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.


SYMBIOTIC TOURISM

The Balearic islands had been a pioneer in the tourism industry since 1960s. The tourism model from them has been spread out to the world due to its international tourism traffic. They are still attracting high amount of international tourists and tourism is still the engine of the local economy. In this context, tourism is … Read more

Optimal Pathfinding in Digital Terrain

This exercise undertakes developing a shortest path simulation on varied terrains. Starting with basic point-to-point movements, I integrated agent behavior, enabling these agents to make decisions and take actions to move towards the destination point by choosing the best available option. The development of the simulation follows agent movement behaviors from two separate algorithms: Movement … Read more

Rethinking Urban Vocabulary

The seminar involved analyzing texts to extract and interpret a key term, then creatively visualizing this concept through the blending of urban textures and landscapes, crafting surreal cityscapes that reflect the nuanced meanings of these terms. The texts explored the themes of: Urban Resilience Definition: The capacity of urban areas to adapt to crises, focusing … Read more

Agent Simulation_Measuring Intervention Impact

Visualizing an urban simulation of free-agents affected by a specific intervention The Objective The objective of the project was to simulate the movement of people within a specific neighborhood in the city of Viladecans, Spain, and visualize the difference the movement patterns of the free agents would take prior to the intervention vs post intervention. … Read more

Urbanization and gene pools: A simulation study

The persistent expansion of urbanization poses a significant threat to wildlife populations. One under-explored facet of this impact concerns the genetic health of these populations. Genetic diversity, measured by the variation within a gene pool, is crucial for resilience and adaptation. This project utilizes Grashopper-led simulations to explore the dynamics between habitat fragmentation, animal movement, … Read more

Sensemaking Through Humanitarian Data

THE GAZA STRIP CONFLICT Since October 7th, we have been witnesses to the atrocities of the humanitarian crisis and genocide in Gaza. Over 32,000 Palestinian people have been killed, and another 74,000 reportedly injured to date.  About 70 per cent of those killed are reported to be women and children. The population of Gaza consists of … Read more

Tracking Cross-Border Monetary Flows to measure Geopolitical Insecurity

Creating a streamlined pipeline to visualize and extrapolate financial data enabling a correlation with spatial geo-specific information. The World and all countries alike have been increasingly more susceptible to events and developments in the geo-political theatre. It is not surprising that the world’s top two economic and military superpowers play a pivotal role in this … Read more

Theories of the Urban_II

Questioning the rhetoric. The brief In the epoch of the Anthropocene, characterized by humanity’s profound impact on the Earth’s geology and ecosystems, the discourse surrounding resilience to climate change has become increasingly prominent. As societies grapple with the consequences of human-induced environmental transformations, there is a growing recognition of the need to question and analyze … Read more

Theories of the Urban (II)

Critical urban theory This research explored the dynamic relationship between urban landscapes, architectural design, and technological evolution, particularly within the context of the Anthropocene epoch and rapid technological progress. Drawing from a diverse array of urban theory frameworks, the study sought to unravel the complex interconnections shaping contemporary cities. Employing advanced Artificial Intelligence techniques, a … Read more

Ideals Along Lines of Conflict

The killing of Nahel Merzouk was not an accident. The 17-year-old French Algerian boy was killed where the potential for conflict is high, in Nanterre. A young Muslim in a yellow Mercedes along the western Champs-Élysées unfortunately made Nahel a prime candidate for police violence resulting in death. His death brought about a week of … Read more

Reimagining the Barcelona Tourist Experience

In this project I tackled the challenge of reimagining the way tourists navigate through Barcelona’s bustling streets, particularly the crowded paths that define their city experience. Starting with a pedestrian simulation tool, I was able to map out the most commonly walked tourist routes (from Casa Punxes to Casa Batllo). This allowed me to then … Read more

THEORIES OF THE URBAN II

Decoding complex theoretical texts using AI platforms such as ChatGPT and Midjourney. These tools help tackle dense material by breaking it down into easily digestible points. With the ability to condense large chunks of text into concise, manageable paragraphs, supplemented by key definitions drawn directly from the text itself. Through the utilization of carefully selected … Read more

Confronting Forms of Erasure

History is not always written in neat paragraphs and grand monuments. Sometimes, the most important stories are the ones left untold. The ones silenced, forgotten, or deliberately erased. In 1994, over a period of 100 days, the Rwandan genocide took place. Hutu extremists; fueled by ethnic hatred and political manipulation, sought to eradicate the Tutsi … Read more

The Climate Paradox

COP is a climate conference that aims to cut emissions but paradoxically boost carbon footprints due to increased transport and attendance. This situation offers host cities a chance to engage in greenwashing, presenting a façade of environmental responsibility. This underscores the intricate challenges involved in realizing true sustainability during major events, highlighting the need for … Read more

Rethinking Urban Life

Islandisation a strategy, that seeks disengagement from interconnected networks. With contextual roots in historical urbanization, islandisation signifies a new era of Anthropocene coastal adaptation, divergent from traditional resilience strategies. It serves as a protective shield, selectively severing detrimental ties while upholding others. Resilience is a concept mobilized in urban studies,shaped by sociopolitical forces, and harnessed … Read more

Darien: Closing the data Gap

Imagine a massive highway stretching from Alaska all the way down to the tip of Argentina. That’s almost possible through the Pan-American Highway, except for one crucial interruption: the Darien Gap. The Darien Gap is a sprawling, dense jungle separating Panama and Colombia, an obstacle that breaks the otherwise continuous highway. But the Gap isn’t … Read more

Flows and Barriers

Understanding the way pedestrians move through space is a task of heavy importance in the design and analysis of public space. It is fundamental to understand the motivations and utilities that influence the way pedestrians move through space. In cities such as Bogota, Colombia, heavy car-centered infrastructure has fragmented the city into clusters that limit … Read more

Hyperenergetic Viladecans

By 2100, the global temperature is forecasted to increase from 2 to 4 degrees Celsius due the effects of Greenhouse Gases Emissions and Human Activities. The City of Viladecans has developed a Vision by 2030 which expects the city to become EMISSIONS NEUTRAL, and EMISSIONS NEGATIVE by 2050. For approaching this goal, HYPENERGETIC VILADECANS establishes … Read more

Theories of the Urban (II)

Drawing on various urban theory perspectives, this study delved into the intricate interplay among cities, design, and technology, particularly during the Anthropocene era and amidst technological advancements. A specialized vocabulary was extract from various readings and visually represented through Artificial Intelligence support, aiming to provoke thought in the observer. Several cityscapes were artistically modified, integrating … Read more

DONUTS x POLICEMEN: A LOVE STORY

Why do cops love donuts? It’s not just a stereotype; it’s a doughlicious partnership! Late-night stakeouts meet sugary delights – the real crime is resisting those sprinkles! ????? METHODOLOGY Overlapping data and creating buffers to identify other layers of information to inform the system back again trying to prove the stereotype of media trope of … Read more