Nov 06, 2017
The first/last mile problem has plagued public transit agencies for decades. What is, truly, the best way to connect people who are a little too far to walk to a bus stop—or to work from a bus stop—to their destination? If we can solve this problem, we can bring new opportunities to boost ridership, provide…
Sep 22, 2017
Climate change has been an important and trending topic of late, but it grabbed the headlines in a new way this summer with tarmac-melting heat in Phoenix, Arizona and a heatwave in Europe dubbed “Lucifer.” And less you think this is press-driven hyperbole, this summer also saw the release of new research that climate change…
Sep 19, 2017
When catastrophic disaster hits a city – or even a small town – people want to rebuild as soon as possible, so that they can return to their homes, jobs, and schools. Normalcy – it seems at once reasonable and compassionate as an objective. But it can conflict with another impulse triggered by the disaster,…
Aug 31, 2017
Dean M. Esserman is the NewCities Associate Fellow for Security and is the Senior Counsellor of the Police Foundation, an American, independent non-profit organization dedicated to advancing policing through innovation and science. NewCities (NC): What changes have you seen over the last decades when it comes to safety and public security in cities? Dean Esserman…
Aug 28, 2017
The Anglo-Saxon planning system that guides our towns and cities in North America is not fit for purpose. The reason I say this is that the rules and guidelines that determine what is built where and why ignores the length of our day. The concept and practice of planning urban areas is tailored almost exclusively…
Aug 04, 2017
My work as the Director of ENGIE’s key Cities Program has taken me to cities across the world. I’ve had the privilege of meeting elected leaders and other stakeholders who share our interest in the future of energy and solutions for an increasingly urbanized world. While every city has its unique challenges, one thing I…
Aug 04, 2017
Mariela Alfonzo is the NewCities Associate Fellow for Placemaking and CEO of State of Place – a predictive analytics software which helps city-makers create walkable, livable and smarter places quickly, cost-effectively, and efficiently. NewCities (NC): How did you first get involved in researching and advocating for the value of ‘place’ in the urban environment? Mariela…
Aug 01, 2017
In this Q&A with the NewCities Foundation, our Associate Fellow for Greenfield Cities Sarah Moser explores the challenges and opportunities of master-planned cities around the world and reveals how she developed her compelling interest for new urban projects. NewCities (NC): Master-planned cities have long been part of urbanization around the world. What first led you…
Aug 01, 2017
David Gomez-Alvarez is currently a visiting scholar at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) and is the Executive President of Transversal, a think tank based in Guadalajara, Mexico. He was appointed Associate Fellow for Citizen Engagement by the NewCities Foundation in May 2017. Here is his take on why citizens should be at the heart…
Aug 01, 2017
NewCities has recently expanded its fellowship program to highlight leading urban thinkers. Associate Fellows play a key role in advancing our mission to make cities more inclusive, connected, healthy and vibrant. An expert on smart cities, innovation, corporate responsibility and climate change, Jean-François Barsoum is our Associate Fellow for Sustainability and spoke to NewCities about…
Jul 19, 2017
This post is part of our Thriving Cities discussion series, following the sixth edition of the NewCities Summit in Incheon Songdo, South Korea in June 2017. With the rapid growth of cities around the world, urban wellbeing is quickly becoming synonymous with global health and wellbeing. While cities offer the promise of improved economic opportunity…
Jul 19, 2017
This post is part of our Thriving Cities discussion series, following the sixth edition of the NewCities Summit in Incheon Songdo, South Korea in June 2017. Just as buildings, cars, and national governments have enforceable and measurable standards, so should cities. With the increasing standard of urban life as the ultimate goal, cities must be…
