World Happiness Report 2025: Key Insights on Global Well-Being
The World Happiness Report 2025, released on March 20, 2025, to mark the United Nations International Day of Happiness, offers a detailed look at global happiness levels and the factors driving them. Published by the Wellbeing Research Centre at the University of Oxford, in partnership with Gallup, the UN Sustainable Development Solutions Network, and an […]
AI-Powered Maps Reveal Urban Green Space Gaps—and a Path to Equity
A cutting-edge AI tool unveiled in March 2025 is pulling back the curtain on a hidden urban divide: access to green spaces. Developed by researchers featured in ScienceDaily, this system maps city parks, trees, and gardens with pinpoint precision, exposing a tale of two cities within places like New York, Mumbai, and beyond. Affluent neighborhoods […]
Google’s AI Accelerator Bets Big on Climate Solutions for Cities
Google is throwing its tech muscle behind urban sustainability with the launch of its “Google for Startups Accelerator: AI for Nature and Climate” in March 2025. This global program is hunting for innovators who wield artificial intelligence to tackle pressing urban woes—think smarter flood defenses, energy-saving grids, or tools to protect shrinking city biodiversity. With […]
Exploring Psychogeography: Its Impact on Cognitive Functioning
Psychogeography, a dynamic interdisciplinary field, explores the intricate relationship between geographical spaces and human psychology. As urban environments proliferate, the need to understand their impact on cognitive functioning becomes increasingly critical. This article aims to explore how the design and layout of urban landscapes influence mental processes, highlighting implications for urban design and mental well-being. […]
It’s Snowing Here on the Moon
Brian Michael Barbeito is a Canadian photographer and poet whose work explores the intersection of nature, memory, and place. His latest project, It’s Snowing Here on the Moon, is a visual and written narrative that captures the search for a space to nature walk in the midst of a rapidly growing town. Through evocative imagery and […]
Patrick Geddes and the Shaping of Modern City Planning
Patrick Geddes (1854–1932), a pioneering urban planner and sociologist, profoundly influenced the way cities are conceptualized and designed. His contributions laid the groundwork for modern urban planning by emphasizing a holistic and ecological approach to urban development. Unlike many of his contemporaries, Geddes viewed cities as dynamic, living organisms, advocating for planning strategies that were […]
The Role of Urban Public Spaces in Promoting Physical Activity and Health
As urbanization continues to refine the landscapes in which we live, the role of urban design in public health, particularly regarding physical activity, becomes increasingly prominent. With over half of the global population residing in urban areas, the design of these environments heavily influences their health outcomes. In 2022, statistics revealed that 1 in 8 […]
How Social Media Data and Social Communication Information Can Enhance Urban Design and Planning
In today’s digitally interconnected world, urban design and planning stand on the brink of a transformative evolution, largely driven by social media data and broader social communication platforms. This new frontier affords urban planners dynamic, real-time insights into the needs and behaviors of city inhabitants, moving beyond traditional data sources to create environments that are […]
Nurturing a Sustainable Future: The Role of Environmental Consciousness and Education
In the quest for a sustainable planet, the integration of environmental consciousness with informed education and communication strategies is important. Human behaviour towards the environment must undergo a transformative shift, rooted in awareness and understanding of ecological systems. This article explores how promoting environmental consciousness through education and communication can guide human behaviour towards sustainability. […]
