Change is inevitable. Our environment, culture, and even ourselves have been constantly changing. The world we live in today is vastly different from what it was a hundred years ago, let alone a thousand years ago. Yet, when it comes to planning and governance, change can be difficult to implement. Path dependence, costs of replacing existing infrastructure, sentimental attachments to the past, human resistance to change, and concentration of resources and power are some of the challenges that stand in the way of progress. However, change is necessary if we want to build a better future.
One of the biggest challenges in planning and governance is the natural human resistance to change. People are creatures of habit, and change can be unsettling. Additionally, there are often sentimental attachments to existing infrastructure that make it difficult to replace. For example, many people feel a strong attachment to historic buildings, even if they are not practical for modern use. This can lead to resistance to demolishing or altering these structures, even if it would be more efficient or cost-effective to do so.
Another challenge is the concentration of resources and power. Those who hold power and resources may be resistant to change, as they fear losing their influence or their investments. Additionally, redistribution of resources and power takes time, and there may be risk and negative consequences associated with such changes. Seeing those who hold resources and power as enemies rather than partners can further complicate matters.
Despite these challenges, change is necessary if we want to build a better future. Technology has enabled change in planning and governance on all levels, from businesses and communities to cities, regions, nations, and the world as a whole. However, to truly make the world a better place, we need a change of mindset, culture, and social norms – powered by technology and accepted and guided by all of us.
Change must be driven by facts and rational thinking, rather than emotions, greed, opinions, and beliefs. These factors are often influenced by other people’s emotions, greed, opinions, and beliefs, and may not be in the best interest of ourselves or the world around us. Finding a balance between high-level guidance, technology that analyses data and suggests actions and policies, and experts who develop and monitor these technologies, is essential.
Guidance by humanity is mostly driven by maximising subjective well-being, but it considers current fears, needs, and other constraints coming from the typical human mind. It’s not about creating a Utopian world, but about real change towards building a better future.
Technology can play a crucial role in facilitating change. IoT, ML, AI, simulations and Digital Twins, Geographic Information Systems, autonomous vehicles, and other forms of automation can all help with planning and governance on local, regional, national, and global levels. These technologies can enable more efficient use of resources, reduce time, risk, and costs for developing real-world applications, lower latency and processing times, improve scalability, reliability, and predictability, and ultimately, enhance the quality of life for everyone, including non-humans and future generations.
For instance, IoT and AI can help cities and regions to manage resources more efficiently, from energy and water to waste and transportation. Geographic Information Systems (GIS) can help planners to map and analyse data about natural resources, land use, and infrastructure. Digital Twins can enable simulations and predictions about how changes to infrastructure and planning will affect people and the environment. Autonomous vehicles and other forms of automation can help to reduce congestion and emissions in cities and improve transportation efficiency.
In conclusion, planning and governance can be challenging, but change is necessary if we want to build a better future. Technology can play a crucial role in facilitating this change, but it must be guided by facts and rational thinking, and accepted and guided by all.
If you are a decision maker and want help building better places to live, we invite you to contact us to learn more about how we can help you leverage the latest technologies for planning and governance. Together, we can create a more sustainable, resilient, and equitable world for all.