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.
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
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
“The Amazon rainforest, often called the ‘lungs of the Earth,’ is rapidly disappearing. But this isn’t just an environmental crisis—it’s a geopolitical and economic issue. In the heart of this transformation lies [Mato Grosso], Brazil’s largest soy-producing state. Its key location fuels both economic growth and ecological destruction, leading to tensions over land use, trade policies, and environmental governance.” … Read more
This research began with one of the most basic human motivation: curiosity. Looking at satellite imagery, we noticed strange, perfect green circles along the desert landscape. What are they? Why are they there? And what do they mean? Along this blogpost, key concepts will be explained , along to the reason of why we choose … Read more
Safety Perception in Jakarta Why Simulate Perception in Urban Spaces? In the realm of smart city design and urban analytics, one of the most nuanced yet underexplored datasets is perceived safety. This perception isn’t easily quantifiable, yet it critically influences how public spaces are used, trusted, or avoided. Traditional surveys are the go-to method for … Read more
Project Introduction Urban environments are constantly evolving, shaped by the movement of people, the flow of traffic, and the presence of infrastructure. Yet, understanding these patterns at the street level — especially across an entire neighborhood — can be difficult, time-consuming, and highly subjective. In this project, we present a computer vision–based visual audit of … Read more
Abstract Building upon the knowledge acquired in the Agent-Based Design & Machine Learning course, we developed a bot designed to collect data from the population of Rundu, the city we are focusing on for our project within the Vulnerability Studio: Computer-Aided Mobility Justice. We face the challenge of accessing qualitative insights that could help us … Read more
As part of a collaborative exploration into creative automation and human-AI interaction, our team developed an AI-powered weather assistant that integrates live data, generative visuals, and contextual language processing into a single, responsive system. The assistant operates via a Telegram bot and delivers three core outputs: current weather information, clothing recommendations, and an AI-generated image … Read more
A speculative approach to Design through data, literature, and participatory AI in Sant Antoni Our urban issue: The Lack of Narrative-Driven Urban Design in a Data-Driven City Contemporary urban design increasingly relies on AI and big data, often sidelining human stories, cultural narratives, and historical context in shaping urban spaces. While data-driven design optimizes efficiency, … Read more
An alternative ways of exploring the sounds that make up Gràcia This project investigates alternative ways of engaging with the sounds of Gràcia and how they can empower communities by fostering a deeper connection to place, memory, and identity. Sound functions as both a sensory experience and a cultural artifact, carrying layers of emotion, history, … Read more
We live in an age of constant information, where news spreads rapidly and surrounds us at all times. Social media notifications, breaking news alerts, and endless headlines create an overwhelming cycle. Unfortunately, negativity often dominates this flow, increasing stress, anxiety, and emotional fatigue. Why Are People Avoiding the News? According to Universitat Oberta de Catalunya, … Read more
Designing an Inclusive and Functional Bench Through the Lens of Iconic Visionaries Urban design has always required balancing complex social, cultural, and environmental factors. In this project, we explored the potential of AI in shaping public spaces. Specifically, designing a bench that serves the needs of both homeless individuals and daily users. We developed a … Read more
Barcelona, like many modern cities, experiences the Urban Heat Island (UHI) effect, where built-up areas retain more heat than surrounding natural landscapes. This interactive map visualizes temperature variations across the city, highlighting areas most affected by heat buildup. 🛰️ What This Map Shows: 📍 Heat Hotspots – Areas with high surface temperatures due to dense construction and limited … Read more
Over the course of 6 weeks we had the opportunity to be introduced to emerging economies, a concept that from my initial perspective was outside of urban design, but as the classes progressed, I realized its relevance to urban planning and to the current world in general. CIRCULAR ECONOMIES AND VALUE FLOWS The circular economy … Read more
In an era of accelerating change, digital cultures weave together a mosaic of materiality, temporality, and social impact, redefining the very essence of culture itself. The interplay between these dimensions raises compelling questions about the way we live, create, and envision futures. From solutionism in the face of a polycrisis to the extractivist underpinnings of … Read more
