The Thinking City: building the living urban ecosystem of tomorrow

To manage this influx, we must develop urban infrastructure that surpasses anything built in history – and we have merely twenty years to achieve this. The vastness of this task requires not only fast construction but also an innovative rethinking of what cities can become.

Welcome to the era of The Thinking City – an urban space designed to operate like a living organism. Unlike current ‘smart cities’ that gather data in isolation, The Thinking City will function as an integrated ecosystem, adapting in real-time to the evolving needs of its inhabitants. Every system – transportation, resource management, housing – will work together as an interconnected entity, actively enhancing the human experience through a blend of advanced technology and human-centred design. The Thinking City will do more than respond to its residents; it will connect and grow with them, revolutionising urban living into a collaborative experience.

In the following sections, we will delve into the structure of The Thinking City, where crucial systems – like the ‘nervous system’ for adaptive mobility and the ‘lungs’ of green spaces – operate in unison. Together, these interlinked components establish a foundation for a future where cities fulfil our needs and evolve alongside us.

The nervous system: mobility and transportation

In a Thinking City, the transportation network acts as the nervous system, connecting everything. Residents benefit from smooth, autonomous transit services that respond immediately to demand, road conditions, and weather, forming the core of urban resilience.

Today, glimpses of this future are emerging. Waymo is changing city streets with self-driving cars that provide safer and more efficient travel. Waymo’s use of advanced LiDAR and 3D sensing technologies is essential to this advancement, as they offer exceptional accuracy in navigating the complexities of urban environments. By mid-2024, Waymo achieved one hundred thousand paid robotaxi rides weekly in the US, doubling what it was just months earlier. In Hamburg, Germany, autonomous electric minibuses offer on-demand rides within a fifty-square-kilometre area. These innovations build a solid foundation for driverless mobility systems that adapt in real-time to urban demands.

As cities improve ground-level mobility, innovators are looking skyward. In China, Volkswagen’s ‘Flying Tiger’ eVTOL vehicle aims to revolutionise short-distance urban transport with AI-piloted pods that avoid ground traffic. Picture a transportation network where passengers travel above the city while smart ground transit coordinates seamlessly, creating a fully integrated system. This results in a city where mobility transcends mere commuting; it becomes a dynamic network that aligns with urban rhythms, ensuring that every area is accessible.

The sensory system: real-time sensing and data

In a Thinking City, the sensory system functions as a network of sophisticated sensors and data collection technologies that allow the city to ‘see’, ‘hear’, and ‘feel’ its surroundings. This technology provides real-time information on traffic patterns, air quality, energy usage, and infrastructure status. Beyond mere data collection, a Thinking City dynamically utilises these insights to maintain balance and support the wellbeing of its residents.

The groundwork for this sensory network is already established. In Singapore, real-time air quality sensors help residents make informed choices about outdoor activities. Las Vegas employs 3D environmental sensors to enhance intersection effectiveness, reduce congestion, and protect privacy by eliminating detailed video surveillance. Meanwhile, New York City’s Domain Awareness System integrates data from thousands of cameras and sensors, offering law enforcement real-time situational awareness throughout the city.

Sensing technology is evolving rapidly. Next-generation 3D LiDAR will soon provide cities with enhanced spatial awareness, producing high-resolution maps that track every aspect of the urban environment down to the centimetre. This ‘sensory map’ will enable cities to predict and adapt to changes accurately, rerouting traffic ahead of congestion, conserving water during peak usage, and redistributing power based on varying energy demands.

Ultimately, the sensory system of a Thinking City will serve as more than just a data collector; it will act as an active steward of urban life, promoting safety, sustainability, and a higher quality of life for all residents.

The respiratory system: sustainability and green spaces

In a Thinking City, the respiratory system is formed by its green spaces and sustainable practices, functioning as the ‘lungs’ of the urban environment. These elements don’t just enhance liveability; they clean the air, regulate temperatures, and provide spaces for relaxation and recreation, transforming cities into ecosystems that regenerate and support life.

Currently, some cities around the world are embracing biophilic design to integrate nature into urban environments. In Melbourne, buildings are retrofitted with vertical forests, adding greenery while filtering pollutants and lowering temperatures. Parks and green roofs are designed as multi-functional spaces, absorbing rainwater, supporting biodiversity, and creating cooler microclimates.

The Thinking City pushes sustainability even further. Copenhagen’s circular economy model demonstrates how urban areas can shift from consumption to regeneration. Treating waste as a resource, the city minimises environmental impact by reusing and recycling materials. This approach turns each piece of waste into an opportunity, gradually eliminating the concept of ‘trash’ itself.

Visionary projects like South Korea’s OCEANIX Busan offer a glimpse of floating cities that rise and fall with sea levels, designed to be fully self-sufficient. These structures generate energy, produce food, and process waste within a closed loop. As climate change reshapes coastlines, this resilient design will be essential.

The musculoskeletal system: adaptive housing and infrastructure

In the anatomy of a Thinking City, the musculoskeletal system represents adaptive housing and infrastructure that form the city's physical framework. This flexibility is crucial as urban populations surge and demands on space and resources intensify.

The Netherlands' ‘Room for the River’ programme exemplifies this adaptability. By allowing rivers to expand into designated areas during high water levels, the initiative reduces flood risks and demonstrates how infrastructure can harmonise with natural processes.

Similarly, the proposed city of Telosa envisions modular, IoT-equipped homes that can adapt layouts and functions in real-time, responding to residents' daily needs and environmental conditions. Imagine a living room that transforms seamlessly into a home office for work hours, adjusting lighting, desk height, and noise settings, or a bedroom that optimises air quality and temperature for restful sleep.

This integration of smart technology into living spaces creates a dynamic, responsive environment tailored to personal preferences.

Embracing a living, thinking urban future

The Thinking City represents a new paradigm in urban development, where cities function as living entities – complex ecosystems that evolve alongside their inhabitants. Each system, from the sensory networks of IoT and advanced 3D sensors to the adaptable infrastructure that accommodates growth, creates cities that are not only efficient but also responsive to human needs. This vision is more than technology; it reimagines urban life as a dynamic, interconnected organism built to thrive.

As we face the challenges of rapid urbanisation and climate change, it’s clear that small changes won’t suffice. To support the billions who will call cities home, we need urban spaces that adapt, regenerate, and work in harmony. The Thinking City blends technology – AI, machine learning, and 5G/6G networks – with human-centred design to create environments where people, nature, and infrastructure coexist in balance.

But realising this vision demands bold action. Policymakers must craft regulations that embrace autonomous mobility and adaptive infrastructure. Urban planners and architects must move beyond traditional blueprints, designing cities that grow and transform. Business leaders and technologists must collaborate to bring these systems to life, while citizens advocate for sustainable, forward-thinking urban policies. If we succeed, these cities won’t just accommodate billions of people – they’ll transform urban life, offering new hope for future generations.