Smart in the City – The BABLE Podcast BABLE Smart Cities

In this episode, we welcomed one of the winners of our Urban Shark Tank session: Peter Ball, International Project Manager for Karos Mobility, as well as Juan Carlos Escudero, Head of Mobility and Data Science at the Environmental Studies Centre of Vitoria-Gasteiz, Spain.
They presented and discussed the AI-driven carpooling pilot project in Vitoria-Gasteiz aimed at reducing carbon emissions and improving urban mobility, illustrating both the challenges and successes of implementing smart mobility solutions in modern cities.
 
Want to learn more about the co-winning project of the Urban Shark Tank session at Autonomy 2024? Have a look at the Use Case on our BABLE Knowledge Hub.
 
Overview of the episode:
[00:01:45] Teaser Question: "Describe the impact of AI-driven carpooling using three emojis."
[00:06:40] Our guests' backgrounds
[00:08:55] Presentation of the goals of the AI-driven carpooling pilot for daily commuting in Vitoria-Gasteiz, Spain
[00:10:33] What solutions did the project bring to the mobility challenges of Vitoria-Gasteiz?
[00:12:44] How was the project implemented? What were the steps?
[00:14:35] What challenges were faced and what was the community feedback?
[00:17:47] What was the AI technology involved?
[00:22:31] How does this align with sustainability goals?
[00:26:32] Are there any plans to scale this project?
[00:38:19] Freaky Friday: our guests switched places and answered a question in each other's shoes!
[00:40:57] Ending Question: "To you, what is a Smart City?
 
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Want to join us for an episode? Fill out the form on our Podcast Page.
 
And for more insights, visit our BABLE Smart Cities Knowledge Hub!

In this episode, we welcome Peter Brown, the Director of Public Works for Belmont, California, to discuss the evolving challenges and innovative solutions in urban infrastructure amidst climate change.
Our guest shared insights from his experience in urban planning within various Californian coastal cities, focusing on major infrastructure projects designed to adapt to climate realities like sea level rise and extreme weather events. The conversation also touched on community engagement strategies and the financial hurdles cities face in prioritising and funding essential infrastructure developments.
 
Overview of the episode:












[00:00:45] Teaser Question: "If you could add one magical feature to Belmont overnight, what would it be?"
[00:03:06] Guest Background
[00:04:51] What unique challenges do California's coastal cities face?
[00:06:37] What key projects are shaping Belmont's response to climate change?
[00:10:30] What are the latest trends in transport infrastructure in coastal cities?
[00:12:27] How are project priorities set in constrained environments?
[00:14:39] How is community feedback shaping urban infrastructure?
[00:17:55] Hot Take of the Day: Our guests ask each other the questions!
[00:23:45] Ending Question: "To you, what is a Smart City?"












 
Like our show? Remember to subscribe and rate it!
Want to join us for an episode? Fill out the form on our Podcast Page.
 
And for more insights, visit our BABLE Smart Cities Knowledge Hub!

In this episode, we dive into the world of Mobility as a Service (MaaS) with Thomas de Bassompierre, MaaS Project Manager at Floya for Brussels Intercommunal Transport Company (STIB), Belgium, and Damian Bown, CEO of Trafi.
With them, we explored how Brussels is integrating various transportation modes into a unified service platform, discussed the challenges faced in implementation, and looked at the future of urban mobility.
 
Overview of the episode:












[00:01:46] Teaser Question: Imagining the future of transportation in Brussels by 2050
[00:06:56] Guest Backgrounds
[00:11:06] Discussion on the functionality and impact of the MaaS app in Brussels
[00:20:53] Role of MaaS platforms in promoting sustainable urban transportation
[00:31:56] Addressing the accessibility challenges of MaaS for diverse populations
 
[00:41:09] Flip the Script: Our guests ask each other the questions!
[00:55:12] Ending Question: "To you, what is a Smart City?"












 
Like our show? Remember to subscribe and rate it!
Want to join us for an episode? Fill out the form on our Podcast Page.
 
And for more insights, visit our BABLE Smart Cities Knowledge Hub!

In this fourth and last episode of our Urban Innovation Leadership Programme series, we discuss with one of our previous guests Raffaele Gareri, Partner at Urban Innovators Global, CEO of Urban Futures & former CDO of Rome, and with Islam Bouzguenda, Lecturer & Researcher in Smart Sustainable Cities' Governance & Planning at the University of Twente, Netherlands.
With them, we explored the critical skills and educational frameworks necessary for future urban innovation leaders. The discussion emphasised the integration of practical experiences with theoretical knowledge in academic settings to better prepare students for real-world challenges in urban environments.
 
