Digital Technology & the City

With the ubiquitous use of sensors, mobile devices, and artificial intelligence, digital technologies are playing an increasing role in transforming the economic, social, and political realms of urban spaces. While technologies can enhance connectivity and access to public services, they can also encroach on privacy, threaten security, and fuel inequality. The complex implications of digital technologies on urban life, economy, and governance thus require new theories and research methods.

The goal of this module is twofold. First, this module provides insights into how digital technologies are reshaping contemporary cities by engaging with ‘smart city,’ ‘surveillance capitalism,’ ‘big data,’ ‘algorithmic governance,’ and a few other concepts. A range of case studies will be provided to demonstrate the agendas of various technologies, their effects on the material conditions and organisation of cities, and to evaluate the promises (and failures) of the “technological fix” with respect to social justice and equality. Alongside the conceptual content, this module introduces the opportunities of digital research in urban studies by offering hands-on experience in using basic Python and data analysis skills to collect and interpret data from social media platforms. Digital skills can be used toward dissertation research or projects at work, as they are increasingly important nowadays. Overall, this module offers a critical appraisal of the changes brought about by digital technologies in urban environments, processes, and practices. No prior knowledge is required.
 

• foster an understanding of the intersection of digital geographies and urban studies
• encourage students to critically assess the opportunities and challenges that digital technologies bring to contemporary cities
• enable students to engage with critical urban research literature 
• provide hands-on experience in conducting social media research on urban topics

Syllabus (indicative curriculum content):

• the digital turn in geography
• python basics
• social media research
• data and datafication
• platform urbanism
• smart cities
• digitalisation and the housing crisis
• urban artificial intelligence 
• challenges and opportunities of digital cities
   

This course will be delivered through nine weekly two-hour lectures, nine weekly one-hour seminars, and one two-hour coursework workshop. Lectures will introduce key concepts and case studies. Part of the seminars will focus on hands-on experience using Python tools for social media research, while the rest will centre around reading discussions supplementary to the lecture content. Seminars will involve a variety of activities such as peer feedback and support and small group discussions.

• Demonstrate an understanding of how digital technologies have transformed urban life, economy, and governance
• Explain key concepts and situate them within critical urban studies literature
   

• Analyse the social, economic, and political implications of digital technologies for contemporary cities
• Formulate coherent, evidence-based arguments about the opportunities and challenges of digitalisation
• Synthesise acquired knowledge and connect it to personal experience and insights
   

• Design and undertake social media research to address urban topics
• Gather, evaluate and integrate different sources of information
• Communicate complex ideas clearly to both specialist and non-specialist audiences
   

• Apply analytical and critical thinking abilities
• Employ problem-solving skills
• Practise independent and group work
   

Formative Assessment Task:

One-page research proposal 

No more than 500 words

Feedback:  Written peer feedback as well as verbal feedback from the seminar leader

Summative Assessment Task: 

(1) Group research report:

Length: 3,000 words   

Feedback: Written feedback provided within 15 working days after submission deadline  

Weighting: 60%

(2)  Individual reflective essay 

Length: 1,500 words 

Feedback: Written feedback provided within 15 working days after submission deadline  

Weighting: 40%
 

Browne, S., 2015. Dark matters: on the surveillance of blackness. Duke University Press.
Brunn, S.D., Cutter, S. L. and Harrington Jr, J.W. (eds.) (2004). Geography and technology. Springer.
Cardullo, P., Di Feliciantonio, C. and Kitchin, R. (eds.), 2019. The right to the smart city. Emerald Group Publishing.
Castells, M., 2009. The rise of the network society, with a new preface. Hoboken: John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Cugurullo, F. (2021). Frankenstein urbanism. London: Routledge. 
Evans, J., Karvonen, A. and Raven, R. (eds.) (2016). The experimental city. Routledge.
Graham, S. (ed.) (2004). The cybercities reader. London: Routledge.
Graham, S. and Marvin, S. (2002). Splintering urbanism: networked infrastructures, technological mobilities and the urban condition. Routledge.
Halegoua, G.R. (2020). The digital city: media and the social production of place. New York University Press.
Kitchin, R. (2014). The data revolution: big data, open data, data infrastructures and their consequences. SAGE. 
Warf, B. (ed.) (2017). Handbook on Geographies of Technology. Edward Elgar Publishing.