Building Cities That Think like Planets
Using Simulations and Scenario Planning
Summer Class
July 18-Aug 16, 2024
Hybrid
Premise: Cities must rethink themselves in the context of planetary change. Over the past century, the “great acceleration” of human activities has initiated fundamental ecosystem shifts that far exceed the natural range of variability exhibited during the Earth’s previous half-million years. Cities across the globe are driving systemic changes in socio-ecological and technological systems altering the interactions and feedbacks between the fundamental ecological and evolutionary processes that maintain life. Increasing evidence shows that cities are causing rapid evolutionary change in many species that maintain the ecosystem functions upon which human communities depend.
Proposition: As drivers of planetary change, cities are at the forefront of global climate change and can accelerate systemic climate responses. Yet the new reality represents uncharted territories for urban scholars and practitioners. The assumptions made by the theories and models that inform urban decision makers (i.e., that the urban systems will respond predictably to environmental changes) are built upon evidence of a world that no longer exists. The emergence of complex interactions among human, natural, and technological systems and the uncertain trajectories that characterize urban futures require that urban scientists and planners critically review their assumptions and ask new questions.
Challenge: How do we design complex hybrid socio-ecological urban systems in which the components are highly heterogeneous and interdependent? How can we build resilient urban infrastructures that are equipped to thrive in conditions of uncertainty and capable to adapt to any of the possible but unknown future climate change scenarios? How can we effectively coordinate the actions of multiple stakeholders operating at many scales under a diversity of constraints? How do we ensure a just and equitable transition towards a sustainable urban future?
Approach: To navigate the inherent complexity and uncertainty of hybrid urban systems, we must expand our drawing boards to include planetary processes and scales. Scenario planning offers a systematic and creative approach to thinking about the future. Scenarios can help communities developa new capacity for dealing with the unpredictable. Simulation can bridge the gap between science and design of coupled human-natural systems that accounts for their co-evolutionary dynamics.
University of Washington
Department of Urban Design and Planning
Summer Course 2024 (Hybrid)
B-term Jul 18 - Aug 16 (4 credits)
Marina Alberti
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Overview: This course offers an in-depth exploration of the dynamics of human-natural systems within urbanizing regions. Through real case examples, students will engage with simulation and scenario planning to evaluate the effectiveness of urban planning strategies across different future scenarios.
Scope: Leveraging simulation and scenario planning, participants will assess urban planning strategies to address problems at the intersection of climate change, biodiversity, and social equity. The focus is on practical applications, enabling students to propose solutions to real-world challenges faced by urban environments.
Skills Development: Participants will gain a thorough understanding of complexity theory and the principles of systems dynamics and resilience. These concepts will be directly applied to the design and management of urban systems, preparing students to contribute to the field of urban planning with innovative ideas and solutions.
Methods: The course places a strong emphasis on simulation modeling and scenario planning. These tools are central to understanding how resilient urban systems can be designed to withstand uncertain conditions, providing a practical framework for addressing current and future urban challenges.
Target Audience: Designed for undergraduate and graduate students across all departments or programs with an interest in urban ecology, eco-evolution, and environmental planning. The course welcomes students new to the field and advanced researchers, as well as urban managers and planners seeking to enhance their strategic foresight and prototyping skills.
Learning Objectives
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Apply scenario planning and simulation modeling to explore the interconnections among climate change, biodiversity, and social equity.
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Use these tools to analyze urban challenges such as heat islands, flooding, wildfires, and infectious diseases, and propose adaptive strategies.
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Integrate biodiversity into urban planning, adopting a multispecies perspective to enrich urban ecosystems.
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Assess the role of social equity in urban development and formulate approaches to mitigate disparities.
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Work collaboratively to develop and evaluate urban planning scenarios and simulations, focusing on informed decision-making that balances climate change, biodiversity, and equity considerations.
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For further information please contact: Marina Alberti, malberti@uw.edu
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