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Concepts such as "smart cities" and "digital rural cities" highlight the significant role that data utilization has played in urban planning. However, as urban development progresses, it is becoming increasingly important to consider how to coexist with values that are difficult to quantify, such as the everyday scenery of our lives and cultural activities, rather than focusing solely on efficiency.

By 2050, the question of how urban data should be utilized will require a fresh discussion. The challenge will be not only to improve efficiency but also to reflect the emotions and connections of the people living in these cities. In this session, experts and practitioners in urban data will be invited to explore the current state, challenges, and potential of data utilization in urban spaces.

The discussion will also delve into how to create cities that support human activities through the effective use of data. A key focus will be on how data can be leveraged to draw out the creativity and diversity of communities. Ultimately, participants will engage in discussions about how to realize the "co-creation process between data and humanity" in the cities of 2050, aiming to envision a future urban landscape where human well-being and technological advancement coexist.

【Reflection】
In this programme, ‘Blueprint for Future Cities in 2050: When City Data Supports Our Lives,’ discussions were held with various experts on how the utilisation of data supports human-centred lifestyles and creative activities when considering the future of cities.

Speakers included experts in urban space analysis, practitioners of green architecture, and entrepreneurs addressing climate change and gender issues, who shared practical insights from their respective perspectives on topics such as smart cities, digital rural cities, ESG, AI, and global shapers.

Particularly impressive was the positive vision that ‘data-driven urban design’ is not merely a pursuit of efficiency, but can coexist with human emotions and cultural activities. Examples of inclusive urban development that utilise sensor technology and digital twins to capture the ‘voiceless voices’ of cities were introduced, attracting strong interest from the audience.

In addition, presentations by speakers from emerging Asian countries such as Kazakhstan and Indonesia on environmentally friendly architecture and data-driven urban development provided a valuable opportunity to gain a global perspective through comparison with initiatives in Japan. In particular, the discussion on bridging policy formation and technology related to climate change was sharp from the perspective of the younger generation, and there were lively questions from the audience.

Overall, this programme was very meaningful in that it envisioned the future of cities not solely from a technological perspective, but in conjunction with humanity. The dialogue between speakers from different fields and cultures, who resonated with each other, resulted in a multi-layered and insightful programme befitting an international event such as the Expo.


【Post EXPO Initiatives】
Taking this dialogue programme as an opportunity, the organisers and speakers clarified their plans to develop concrete initiatives to evolve the use of data in cities into a human-centred and sustainable form. The following activities are being considered for the future.

First, strengthening the network connecting young international leaders and urban planning practitioners, and conducting demonstration experiments that leverage that network. Some of the speakers in this programme are already collaborating with the World Economic Forum (WEF) and advancing projects in their regions, and joint research and demonstration projects in collaboration with Japanese cities and regions are being planned. For example, citizen-participatory urban development using urban data and climate-responsive infrastructure design linked to environmental monitoring are being considered.

Second, the programme will expand into education and outreach activities. Workshops and academies targeting junior high and high school students and university students are planned to foster data literacy and a sense of ownership in urban development. These educational activities will not only nurture future urban leaders but also serve as an important foundation for changing the awareness of the general public.

Thirdly, creative projects that connect data with culture and sensibility will be implemented. New urban experiences using technology, such as art installations using urban visualisation technology and soundscapes that express the ‘atmosphere’ of the city, are being considered. This approach seeks to reconstitute data not as mere numbers, but as information that touches the emotions of residents.

Going forward, it is essential to implement these initiatives to make the ‘co-creation process between data and humanity’ in cities a reality. To achieve this, a new foundation for urban innovation is needed, where government, private sector, citizens, and researchers collaborate across boundaries, fostering dialogue and practical action. This programme has provided significant insights and possibilities as the first step toward this goal.

*Part or all of this report was generated by AI.