Futures of Digital Urban Layers

It is largely in our urban spaces where the challenges of our times arise and manifest: demographic shifts and technological changes, the effects of climate change, social inequalities and polarisation. At the same time, cities have historically taken a leading role in adapting to and addressing global, national and local challenges.

In recent years, we’ve seen development in digital systems and data sources, such as satellite imagery, geographic information systems, building information modeling (BIM,) and platforms for public participation and decision-making. This has opened up new opportunities in how we design, plan and operate our urban spaces, and how we respond to the challenges that cities and urban communities face today, as well as in the years to come.

It is within this context that Media Evolution, in collaboration with DigIT Hub Sweden, extends an invitation to professionals involved in developing, implementing and mobilising different digital systems and/or working with engaging people to participate in the making of our urban environments, to take part in this Collaborative Foresight cycle.

Together, we’ll scan signals and trends of today, imagine a spectrum of tomorrows, and unpack the ways in which we need to prepare for and impact change, with the aim of ensuring that digital systems support resilient and thriving urban communities in the years to come.

In this Collaborative Foresight cycle, we’ll explore questions including:

• How might digital systems support transparency, citizen participation, and other democratic behaviors, processes and practices in urban communities?
• What opportunities and challenges might the developments in artificial intelligence (AI) bring to current and future digital layers of our urban environments?
• What ways of weaving together analogue, human-to-human, and digital formats of participation might we need in order to foster resilient and thriving communities?
• How might we combine quantitative and live data with qualitative understandings and experiences in the ways we design and operate our urban spaces in the future?
• How can digital systems support resilient communities and urban spaces in the face of geopolitical tensions, effects of climate change and other current and potential crises?

Join the Core Group

A Core Group of ∼20 will meet during four days of workshops facilitated by our Foresight team. During these workshops, the group members tap into their expertise and experiences and together identify important signals and drivers of change, create scenarios and visions of possible, desirable and alternative futures. From there, they lay out approaches and strategies for preparing for and shaping how digital systems contribute to resilience and wellbeing of our urban communities and spaces.

As a Core Group participant, you’ll get access to our unique method and tools for practising foresight, including signal scanning and scenario and vision building. You’ll walk away with novel insights, connections and a set of skills and resources to bring futures-thinking and strategic foresight into your work, team and organisation.

The core group workshops will be held in-person at Media Evolution between 9:00–16:00 on 8–9 May and 26–27 May 2025.

How to Join the Core Group

Send an expression of interest with a brief introduction of yourself, your reasons for wishing to join this cycle and what you hope to gain from participating to our Foresight Lead Reeta at reeta@mediaevolution.se.

Participation is free-of-charge but places are limited. As core contributor, you will be requested to sign a de minimis certificate (companies), or a value certificate (värdeintyg) (organisations in the public sector). You can read more about it here.

Join Open Workshops and Seminars

We invite a diverse range of perspectives and those working with and curious about the topic to join the following open workshops:

Signal Scanning Workshop: 15 April, 9 am - 12 pm

Digital Urban Layers for Participation Seminar: 23 April, 9 - 10.30 am

Community Critique Workshop: 21 May, 9 am - 12 pm

How we share

The insights emerged during this Collaborative Foresight cycle will be captured in a book featuring scenarios, immersive stories and practitioner and expert perspectives. The book will be published at the end of August 2025 as part of DigitHub Day.

This Collaborative Foresight Cycle is made possible by DigIT Hub Sweden. DigIT Hub Sweden helps companies and the public sector in Southern Sweden to digitalise. The initiative is co-funded by the European Union, Region Blekinge, Region Kronoberg, Region Skåne, and Vinnova.