IAAC’s Master in City & Technology (1 or 2-year program) is a unique program oriented towards redefining the analysis, planning, and design of twenty-first-century cities and beyond. The program offers expertise in the design of digitally enhanced, ecological and human-centered urban environments by intersecting the disciplines of urbanism and data science. Taking place in Barcelona, the capital of urbanism, the Master in City & Technology is training the professionals that city administrations, governments, industries, and communities need, to transform the urban environment in the era of big data.
Abstract : In recent years, urban cores across the world have entered a period of uncertainty. Accelerated by the COVID-19 pandemic and the widespread adoption of hybrid work, many central business districts (CBDs) have experienced declining footfall, rising commercial vacancy, and shifts in social life—while others have demonstrated surprising resilience. This project investigates how foundational … Read more
Coral reefs are not just ecosystems — they are living, breathing cities built by millions of tiny architects working in harmony. Found in warm, clear waters from the Maldives to the Caribbean, these underwater kingdoms shelter a quarter of all marine life, despite covering less than 1% of the ocean floor. From fringing reefs that … Read more
Opening a business is a bold investment. Factors (many out of business owners’ control) can determine whether or not local businesses thrive or struggle. Location matters, especially for businesses that depend on foot traffic. But the bigger questions are tough to answer: where should the business open? What is a fair rent to expect? Which … Read more
Starting from unpacking a machine, exploring the machines functionality, critically reporting and creating a machine paradox. In our first week, we were introduced to a bunch of scrap in our backyard. We choose to unpack a vacuum cleaner which was not fully functional. ╭────────────────────────────────────────────╮│ FORENSIC REPORT: UNPACKING TECHNOLOGY │╰────────────────────────────────────────────╯ Reporting Agency: MACT, MAA, MDEFCase Identifier: … Read more
The layers of Google Maps This research visual presents the evolution of mapping through the lens of Google Maps, inspired by the work of Kate Crawford and Vladan Joler, Calculating Empires. The work divides the evolution of data leading to the creation of Google Maps into three layers: Mapping the Planet, Mapping the Data and … Read more
The Computational Evolution of CAD and BIM (1750–2025) Ultimately, the diagram presents visualization as an evolving infrastructure of thought. What began as an act of representation has become a computational process: an interface where information, material, and intelligence continuously negotiate the making of space. The Tool The tool we propose represents the next evolutionary step … Read more
The research visualisation map shows the meaning, value, and governance of land shift as it transitions from the physical world into the metaverse. It treats land not as a static material object but as a socio-technical construct whose definition changes with different forms of infrastructure, ownership systems, and human–technology relationships. In the physical world, land … Read more
In the age of digital urbanism, cities are no longer understood only through streets, buildings, or neighbourhoods—they are interpreted, navigated, and governed through layers of pixels, data points, and algorithmic models. Our visualization project, Cities in Pixels: Mapping, Moving and Meaning in the Digital Era, examines this transformation using Geographic Information Systems (GIS) as its … Read more
A genealogy and spatial analysis of Wi-Fi technologies since 1970 Many digital technologies do not only float in a “cloud.” People may use and not see these systems during their day-to-day life, but we learned in our digital cultures course that these technologies are grounded in material systems with real environmental footprints and nuanced social … Read more
This project focuses on accessibility and orientation between nearby schools and Parc dels Pins in Santa Coloma de Gramenet. It emphasizes children and inclusion. Through co-creation with local schools, the design tests inclusive wayfinding strategies using sensory and tactile signage. These aim to improve safety, visibility, and spatial awareness. The process brings together children, educators, … Read more
We had an incredible, whirlwind five days co-creating public spaces with Pablo Muñoz, Luisa Torres, Josefina Ovalle Parot, and the amazing community of Santa Coloma de Gramenet. It felt like a rapid-fire game—running around the park, talking to people, collecting stories, analyzing data in GIS and Grasshopper, figuring out who to design for, and then … Read more
What can it look like to design spaces with empathy? In late October, our class had the opportunity to visit Parc del Pins in Santa Coloma de Gramenet to reimagine its public space during a one-week workshop. We spoke with members of the municipality, who generously offered their time and perspective on how Santa Coloma … Read more
Santa Coloma de Gramenet, located to the north of Barcelona, is bordered by the Besòs River on the west and the Marina Mountain Range on the north. The city’s terrain features an irregular relief that rises to 303 meters at Mount Castellar, its highest point, a topographical character also visible within Parc dels Pins. The … Read more
Abstract: Framing the Question This research begins with a simple but unresolved question: how can modular housing design become local. In the twenty-first century, architects face a housing crisis shaped by financialisation, scarcity, and displacement. Modularity is often presented as a global solution that promises efficiency and scalability. Yet when implemented, these systems rarely connect … Read more
Using Street View and Remote Sensing to Assess Risk and Empower Small Businesses Whos got my Credit? Access to credit is a fundamental driver of economic growth, especially for Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) in the Food & Beverage (F&B) sector. Yet, traditional lending models—rooted in asset-based evaluations—often exclude countless small business owners, particularly … Read more
Computing Risk & Planning Resilience from Afar is a remote-sensing–driven investigative study to read, identify and address underlying vulnerabilities associated with landslide risk in urban India. The project aims to develop replicable analysis workflows for compounded risk calculation—making visible what often remains hidden enabling actionable insights in places where institutional data is frequently outdated or … Read more
