Global Scans · Cities · Weekly Summary

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WHAT'S NEXT?: Smart cities are the talk of the town right now and so they should be to cope when over 60% of us will live in cities by 2030. E-bikes, Driverless- connected vehicles, buildings that talk to each other will help but many cities are susceptible to climate change and pandemics. Explore the issues faced by cities and the new ideas that will change the way urban dwellers live in the 21st century.

• [New] 81.86% of Canadians lived in urban areas in 2023, and Statistics Canada projects that an even greater share will live in census metropolitan areas in the next two decades. The Pointer
• [New] Dubai envisions AI as the foundation for cities that think, services that adapt, and governments that anticipate their citizens' needs. Magazine
• [New] As an early adopter of digital transformation, the Middle East is uniquely positioned to capitalize on AI's potential, particularly within its ambitious urban developments and rapidly evolving real estate landscape. Design Middle East
• [New] China using mass fires against urban areas could generate an international backlash and turn international popular opinion against it. Asia Times
• [New] Tailor Plans Based on Local Vulnerability: India can improve HAP effectiveness by ensuring that each state and city develops plans based on specific local vulnerabilities such as geography, socio-economic factors, and infrastructure. Civilsdaily
• [New] As Archer works toward certification and initial deployments in international markets, the coming years will determine whether electric air taxis can fulfill their promise of providing fast, safe, and sustainable transportation in urban environments. Business Aviation
• [New] Global population and economic growth, combined with rapid urbanization, will result in a significant increase in energy demand in the coming years. Precedence Research
• [New] Much like the rapid evolution of mobile tech or fintech in India, urban air mobility could leapfrog traditional barriers, especially with private-sector innovation. Mathrubhumi
• [New] Urbanization will intensify, with the population projected to rise from 51.96% in 2020 to 59.6% by 2030, reflecting rural-to-urban migration and natural population growth in cities like Lagos, Abuja, and Port Harcourt. Intelpoint
• [New] 2030-2040: Population is expected to hit 312.7M, as fertility drops to 3.1% and 69.1% of Nigerians live in urban areas. Intelpoint
• [New] China will provide satellite services to BRI partner countries, supporting their space capacity development and fostering sustainable progress in agriculture, disaster prevention, and smart city initiatives. archyde
• [New] Masdar City, The Sustainable City, and the Dubai 2040 Urban Master Plan are some examples of the UAE's drive to develop resilient, low-impact urban environments. Recruitmentpk -
• [New] Engineers will play a defining role in addressing the planet's most urgent challenges, climate change, urbanization, population growth, and resource scarcity. Enginuity Advantage
• [New] Rising Sea Levels: A significant portion of India's coastline is at risk from rising sea levels, increasing flood risks in coastal cities. EDUREV.IN
• [New] Rapid Urbanization and Infrastructure Development Asia Pacific is the most urbanized region in the world, with millions of people migrating to urban centers for better opportunities. Blogger
• [New] Without urgent action, the cancer burden in Africa is projected to nearly double by 2040, driven by population growth, ageing, urbanization, and lifestyle-related risks. Africa.com
• [New] With AI powering everything from smart cities to sustainability efforts, the world is on the brink of a technological revolution that will shape the future for generations to come. ICT Topics & Adverts Niche
• London is important for national growth: it is projected to grow faster than any other English city, and the taxes paid in London help fund infrastructure and other services in other parts of the UK. NIC
• Additional growth is expected from both global leisure and business travel, with improved flight connectivity between cities and source markets becoming increasingly essential. Hospitality Net
• The future of infrastructure, such as smart cities, autonomous supply chains, industrial Internet of Things, will demand capabilities that Canada's current digital infrastructure was never built to support. Information Technology and Innovation Foundation | ITIF
• By the year 2025, edge computing will be instrumental in advancing AI within self-driving vehicles, smart cities, and robotics infrastructure, all of which require real-time control. AI Toolhouse Blog -

Last updated: 26 April 2025