Society. Spaces. Screens
Abstract
The widespread and increasing adoption of digital applications and online social media has transformed how we interact with urban space within communities and society at large. Several studies explore how user-generated data combined with advanced data analytics, collaborative platforms and applications, can make urban planning and design more open, participatory and engaging in diversity towards positive transformative change. This study explores whether and to what extent citizen participation has been empowered through digital applications, and what is the interplay between digital and traditional practices in urban planning and design. A comparative analysis of 60 applications addressing the lack of participation in urban planning and design (2010 -2021) has been conducted through the lens of social innovation (SI), perceived to be grounded in territory and contributing to multi-scalar socio-political and ecological change (Moulaert & MacCallum, 2019). These applications are analysed in terms of the dimensions of SI: content (the problems addressed), process (changes in relationships between citizens and other actors), and empowerment (citizens’ capacity to act collectively) (Moulaert et al., 2007). These are further split into specific factors (scale, organization type, level of participation), which are then analyzed through quantitative (descriptive, cluster, correlation) and qualitative (content) methods. Findings reveal that digital applications provide significant potential for crowd creativity and mass participation in city-making, challenging traditional top-down planning processes. However, effective citizen participation still depends on existing social structures and institutions, and digital participation raises concerns about privacy and democratic governance.
Artemis Psaltoglou is an Architect Engineer and PhD candidate at Aristotle University of Thessaloniki (AUTH), focusing on social innovation and digital media in urban planning and participatory design. She holds master’s degrees in Smart Cities from the University of Girona and the Internet and World Wide Web from AUTH. Artemis has received scholarships from Santander, Stavros Niarchos Foundation, Erasmus and was a Doctoral Fellow of the Hellenic Foundation for Research and Innovation. Currently she works as Project Manager in the development and implementation of EU-funded research projects
Nicos Komninos is a professor emeritus and director of URENIO Research at the Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, working on innovation systems, intelligent/smart cities, and connected intelligence. In addition to research, he has served as an expert in developing technology parks, innovation strategies, smart cities, and strategies for carbon neutrality in the EU. He has authored over 200 publications, including the trilogy “The Age of Intelligent Cities” (Routledge, 2002, 2008, 2014); his latest book is “Smart Cities and Connected Intelligence: Platforms, Ecosystems, and Network Effects” (Routledge, 2020). He is an associate editor, a member of the editorial board of fifteen academic journals, and co-editor of Elsevier’s book series on smart cities.
Charis Christodoulou (MArch | Urban Design MA | Urban Planning & Urban Geography PhD) is Associate Professor and Coordinating Member of the Research Unit for South European Cities, at the School of Architecture, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Greece. She delves into planning projects and processes to critically highlight nuances of people representation in contemporary cities and settlements. Her current research focuses on heritage landscapes and tourism. She is author of Landscapes of Sprawl. Urbanization and Urban Planning in the Periphery of Thessaloniki (2015, University Studio Press, in Greek), and co-author of Sustainable Urban Design? Basic Issues & Processes. A Handbook (2023, kallipos, in Greek).
11:00 am - 12:30 pm
Thursday 12th December, 2024