracing the cognitive city concept include Woven in Japan, Songdo in South Korea, and Telosa in the United States. This may all sound rather futuristic, and it is. Much of it has yet to be built and proven. The concept of cognitive cities has some significant challenges related to privacy and the extent to which residents even want automation is every aspect of their lives. Toronto's proposed urban project, Sidewalk, haunts both the city and the developers, and is a litmus test for cognitive technology use, as issues surrounding privacy and data contributed greatly to its abandonment. In the marketplace of ideas, communities will need to balance the benefits of an AI-powered urban future versus the concerns and risks they present. These questions and others won't be second order issues but will need to be addressed as priorities as we enter the era of cognitive cities.
Zawya
6 days ago
- Business
- Zawya
Alef breaks ground on "Al Mamsha Raseel" in Sharjah
Sharjah: Alef, the leading real estate developer in the Emirate of Sharjah, has officially broken ground on Al Mamsha Raseel, the third zone of its landmark 'Al Mamsha' development located in Muwaileh, Sharjah. Valued at AED 1.1 billion, the project is expected to be completed by December 2028. The ground-breaking ceremony was attended by Alef officials, representatives from CC7, the contracting company, as well as representatives from the design and engineering teams. The event reflected the company's ongoing commitment to excellence and quality across every stage of the development. Al Mamsha Raseel will offer 2,210 modern residential units, ranging from one- to three-bedroom apartments, each with private balconies. The development will also feature lush green spaces, water features, and interactive fountains, all designed to deliver a fully integrated living experience that prioritises quality of life and aligns with Sharjah's progressive urban vision. On this occasion, Alef, Company stated that the Al Mamsha Raseel project is a strategic step in its journey to redefine the concept of residential communities in the Emirate of Sharjah. The project focuses on developing an urban environment that prioritizes human well-being and integrates quality of life, sustainability, and urban innovation. The company added that launching this project reflects its vision of providing a comprehensive residential environment, characterized by contemporary design and advanced infrastructure that meets the aspirations of the real estate market in the emirate. Alef also emphasized its full commitment to delivering Al Mamsha Raseel according to the set timeline and to the highest standards of quality in execution. Al Mamsha is Sharjah's first fully walkable community, designed to offer a safe, pedestrian-friendly environment that adheres to the highest standards of sustainability and urban planning. The addition of Al Mamsha Raseel reinforces Alef's commitment to creating high-quality living spaces that meet the evolving aspirations of residents and investors alike. About Alef Alef, founded by the late visionary Sheikh Khalid Bin Sultan Al Qasimi in 2013, stands today as a testament to his pioneering spirit in the realm of lifestyle experience provision. Operating from its central hub in Sharjah, UAE, this privately-owned entity has carved a niche for itself as a trailblazer in the creation of premier lifestyle communities, destinations, and experiences. The company's strategy hinges on insightful investment choices and the cultivation of strategic joint ventures, paving the way for innovation and excellence in the sector. With a commanding presence reflected in a robust AED 12 billion asset base and extensive land bank, Alef's premium developments are at the forefront, driving progress in both business and leisure initiatives. These developments are complemented by the company's dedication to building high calibre residential communities that set industry benchmarks. For a comprehensive overview of Alef's endeavours and to stay abreast of their latest developments, please visit our website at You are also encouraged to engage with us on our social media platforms: find us on LinkedIn (@AlefGroup), follow our Instagram feed (@AlefGroup), and subscribe to our YouTube channel (@AlefGroupLLC). For direct enquiries, call our toll-free number at 800-253-323.
