Co-designing the healthy city; approaches for integrating new technologies and collaborative working

Rice, Louis

Abstract

The research focuses on healthy cities, particularly how to make urban environments healthier, more sustainable and more liveable. The UN’s Sustainable Development Goals have replaced their Millennium Development Goals with much more of a focus on health; “health has a central place as a major contributor to and beneficiary of sustainable development policies” (WHO, 2015). This centering on health is particularly relevant in cities in Vietnam as it rapidly urbanizes and much of the population will inhabit urban areas. This research departs from a limited medical view of health, towards a much wider understanding of health as “a state of complete physical, mental, and social well-being and not merely the absence of disease or infirmity” which requires an equitable balance between the economic, social and environmental aspects of urban living. Delivering equitable health outcomes for all of the population is the mechanism increasingly adopted for ensuring that development is sustainable; it must necessarily ensure environmental and economic equality and social justice. Correct design, planning and governance (of new and retrofit) cities is closely linked to improved health and wellbeing outcomes, increased sustainability levels, better economic growth, poverty alleviation, increased livability and improved environmental standards. The approach to research is particularly focused on working collaboratively and inter-disciplinary, particularly for such complex social and urban issues. Working with data analysts and a variety of other disciplines such as social scientists to creatively explore and resolve the challenges of contemporary urban issues in new and innovative ways, breaking down silo thinking and working flexibly across multiple disciplines to contribute to delivering more sustainable development and improve the quality of urban life.

• Presentation Conference Type: Conference Paper (unpublished)
• Conference Name: Data Analytics for Future Cities Research
• Start Date: Jul 11, 2018
• End Date: Jul 13, 2018
• Acceptance Date: Jul 13, 2018
• Publication Date: May 1, 2018
• Peer Reviewed: Not Peer Reviewed
• Keywords: healthy cities, urban design, data analytics, artificial intelligence, codesign, participatory design
• Public URL: https://uwe-repository.worktribe.com/output/868584
• Additional Information: Title of Conference or Conference Proceedings : Data Analytics for Future Cities Research