IN-PERSON Manchester Livable Cities
Abstract
In the face of intensifying urban dynamics and multiple disruptions—climatic, social, economic, and technological—urban resilience has emerged as a central paradigm in contemporary territorial policies. It refers to the capacity of urban systems to anticipate, absorb, adapt to, and transform in response to crises while maintaining their essential functions. However, operationalizing resilience remains a major challenge: the diversity of approaches, the heterogeneity of indicators, and the subjectivity of assessments limit the comparability and reproducibility of analyses. This paper proposes the development of an automated approach to assessing urban resilience based on artificial intelligence (AI). The objective is to design an Urban Resilience Index (URI) that integrates environmental, socio-economic, infrastructural, institutional, and technological dimensions. The methodology combines multi-source data integration (open data, satellite imagery, urban networks, and socio-demographic data) with machine learning algorithms (both supervised and unsupervised) to identify complex correlations and spatio-temporal dynamics of resilience. The initial results highlight AI’s potential to objectify and update the measurement of urban resilience, while revealing differentiated territorial typologies. Beyond technological innovation, this research questions the role of AI in urban governance and territorial knowledge production, advocating for an ethical, explainable, and participatory approach to resilient urban planning.
Keywords: urban resilience; artificial intelligence; spatial planning; indicators; data governance.
Salah el-dinn SADECK, Associate Professor of Architecture and Urban Planning at the Lebanese University, and former Head of the Department of Urbanism (2015–2022) at the Faculty of Fine Arts and Architecture in Beirut. His research focuses on urban dynamics in the context of risks and vulnerabilities. He is particularly interested in how digital technologies can enhance the understanding, anticipation, and management of urban transformations. He aims to bridge the gap between urban theory, spatial design, and digital innovation, promoting more resilient and sustainable urban future.
David SERERO is an architect and researcher exploring the intersection of architecture, environmental design, and digital intelligence. A graduate of the École Nationale Supérieure d’Architecture de Paris-Malaquais and Columbia University (M.Sc. in Architecture and Urban Planning), he holds a PhD in Architecture from Gustave Eiffel University focused on wind integration and building aerodynamics. Co-director of the EVCAU Laboratory, his work examines how data, energy, and matter can inform sustainable design. His main research areas include bioclimatic and aeraulic design, biomimicry, material reuse, and AI-driven design systems. His architectural projects and research have been exhibited at the Venice Biennale, MoMA New York, and the Pavillon de l’Arsenal in Paris.
Boris WELIACHEW is an architect who graduated from the École d’Architecture de Grenoble and holds a Master’s in History and Architecture. He has devoted his career to combining professional practice, scientific research, and humanitarian engagement. Trained in seismic, cyclonic, and major risk mitigation engineering at Tohoku University in Japan, he went on to complete a doctoral thesis followed by a postdoctoral fellowship. Throughout his career, he has worked as an architect, civil engineer, academic researcher, and international project coordinator. With professional experience spanning 67 countries across five continents, M. WELIACHEW applies his technical expertise, pedagogical skills, and ecological awareness to promote the resilient and enlightened adaptation of inhabited territories around the world.
9:00 am - 10:30 am
Wednesday 17th June, 2026