While some people believe that it is a committee that decides how urban areas are formed, others are recognizing that there are many other factors that contribute to the planning process for urban cities. In this article we explore the various elements that impact the decision for how urban areas are developed. 

1) Smart Technology

Technology impacts a variety of sectors and urban design is definitely one of them. In the article 'Swipe Right: How Technology is Making Urban Planning More Inclusive', we discussed how CitySwipe was giving citizens the right to vote on future buildings before they were built.

Another way that technology is influencing design is through companies that are accessing the information collected on technology users such as frequently visited places, hubs that offer wifi, and areas experiencing population growth. 

2) Climate Change

It seems like we are always discussing new green initiatives that are being implemented by architects in attempts to help and restore the environment. Previously we've mentioned vertical forests, botanic buildings, and a skyscraper that eats smog. Now we are considering how climate change will affect urban planning by the ignition of green initiatives in the coming years. 

3) Collaborative Consumption

Since the inception of Airbnb, Uber, and other peer-to-peer services, we are entering a new culture of collaborative consumption. This means that spending patterns are changing and they are affecting infrastructure. For example, with more people willing to offer their home on airbnb it creates less need for booking at a hotel. 

4) Partnerships with Local Authorities

While our previous article discussed narrowing the roads, one of the challenges with this is that emergency respondents prefer wide roads in order to efficiently weave through traffic and respond to their emergency in an effective manner. So we can expect to see more compromises in the future as cities are planned for both pedestrians and local authorities. 

5) Changing Needs of Citizens

As the bulk of the population is becoming increasingly older this means that cities need to become adaptable to their needs. This includes creating parks that are suitable for seniors,  roads that are walkable, and bicycle paths.

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Sources: EagleView & The Urban Developer | cover photo © unsplash