Autonomous Vehicles are already disrupting our understanding of urban mobility. How does policy shape the outcomes we desire for our cities rather than letting tech take the lead? [Image: Google]

Establishing a Vision of the City of the Future through Public Policy

The advent of smartphones has created ubiquitous connectivity for many of us: we are able to access information and connect with people and services at the touch of a button from a powerful device that we can no longer live without. This connectivity and the immediate access to just about anything has a considerable impact on the city around us, our relationships with others and our behavior. Smartphones have led to the emergence of the sharing economy — services such as AirBnB and Lyft — and radically challenged the status quo in our urban environment. With the evolution of autonomous or self-driving vehicles imminent, we have yet another opportunity to completely rethink transportation, vehicle ownership, and subsequently everything we know about the urban built environment.

Kansas City, Missouri launched kiosks to provide seamless connectivity to its smart city infrastructure without requiring access to a smartphone. How does public policy shape equity and access to new tech and better user experiences? [Image: KCMO]

A smart city is the introduction at-scale of connectivity and technological innovation that can address everything from infrastructure management and efficiency to service delivery and our overall experience as urban citizens. A true smart city is defined by good governance; the seamless integration of the “analog” (or non-technological solutions) and technology; a balanced and equitable outcomes for all members of the community; and a fundamental rethinking of how to create the city of the future. However, cities have a challenge: they are built and maintained for decades while technology is changing daily. How will policies adapt to these new technologies and address concerns about privacy, security, and equity? How do policy makers and the private sector work together to define a shared vision and work together to meet these desired outcomes when the tools and model are evolving faster than government? What does it mean for government to become a platform for innovation when its reputation is anything but innovative?

This course explores some of the wildest technological innovations in the 21st century and their impact on public policy in cities through a survey of best practices, model policies and lessons learned from cities across the United States and globe.