With the emergence of new-generation information technologies, our cities and lives are undergoing profound and lasting transformations. As a discipline focused on urban quality, particularly the quality of public spaces, urban design must also keep pace with the times to play its due role in creating a better life. Only by integrating intelligent information technologies into urban design and management, and organically combining design, management, and technology, can we enhance urban service efficiency, improve people's quality of life, and realize a truly smart city.
In 2013, taking the urban design of Yuxi Central City as an opportunity, urbanDATA embarked on a practice of "smart" urban design. With the goal of building a "livable, ecological, and smart city," this urban design project adopted people-oriented and sustainable development as its core concepts, focusing on the three major themes of urban construction: "green, smart, and cultural." Innovatively, it developed a work system integrating design, management, and technology to guide the urban renewal of Yuxi.
First, to prevent urban sprawl, the plan established multiple urban green corridors, connecting the city with its surrounding natural landscapes. The central urban area of Yuxi was divided into a planning structure of "three cities, five clusters, and three parks," achieving green and organic urban growth through a "polycentric, networked" urban layout.
Second, the plan proposed the construction of a modern public transportation system combining regular buses, rapid transit, and trams, integrated with an intelligent traffic control system to create smart mobility. By optimizing the layout of industrial land, supporting an information-based environment, and promoting digital transformation of industries, the plan aimed to foster smart industries. It also envisioned a unified platform for urban management, leveraging information technologies to enable comprehensive perception, intelligent analysis, information sharing, and collaborative operations across all sectors, thereby guiding the overall spatial form of the city scientifically for smart governance. Additionally, by subdividing communities into walkable basic units, the plan sought to create 15-minute walking life circles, complemented by comprehensive service outlets strategically placed within walking distance using IoT technology to deliver smart services.
Furthermore, the plan emphasized the protection and inheritance of historical and cultural heritage. Respecting the original orientation and layout of Yuxi’s old town, it utilized geographic information systems (GIS) and big data analysis to control building heights within key scenic viewpoints. By extracting Yuxi’s distinctive natural and cultural color palettes, the plan regulated the primary, secondary, and accent colors of urban architecture, crafting a color scheme that reflects regional identity.
After two years of effort, urbanDATA completed the urban design for Yuxi Central City and facilitated public participation through modern information technologies, enabling the public to "share, benefit, and co-create" the outcomes of urban development. Concurrently, the "Yuxi Urban Architectural Planning Design Guidelines," based on the urban design, were promulgated and implemented. These guidelines provide scientific and orderly guidance for public spaces, creating pleasant interactive environments and fostering a smart lifestyle that integrates online and offline experiences.
We believe that "smart" urban design, as the key to unlocking smart living and leading the way toward smart cities, will undoubtedly bring us a brighter tomorrow!
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