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The heuristics of agency: on computation, big data & urban design


Abstract

Big Data and urban design have found themselves in a contentious relationship. At the time of writing, more authors have published books writing against so-called Smart Cities than for them, despite the obvious opportunities for material and resource savings that data-driven design offers.

This article questions this tension, suggesting that alternative strategies of integration could prove more fruitful and demonstrate significant resource savings. Citing Stafford Beer, Brian Eno, Rodney Brooks and describing projects by Sarah Williams and NASA, this article argues for a heuristic strategy with increased robotic agency for urban scale artificial intelligence.

Keywords

urban design, Microsoft, Internet of Things, project’s, robotic agency, designers, sensors, social engagement, geometrically, big data

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