Computing Sustainability

Cities have grown ever more complicated and managing them has become increasingly difficult. Logistical bottlenecks, uncontrolled growth, and social unrest are only a few of the issues modern cities face. One possible solution is epitomized in the concept of smart cities. As technology increasingly permeates every aspect of daily life, it is becoming possible to collect sensor data from every corner of a city – from street lamps to garbage bins. The Internet of Things is allowing us to translate an abundance of data from physical objects into digestible bits of information and, applied to city infrastructure, constitutes the basis of what smart cities stand for. What should be done with this data is another matter. Creating a simulated city to better understand how real cities work is one promising idea. In urban areas, the variety of actors, interests and goals often results in complex processes. By steering societal action and thereby detecting and tackling issues of sustainability, simulated cities enable interactive governance.