4 urban development trends shaping our cities

By 2050, an estimated 70 per cent of the world’s population will live in urban areas — a trend that presents challenges and opportunities for the cities of the future.

Addressing issues such as climate change, housing shortages and the integration of smart technologies will be crucial in shaping sustainable and resilient urban environments.

Here is look at four trends shaping the future of cities.

1. Go green

Urban areas around the world are responsible for about 60 per cent of greenhouse gas emissions. They are also highly vulnerable to the impacts of climate change, with more frequent extreme weather, heatwaves, and food and water insecurity. 

Cape Town, South Africa, experienced such extreme drought in 2017–2018 that the city almost reached “Day Zero”, and inhabitants came close to running out of water.

Singapore is leading the way when it comes to addressing and managing climate-related risks. Almost half of the city-state is considered “green space”, which promotes biodiversity, helps to combat urban heat and absorbs rainwater to enhance resilience. 

The city-state’s Green Plan includes planting one million more trees, reducing the waste sent to landfill by 30 per cent and ensuring at least 20 per cent of schools are carbon neutral by 2030. Plus, all newly registered cars will need to be cleaner-energy models from 2030.

The plan also aims to develop more than 130 hectares of new parks and enhance around 170 hectares of existing parks with more lush vegetation by 2026.

This progressive and sustainable approach also incorporates buildings, says Daniel Safarik, director, research and thought leadership at the Council on Tall Buildings and Urban Habitat, a non-profit organisation dedicated to smarter, more sustainable cities.

“A remarkable feature of Singapore’s high-rise buildings is the integration of greenery,” Safarik says. 

“In some cases, these buildings have effectively multiplied the actual volume of vegetation that was on the site before construction.” 

2. Rethink traffic management with AI

Traffic increases as more people flock to urban centres, creating further congestion in already heavily polluted areas. Traditional approaches to alleviating congestion, such as expanding road infrastructure, often lead to increased vehicle numbers and more congestion. Is there a better solution?

In India, a growing middle class and government support for electric vehicles — which is increasing vehicle ownership — is steering some parts of the country toward smarter ways of tackling traffic congestion.

Dr Nivash Jeevanandam, senior researcher at IndiaAI, explains that this is being achieved through initiatives like the Bengaluru Adaptive Traffic Control System (BATCS), an AI-powered traffic management system that dynamically adjusts signal timings based on real-time traffic conditions. 

“While there are some constraints in applying it widely, AI has proven instrumental in reimagining traffic control by enabling real-time monitoring, dynamic signal adjustments and predictive analytics,” he says.

Jeevanandam adds that the type of traffic in India varies from city to city, with some having more auto-rickshaws and others favouring taxis or school buses, creating unique congestion patterns.

“In the city of Bengaluru, the decision was driven by specific local challenges, such as metro train line construction and weak drainage systems that exacerbate traffic congestion, especially during the rainy season.”

3. Create more integrated and sustainable urban environments

For centuries, the skyscraper has been a symbol of ambition and power, “a machine that makes the land pay”, as American architect Cass Gilbert put it. But as cities grapple with the urgent realities of climate change, limited space and housing crises, Safarik says the concept of sustainable vertical urbanism is challenging that perception, and more cities are working to create liveable, resilient and resource-efficient urban environments.

“The modern argument for high-rise construction shifts toward creating happier and healthier cities,” he says. 

This means finding a level of density and height that makes sense for a desired quality of life, as well as challenging negative perceptions of urban density. 

It also means improving connections between employment centres, housing and transport infrastructure to create more integrated and liveable urban environments.

“Urban development is shifting toward more polycentric models, with skyscraper clusters emerging around transit hubs, as observed in up-zoning initiatives around transit in areas surrounding Toronto,” he says.

In Hong Kong, along with enhancing building operational efficiency, real estate developers leverage smart building technologies to create more sustainable living environments, says Dr Albert Wong FCPA, public sector consulting partner at PwC.

“For example, the Transitional Housing Project initiative aims to provide temporary housing for individuals and families in need of housing support, addressing the city’s severe housing shortage and population pressures,” he says.

“Leading technology companies also offer STEM education programs in transitional housing to foster a sense of community for the residents.” 

4. Adopt smart city initiatives

Cities worldwide are increasingly leveraging advanced technologies to address urban challenges, such as public safety, pollution and mobility. 

Shanghai recently took out the top spot in a list of the 10 smartest cities in Asia for its Citizen Cloud initiative, a one-stop data platform that provides services for birth and marriage, culture and education, tourism, social security, transportation, healthcare and legal services.

Cities such as Kuala Lumpur, Singapore, Seoul and Tokyo are also spearheading smart city initiatives. In Australia, Canberra, Melbourne and Sydney all have blueprints.

Wong also points to the Hong Kong government’s Smart City Blueprint 2.0, which outlines more than 130 initiatives aimed at developing Hong Kong into an innovative smart city leader.

“One of these is the adoption of Building Information Modelling and smart building technologies, including real-time data monitoring, predictive maintenance and the integration of IoT sensors, which aim to enhance building efficiency and sustainability in the city’s dense urban environment.”