Urban Innovators Global and BABLE Smart Cities are proud to announce the launch of the Urban Innovation Leadership Programme – an academic programme that is tailored and totally customizable for your organisation. If this sparks your interest, you can reach out directly to us at tamlyn@bable-smartcities.eu for more information.
 
Overview of the episode:












[00:02:55] Teaser Question: "Describe your daily work life in three emojis?"
[00:04:52] Our guests' backgrounds
[00:08:28] Discussion on Education in Urban Innovation
[00:12:37] Bridging Academic Preparation with Real-World Demands
[00:15:41] Integration of Practical Experience
[00:19:15] Emerging Trends in Urban Innovation
[00:22:11] Challenges in Educating Future Leaders
[00:28:46] Practical Example of Collaboration
[00:39:31] Inspire Us: Our guests share a story, a quote, or anything that has inspired them recently
[00:42:32] Ending Question: "To you, what is a Smart City?"
 
Like our show? Remember to subscribe and rate it!
Want to join us for an episode? Fill out the form on our Podcast Page.
 
And for more insights, visit our BABLE Smart Cities Knowledge Hub!

In this fourth episode of our SMCNetZero series, we discussed decarbonisation in Small and Medium-sized Cities with Luca Leomanni, CTO and Co-Founder of Social Tech Projects, focusing on infrastructure maintenance and the role of AI in urban planning.
The discussion explores innovative solutions for sustainable mobility, particularly cycling infrastructure, and the importance of community engagement in policy implementation to achieve a more proactive approach to city management.
 
To learn more or to join the SMCNetZero project, you can visit the SMCNetZero Website.
 
Overview of the episode:
[00:00:43] Teaser Question: If you could have any superpower to assist in your work with Social Tech Projects, what would it be and why?
[00:03:44] What is your background and what led you to Social Tech Projects?
[00:04:55] What exactly is Social Tech Projects? What is the mission, and could you also mention the AI road system?
[00:09:42] How are you working with, for example, small and medium-sized cities, and what challenges do you think these cities are facing, especially related to decarbonization?
[00:13:29] Are you mostly working in mobility or are there other types of products that you're also doing?
[00:14:12] How has working with the European Space Agency shaped what you're doing with small to medium-sized cities? Were there particular sites or other advancements that emerged from that collaboration?
[00:24:29] Inspire Us: Our guest shares an inspiring story about the city of Oulu, Finland.
[00:26:23] Ending Question: To you, what is a Smart City?
 
Like our show? Remember to subscribe and rate it!
Want to join us for an episode? Fill out the form on our Podcast Page.
 
And for more insights, visit our BABLE Smart Cities Knowledge Hub!

In this third episode of our Urban Innovation Leadership Programme series, we discuss with Honorata Grzesikowska, Founder and CEO of Urbanitarian & spatial and equity designer, and Mela Atanassova, a Facilitator in Innovation Design.
With them, we delve into the topics of collective learning, urban innovation, and the significant influence of city design on societal behaviours. Our guests highlighted the importance of embracing collective knowledge, challenging the glorification of individual achievements, and exploring innovative approaches to urban planning and design that prioritise communal well-being and environmental sustainability.
 
 Additional material :

Sensemaking Methodology - what it is and how you do it
Case studies:

"Portfolio Approach" - Resolving Uncertainty Through Learning

‘Crossing the River by Feeling the Stones’ — A Portfolio Approach to Governance in Malawi



Sensemaking Toolkit

 
Urban Innovators Global and BABLE Smart Cities are proud to announce the launch of the Urban Innovation Leadership Programme – an academic programme that is tailored and totally customizable for your organization. If this sparks your interest, you can reach out directly to us at tamlyn@bable-smartcities.eu for more information.
 
Overview of the episode:
[00:02:03] Teaser Question: If you could redesign any city, which one would you pick and why?
[00:04:18] What is your background, and how did you get to where you are today?
[00:06:23] Why do you think we struggle with learning from what's already out there, and what makes collective learning so challenging?
[00:08:10] How can we practically apply the concept of collective learning in our work and decision-making processes?
[00:13:15] How do we address the challenge of not learning collectively, especially in urban development and innovation?
[00:16:16] What new professions or approaches are emerging in the field of urban design and planning?
[00:18:00] How important is asking the right questions in the process of urban development and planning?
[00:19:30] Can you discuss the "Not Invented Here Syndrome" and its implications?
[00:22:30] How does urban design influence societal behavior and identity?
[00:24:11] What is collective sense-making, and how can it be effectively integrated into organizational processes?
[00:28:43] Any final thoughts or important aspects you believe our listeners should know about urban planning and design?
[00:33:55] Urban Dilemmas: Our guests steer the story, crafting cities one fictional challenge at a time.
[00:36:23] Ending Question: To you, what is a Smart City?
 
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