The Master in City & Technology’s academic structure is based on IAAC’s innovative, learn-by-doing and design-through-research methodology which focuses on the development of interdisciplinary skills. During the Master in City & Technology students will have the opportunity to be part of a highly international group, including faculty members, researchers, and lecturers, in which they are encouraged to develop collective decision-making processes and materialize their project ideas.
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
An exploration how to enhance independent mobility for blind individuals by addressing psychological and systemic barriers. Using a participatory design approach, it goes beyond assistive tech to build an ecosystem of tools, behaviors, and spatial strategies that support confident navigation. A taxonomy with blind participants organise emotional, spatial, and user insights into a practical design … Read more
Quito is located in the north-central part of the Andean region of Ecuador, in south america. Given its high elevation, it is one of the highest capitals in the world. With a population of 1.9M people, it is the second-largest city of Ecuador. It is located in the province of Pichincha in the canton of … Read more
About This project investigates how colonial patterns of urban design in Footscray have historically shaped and continue to shape the experiences of mobility, vulnerability, and belonging among First Nations people. By tracing the spatial legacies of dispossession and infrastructural violence, the work critically maps how extractive logics have severed Indigenous connections to place. In response, … Read more
As part of the Responsible AI Hackathon, we explored how to critically assess the ethical and societal implications of artificial intelligence (AI) in urban projects. The workshop introduced tools and frameworks to help participants map, evaluate, and reflect on the risks associated with deploying AI systems in urban environments, emphasizing the importance of responsible and … Read more
Jakarta’s rapid urbanization has outpaced the development of equitable mobility infrastructure, exacerbating safety disparities, particularly for low-income women navigating the city at night. While formal policies fall short, informal transport networks like Angkot fill critical gaps, despite exposing riders to physical and psychological risks. This study explores how machine learning can be used to fill … Read more
Ndama, the fastest-growing informal settlement in Rundu, Namibia, faces critical challenges in water accessibility shaped by gender, age, income, and spatial isolation. With women disproportionately responsible for water collection under unsafe and inequitable conditions, our study combines interviews and spatial data to map intersectional vulnerabilities. We developed an interactive tool that simulates real-world constraints—heat, crime, … Read more
Governmental and NGO databases have played a key role in shaping our research, providing access to existing data and enabling us to connect it with other spatial platforms. Building on these foundations, our work expands the scope of vulnerability analysis by using satellite imagery to detect emerging informal settlements, while layering in additional environmental and … Read more
