Harvard GSD Exec Ed course explores Smart Cities

‘Smart Cities: Building and Regenerating Communities at the Intersection of Planning, Design, and Technology,’ October 29-30, 2015, at Harvard University Graduate School of Design Executive Education.

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Cities--new and old, large and small--are looking for ways to differentiate themselves and provide stimulating environments for their constituents to generate economic wealth; be healthy and safe; learn and evolve; have cultural richness and sustainability; be productive; innovate; all while staying environmentally conscientious.

Increasingly, we see that community leaders, planners, government officials, the business sector, and other municipal stakeholders are looking at the "intelligent community" movement (or Smart City, or Innovation Society, or Digital Community, etc) to be a foundation for change and provide the platform for sustainable innovation and growth. Health-care, education, transportation, buildings, all become more intelligent and services-oriented as they are infused with leading technologies and innovations. The impact of networked services, applications, smart objects, and experiences is profound and will re-shape the world, nations, communities, and businesses as we know them.

To compete in today's global landscape (or local market and anywhere in between), technology needs to become part of a community's DNA and be the foundation for all change. After this course, you will appreciate the impact Information and Communications Technology (ICT) and the Internet (the "Internet of Everything") will have on the building, regeneration, and sustainment of communities around the world. We will discuss how technology and innovation will impact environmental, economic, and social sustainability in our communities and nations; and how municipal leaders and community stakeholders need to get organized around this phenomena to take advantage of the opportunities and stay competitive in today’s global economy. Using case studies that provide real-life examples and context, we will help shape your play book and toolkit to address planning, design, and realization of 21st century infrastructure and communities.

Class Activities: The course will be conducted through a sequence of presentations and interactive seminar sessions. Each segment will be accompanied with summaries and links or references to programs, technical information, and projects.

Instructor: Rick Huijbregts, Vice President, Industry and Business Transformation, Cisco Canada

Register today!