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There is now a CONTENT FREEZE for Mercury while we switch to a new platform. It began on Friday, March 10 at 6pm and will end on Wednesday, March 15 at noon. No new content can be created during this time, but all material in the system as of the beginning of the freeze will be migrated to the new platform, including users and groups. Functionally the new site is identical to the old one. webteam@gatech.edu
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This event has been postponed. Register below for information on the new date in the coming weeks.
This event is generously sponsored by the Georgia Tech College of Design and the Center for Computing and Society.
Urban Analytics (UA) and Smart Cities (SC) research and degree programs are becoming more common in the U.S. and globally. UA and SC research has helped develop powerful techniques for spatial data creation, capture, and analysis; and has drawn talented individuals to this research.
Yet, these programs and research agendas often operate without an explicit ‘plan’ for how technology and data analysis will tackle real world issues. Because these fields are founded with technocratic and engineering problem-solving ideals (values inherent to analytics and ‘smart’ endeavors), research questions and execution in this field may be need re-definition and intervention if they are to help cities reach the most vulnerable citizens and improve daily life. Research and thought leadership in UA and SC should include the voices and input of the typical urbanite and those most in need. This field also should deeply consider how different perspectives on race, ethnicity, gender, sexual-orientation, disability and poverty status (and more) may add crucial variables to the study of urban analytics.
We will be generating solutions for how our research and teaching can include a more diverse body of tacit knowledge from the urban community and how we can solve real-life problems with data analytics. We will be developing strategies and recommending formal research frameworks (mixed-method, multi-scale, validating-by-interview, etc.) to guide UA and SC research towards championing citizen voices and helping people. Our goal is to empower UA students and researchers to shape urban research questions, methodologies and implementation in a way that positively impacts the city and its people.
We will have meaningful conversations and develop a guiding agenda that can serve as an ‘intervention’ that is needed as UA and SC fields mature. Without this discussion, these fields may not adopt the kinds of sensitivities towards diversity, inclusion and the human experience, that it needs to best serve the people. The agenda will help put forth:
Our panel sessions will contain five speakers each, and will include a mixture of visuals and oral presentations.
Breakout sessions will divide our participants into 3 groups. The topics will be formed by our set of distinguished breakout leaders and can be adjusted to reflect the pressing needs of the day.
Panelists, breakout leaders and the keynote & closing speakers will be announced at a later date.
8:30am-9:00am - Coffee and Registration
9:00am-9:45am - Keynote
9:50am-10:50am - Panel 1 :: Urban Voices
11:00am-12:00pm - Breakout 1
12:00pm-1:00pm - Lunch :: On your own, follow suggestions for groups based on themes
1:00pm-2:00pm - Panel 2 :: Success Stories
2:00pm-3:00pm - Panel 3 :: Rewarding Engaged Scholarship
3:00pm-3:15pm - Coffee Break
3:15pm-4:15pm - Breakout 2
4:20pm-5:05pm - Closing Speaker
5:15pm - Networking Reception
