Author: IDHUS Institute

China is embarking on one of the most far-reaching territorial and urban transformation efforts in its modern history, signaling a decisive shift in how the country conceives development, space, and social balance. The 15th Five-Year Plan, which will shape China’s economic and social trajectory in the coming years, places urban development, land-use governance, and regional integration at the core of the national modernization strategy. This agenda emerges at a critical juncture, defined by the transition toward a more innovation-driven economic model, the accumulated pressures of…

Cities are rapidly becoming the primary environment in which the future of humanity will be defined, as they are expected to host nearly 70 percent of the global population by 2050. This demographic shift, already underway, places unprecedented pressure on urban systems, infrastructures, and governance models, requiring cities to rethink their role, structure, and functioning in a profound and systemic way. Urban areas are no longer merely centers of consumption and economic activity, but increasingly complex ecosystems where energy, data, mobility, housing, and social services…

  In recent years, artificial intelligence has undergone a decisive evolution, transitioning from an emerging technological concept into a structural component of contemporary societies. Its progressive integration into everyday life is particularly evident within the real estate sector, where AI has moved beyond theoretical experimentation to become a strategic instrument capable of reshaping the way cities are conceived, developed, and managed. Artificial intelligence is no longer an auxiliary technology but a transformative force that redefines urban environments by making them more sustainable, efficient, and deeply…

Smart cities and digital services for citizens represent one of the most significant transformations currently reshaping public administration and urban governance in Europe, and Italy is no exception. Over the last decade, Italian cities have progressively embraced the smart city paradigm as a strategic framework to address structural challenges such as urban congestion, environmental sustainability, energy efficiency, and the growing demand for more accessible and transparent public services. According to the most recent report by the Smart City Observatory of the Polytechnic University of Milan,…