Urban planners are redesigning cities around the "15-minute" concept, where residents can access all essential services—work, school, shopping, and healthcare—within a 15-minute walk or bike ride. This shift is driving investment in mixed-use developments and micro-mobility infrastructure.
The Death of the Commute?
While not dead, the daily long-distance commute is waning. This changes the valuation calculus for suburban real estate. Neighborhoods with high walkability scores are seeing property values skyrocket, while car-dependent exurbs are stagnating. Smart city tech—from intelligent traffic lights to waste management sensors—is the glue holding these dense, efficient neighborhoods together.
Data Privacy in the Public Square
As our cities become smarter, they also become more surveilled. The debate over data ownership—who owns the data generated by your walk to the grocery store?—is heating up. Companies that can provide smart city solutions while preserving citizen privacy will have a competitive advantage in democratic nations.