As rapid urbanization and new technologies transform cities, experts are faced with the serious challenge of equipping citizens for a largely unknown future.
Empowering citizens to sustain intelligent communities requires civic buy-in on many levels.
To bridge a connection between researchers, students and city officials, Concordia, Maison de l’innovation sociale and Espaces temps founded CityStudio Montreal. This initiative matches Concordia courses from any discipline with the city’s agenda for a customized lineup of projects promoting better living.
It’s a win-win for students and the city. Students have the opportunity to apply the knowledge and skills acquired in their courses to prototype projects, develop critical thinking and devise creative solutions to complex urban issues. The city, on the other hand, will benefit from a think-tank environment for experimentation and innovation.
On November 28, Concordia professors with an interest in matching one of their courses with an urban challenge are invited to a presentation by CityStudio Montreal at 4TH SPACE.
“Due to its commitment to experiential learning, Concordia is a great asset to the partnership developing CityStudio Montreal,” says Raphaëlle Bilodeau, project coordinator for CityStudio Montreal.
“Since this is a project dedicated to exploring and experimenting with ways of addressing urban challenges, Concordia’s dynamic and engaged student body is an ideal group for bringing this concept to life in Montreal.”
This fall, 150 Concordia students are tackling five urban challenges identified by city employees as part of CityStudio Montreal.
Urban forests
Insufficient growth space, damaged land and a lack of resources prevent urban forests from thriving. The challenge is to increase urban canopy diversity and surface area and improve communication methods to encourage community engagement.
Elizabeth Miller and Frederico Hidalgo from Concordia’s Faculty of Arts and Science are working with students in Moving Images (COMS 384) in the Department of Communication Studies. Together they have created a series of "tree portraits" to help city staff increase public knowledge of multifunctional green spaces and increase participation in planting and maintaining healthy trees.
“Our mandate is to promote the use of media to bring about awareness around the benefits of tree planting and maintenance and more broadly the role of trees in our cities,” says Miller, professor of communication studies.
“We want to improve tree literacy by creating compelling stories and portraits to help the community perceive trees differently.”
Pedestrian safety
Excessive motor traffic in dense urban areas directly contributes to a higher frequency of collisions between vehicles, cyclists, pedestrians and other vulnerable users. These include persons with disabilities, elderly citizens and children.
Donny Seto, a lecturer the Department of Geography, Planning and Environment, is working with students in Impact Assessment (URBS 480). They are devising ways to make Montreal’s intersections more secure and harmonious.
Masoumeh Kazemi-Zanjani, associate professor of mechanical, industrial and aerospace engineering, is integrating this challenge into an engineering capstone design project she is supervising.
The goals include implementing new technologies to improve road safety in Montreal, disseminating examples of proper travel practices and behaviour and promoting accessibility and equitable sharing of urban space.