Re-imagining the future of cities using urban foresight techniques: towards a smart and sustainable Reading 2050

Dixon, T. ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-4513-6337, Farrelly, L., Horton-Baker, N. and Webb, R. (2017) Re-imagining the future of cities using urban foresight techniques: towards a smart and sustainable Reading 2050. In: Professional Practices in the Built Environment, 27-28 April, Reading, UK, pp. 93-101. (ISBN 9780704915725)

Abstract/Summary

Cities have become a global focus for tackling major climate change and resource depletion issues, and understanding how we can transition to a more sustainable future. However, strategic thinking is needed to overcome potential disconnections between short-term planning horizons and longterm environmental change. Understanding the past, present and future of cities helps us create a ‘possibility space’ for re-imagining the built/natural environments that can be created/re-imagined in cities. Interdisciplinary-based urban foresight techniques focus on the need to create strategies and scenarios to deal with future changes. They offer the ability to reach consensus around shared ‘city visions’; help create innovative thinking and decision-making; promote engagement with city stakeholders; and link technology/innovation with wider socio-economic issues, which affect the urban innovation ‘ecosystem’. This paper provides an overview of the evolution of urban foresight thinking, and examines the development of a specific, co-produced city vision: the ‘Smart and Sustainable Reading 2050’ project (linked to the UK GOS Future of Cities Foresight Programme) and the lessons it holds for built environment practice.