Speakers
Description
In the context of the Pact for the Future, the Paris Agreements, the 2030 Agenda, and the fact that water began trading as a futures commodity on the New York Stock Exchange during the pandemic, numerous concerns arise about how to approach urban issues and inhabitation in a world rapidly transforming technologically. This transformation has reached the point where space tourism is now a possibility, while cities like Detroit are undergoing significant shifts in their urban and productive paradigms. Detroit has embraced a new urban focus on agriculture, marking a paradigmatic example of how the world is changing and its impact on urban areas—shifting from being a “motor city” to becoming a hub for urban farming. This urban reconversion, a return to origins, and the dichotomy between the urban and rural could be among the key themes to consider for 2050.
Simultaneously, the legal and regulatory frameworks intended to provide order and meaning to urban decision-making respond to different socio-political and economic dynamics. Their updates or adjustments are often shaped by political will or pressures from the real estate sector to promote specific areas of a city, frequently overriding the collective interest or the fulfillment of sustainability goals tied to international agreements.
One of the main questions this work seeks to explore is whether traditional urban planning methods—both in citizen participation processes and in the design of instruments that shape cities over time—are meeting the expectations of the future.
To this end, a comparative study between the Latin American cities of Curitiba in Brazil and Mérida in Mexico is proposed. Such studies in medium-sized cities in Latin America are scarce, yet they can significantly contribute to urban knowledge and planning practices while identifying key points of divergence in outcomes.
It is worth noting that urban planning practices in Mexico since 1994 have been inspired by Curitiba's contributions through its Institute of Urban Research and Planning (IIPUC, 1965), leading to the establishment of Municipal Planning Institutes (IMPLAN). Furthermore, the creation of Curitiba’s Urban Hypervisor in February 2024 represents a significant advancement in urban intelligence, transforming urban planning processes and timelines. This tool should be studied and contextualized for Mérida, as this southeastern Mexican city is experiencing a notable real estate transformation driven by national and international migration trends.
In conclusion, this work aims to provide a critical and forward-looking reflection on how cities are planned and inhabited in a world marked by global challenges and rapid transformations. Through a comparative analysis of Curitiba and Mérida, the study highlights how innovative tools like the Urban Hypervisor and participatory planning practices can inspire a rethinking of traditional urban processes. The goal is to promote more equitable, just, and sustainability-aligned urban management, questioning existing normative structures while opening pathways for new narratives and practices. Integrating future literacy emerges as a key element for addressing contemporary urban challenges.
| Keywords | Urban Intelligence Tools; Urban Planning; Participatory Governance |
|---|---|
| Best Congress Paper Award | Yes |
