Editorial

pnd – rethinking planning once again places a spotlight on an important issue: digital transformation. It has been occupying us and many others in city-related disciplines since long before the global pandemic. But these past years, marked by severe global challenges, did accelerate these transformation processes. 

Local Data and Global Ideas

So-called citymakers, the actors involved in collaborative processes of urban development, are increasingly using technology and data to support their efforts. Despite justified criticism of digitalization in cities today, it is clear that data and technology are expediting citymaking processes; at the same time, said processes may also contribute to more equitable urban data and technology governance.

The Role for Public Participation in Digital Governance

This article will present the results of a yearlong intervention called Citizen Voices for Digital Rights. The project addressed the role of digital technologies and data at the urban scale, working with citizens, experts and policy makers in four European cities.

Digital Imaginaries of the Pandemic‑Resilient City

Drawing on an alternative imaginary grounded in slow AI I assert that it is time to think big by learning from the COVID-19 pandemic to build safe, equitable activity spaces and geographies.

Verlieren Städte an Bedeutung?

Antworten zur Zukunft großer Stadtregionen verlangen komplexe Querschnittsbetrachtungen. Städte verlieren lohnintensive Industrien und standardisierbare Dienstleistungen, übernehmen angesichts globaler Digitalisierung aber auch neue Funktionen als Magneten komplexen Wissens.

Vanishing Cities?

The paper starts from the observation that no single firm, nor any research institute nor any city region alone is capable of generating top level knowledge in the various scientific areas. Knowledge is conceptualized as a bundle of elements that organizations must combine in one location or via digital networks.

Queer(ing Digital) Citymaking

Based upon the findings of the master’s thesis QUEERingAACHEN. State of the art and potential of queer spaces in Aachen this article explores the ways in which queer/ LGBTQ+ citizens deal with spatial production in times of need.

IKT und ihre Räumlichen Potenziale

Um räumliche Risiken zu vermeiden und gleichzeitig Chancen der Digitalisierung für den urbanen Raum zu nutzen, bieten globale IKT-Unternehmen digitale Lösungen an. Die konkrete räumliche Wirkungsweise von Technologien im Stadtraum wird untersucht.

Urban Spatial Potentials of ICTs

In order to avoid spatial risks and simultaneously use the opportunities of digitalization for urban space, global ICT companies offer digital solutions. The concrete spatial impact of technologies in urban space is examined.

Von Crowdsourcing und Crowdfunding

Verschiedene digitale Plattformen zielen auf das Entwickeln oder Finanzieren von Bürger:innen-Projekten in der Stadtentwicklung. Der Beitrag stellt die, von zivilgesellschaftlichen Akteuren initiierte, digitale Plattformen auf den Prüfstand.

Crowdsourcing and Crowdfunding

Various digital platforms aim to develop or fund citizens' projects in urban development. In the following article, digital platforms, initiated by civil society actors, are examined.

Co-creating the Future

Social Makerthons can be applied to test co-creative methodologies, aiming to install more open and inclusive innovation ecosystems in cities and regions. The article describes examples of four projects applying this format in urban environments during the pandemic.

Mapping Social Innovation

Utilizing the data generated by modern technology can provide evidence for supporting scaling up of solutions tackling key urban development challenges. In this article, the author presents the project Digitizing Social Innovation (DSI) in Egypt which focuses on mapping Egypt’s innovations to highlight innovation clusters and gaps in resources and support.