Independent Singapore
19-05-2025
- Health
- Independent Singapore
Singapore, ranked 3rd happiest city in the world, joined by Seoul and Taipei in Asia
SINGAPORE: Singapore has been ranked as the third-happiest city in the world for 2025, according to the Happy City Index by the Institute for the Quality of Life. The city-state was joined by two other Asian cities—Seoul in sixth place and Taipei in eighth—in the top 10. Channel NewsAsia (CNA) reported that Singapore scored 979 points after the index evaluated 82 indicators across six key areas: citizens, governance, environment, economy, health, and mobility. According to the index, these categories 'directly influence' how happy residents feel in their cities. Copenhagen topped the list as the happiest city, followed by Zurich in second place. After Singapore in third, the next cities were Aarhus (4th), Antwerp (5th), and Seoul (6th). Stockholm came in seventh, followed by Taipei (8th), Munich (9th), and Rotterdam (10th). The index described the city-state as 'a global beacon of economic prosperity, governance, and urban innovation'. The report highlighted education and innovation as 'the heart' of Singapore's success, noting that its universities rank among the top 50 worldwide. It also pointed to the country's strong global connections, with over 63% of residents speaking at least one foreign language and more than half (55%) having digital skills. The city-state was also recognised for its technological progress and innovation, granting 7.37 patents per 10,000 residents. In terms of governance and transparency, the index said Singapore had 'high levels of civic engagement'. The report noted that Singapore runs a comprehensive open data platform offering public access to 8,086 datasets. It also praised how digital governance is well integrated into Singaporeans' daily lives, with services like fault reporting, online payments, and appointment booking. Health is a new category in the latest Happy City Index, covering mental health, nutrition, and work-life balance. The index described Singapore's healthcare as 'accessible and efficient,' noting the city-state offers universal medical insurance and has 2.8 doctors per 1,000 people. It also highlighted Singapore's public health efforts, noting a life expectancy of 83 years, expanded mental health services, and a lower obesity rate. In addition, the crime rate was 'minimal,' with just 3.31 incidents of public violence per 1,000 residents. The index also praised Singapore's mobility and transport infrastructure as one of the world's most advanced while praising public transport vehicles as friendly to people with mobility disabilities. It noted that traffic-related deaths remain low, at 0.24 per 10,000 residents, due to stringent safety rules and efficient urban planning. It also said that sustainability is at the core of Singapore's urban policies, highlighting its leading role in biodiversity protection and renewable energy adoption. This is the sixth edition of the Happy City Index by London-based global think tank Institute for Quality of Life. While no city is labelled the absolute best at keeping its people happy long-term, the index named 31 'Gold Cities'—the happiest places in the world. Previously, the city-state ranked 34th and was replaced by Taiwan as Asia's happiest place . /TISG
CNA
17-05-2025
- Health
- CNA
Singapore ranks as world's 3rd happiest city, after Copenhagen and Zurich
SINGAPORE: Singapore has been ranked the world's 3rd "happiest" city for 2025, behind Copenhagen and Zurich. Two other cities in Asia made the top 10 - with Seoul in 6th place and Taipei in 8th. That's according to the Institute for the Quality of Life's latest Happy City Index, which tracked 82 indicators across six major themes that "directly influence" the happiness of residents. The six categories are citizens, governance, environment, economy, health and mobility. Scoring a total of 979 points, Singapore stands out as "a global beacon of economic prosperity, governance and urban innovation", according to the index. Gold "happiest" cities 1. Copenhagen 2. Zurich 3. Singapore 4. Aarhus 5. Antwerp 6. Seoul 7. Stockholm 8. Taipei 9 Munich 10. Rotterdam Collapse Education and innovation are "at the heart of Singapore's success", with the country's universities ranking top 50 globally, the index noted. Singapore "maintains its global connectivity", with more than 63 per cent of the population speaking at least one foreign language and 55 per cent possessing digital skills. The index also said that the country fosters technological progress and ensures a steady pipeline of innovation - granting 7.37 patents per 10,000 residents. Governance and transparency define Singapore's administrative excellence, the index said, adding that there were "high levels of civic engagement". It also noted that Singapore operates a comprehensive open data platform, making 8,086 datasets available for public access. Digital governance is also seamlessly integrated into daily life, it said, citing e-services for fault reporting, online payments, as well as appointment scheduling. On the theme of health, which is new for this edition of the Happy City Index, the indicators included mental health, nutrition and work-life balance. With universal medical insurance and 2.8 doctors per 1,000 residents, healthcare in Singapore "is both accessible and efficient", said the index. It also said the country has a strong emphasis on public health initiatives, citing a life expectancy of 83 years and low obesity rate. "Mental health services are expanding, with 15 per cent of the adult population receiving coordinated care," it added. The index also noted a "minimal crime rate" of 3.31 recorded incidents of public violence per 1,000 residents. On Singapore's mobility and transport infrastructure, the index said that it is "among the most advanced globally", adding that the city "prioritises sustainable transit options". "An intelligent traffic management system ensures smooth urban movement, while commuters benefit from fully integrated electronic payment systems," it said. The index also noted that all public transport vehicles in Singapore are fully adapted for people with mobility disabilities. "Traffic-related fatalities remain low at 0.24 per 10,000 residents, thanks to stringent safety measures and efficient urban planning," it said. Lastly, it noted that sustainability is "at the core of Singapore's urban policies" and that the city is a pioneer in biodiversity protection and renewable energy adoption. "With 100 per cent of the population served by sewage treatment facilities, Singapore upholds high environmental standards." It added that while waste management remains a challenge in the country, recycling efforts have continued to improve. This is the 6th edition of the Happy City Index, run by London-based think tank Institute for the Quality of Life. Emphasising that "no single city can be labelled as the absolute best at ensuring the happiness of its citizens over the long haul", the index identified a group of what it termed Gold Cities - "the happiest locations in the world". There are 31 Gold Cities this year.
