Statement of Research
Research Area and Approach:
Research Area and Approach
My research lies at the intersection of urban informatics, data-driven innovation, and social sustainability, addressing the evolving challenges of Industry 5.0, the Internet of Things (IoT), and cloud computing integration in smart city planning. I investigate how these technological advances reshape architecture and urban design, seeking novel frameworks that support resilient and ethical urban futures.
Responding to the second digital turn, my work critically engages with the affordances of data in design processes, alongside emerging digital economies such as blockchain, which democratize value exchange across monetary and immaterial realms. I develop methodologies that emphasize transparency, trust, and ethical responsibility to tackle real-world design challenges in increasingly data-driven societies.
Employing a triangulated methodology of in-situ investigation, data analysis, and customized digital design narratives, my approach integrates top-down, bottom-up, and practice-led strategies. Central to my work is fostering interconnectedness among users, designers, and stakeholders through user-centered design (UCD), enabling multi-stage, collaborative problem-solving.
Research History
During my PhD at the University of Edinburgh, I explored diverse geo-tagged data streams related to the urban environment, interpreting cities as living organisms through a biosemiotic lens. Drawing on frameworks such as Carlo Ratti’s real-time city and Rob Kitchin’s Future Cities projects, I theorized data streams as complex sign systems that support urban self-regulation and adaptation.
My doctoral research examined the potentials and limitations of big data and thick data in urban design, focusing on layered data mapping to inform the development of semi-autonomous habitation units. These units address pressing concerns around mobility and migration by integrating sustainability and responsiveness within digitally connected urban contexts.
I validated my approach by supervising a postgraduate design unit, developing a design brief for a Master’s course, and tutoring in data-driven design modules. Additionally, I led workshops such as 3D Blockchain and DataVisFest that bridged the gap between data holders, designers, and the public, highlighting the importance of effective data communication.
Future Research Directions
Looking forward, my research will explore decentralized and distributed network systems within smart and sustainable cities. I plan to foster collaborative initiatives involving academia, public sectors, and city authorities to investigate the dimensions, constraints, and opportunities posed by urban data ecosystems.
Immediate priorities include:
Mapping data sources, stakeholders, and users within Edinburgh’s smart city initiatives, with particular focus on education, public transport, and short-term accommodation.
Developing interdisciplinary, practice-led methods to document and facilitate design processes through workshops and participatory activities involving researchers, stakeholders, and communities.
Addressing ethical, social, political, technical, and reliability challenges related to urban data, aiming to establish responsible frameworks for future architectural and urban research.
Advancing sustainable design approaches informed by geo-tagged and real-time community and governmental data.
Deepening understanding of multi-scale networks, from transportation systems to social and biological interaction networks.
For more on my work and related projects, see:
[1] https://dmsp.digital.eca.ed.ac.uk/blog/mobilelivingunits2018/