IDHUS Institute

Natural Resources, Ecosystems and Sustainability

How Digitalization and Artificial Intelligence Can Transform Cities into Net Zero Urban Environments

By IDHUS Institute Nov 07, 2025

Urban centers, while occupying less than 2% of the Earth's land surface, are responsible for an overwhelming 78% of global energy consumption and approximately 70% of greenhouse gas emissions, according to UN-Habitat. With more than half of the world’s population already residing in cities—and forecasts indicating that this trend will only intensify—urbanization stands as both a critical driver of economic development and a central contributor to climate change. In this scenario, reimagining how cities are planned, built, and managed is not just desirable but imperative…

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Mobility and Urban Transport

How Can Transport Infrastructure Be Brought Back to Life?

By IDHUS Institute Nov 06, 2025

In an era marked by rapid urbanization, demographic expansion, and accelerating economic growth, cities are becoming increasingly complex ecosystems. These dynamics have intensified the demand for efficient, sustainable, and inclusive transportation systems. As the volume of both people and goods circulating through urban environments grows, the infrastructure that supports mobility becomes not only more critical but also more vulnerable to obsolescence. The evolution of transport technologies—ranging from rail to aviation—has rendered many traditional structures outdated, underutilized, or altogether abandoned. However, within this cycle of redundancy…

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Smart Cities, Technology, Innovation and Energy

Stuttgart Rosenstein: The City Unveils First Cost Forecasts for a Century-Defining Urban Transformation

By IDHUS Institute Nov 06, 2025

The city of Stuttgart has taken a significant step forward in its long-term urban development strategy with the unveiling of preliminary cost estimates and timelines for the ambitious Stuttgart Rosenstein project. This large-scale initiative, one of the most transformative in the region’s recent history, aims to redevelop a vast inner-city area freed up by the restructuring of railway infrastructure linked to the Stuttgart 21 project. According to figures presented by the city administration to the Stuttgart 21/Rosenstein committee, the estimated investment required for planning,…

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Urban development and city planning

Resilient Futures: How Vietnam is Redesigning Its Cities for a Changing Climate

By IDHUS Institute Nov 05, 2025

As Vietnam undergoes rapid socio-economic transformation, its urban areas have emerged as central engines of growth, accounting for more than 70% of the nation’s GDP. However, this rapid urban expansion has outpaced the capacity of existing infrastructure systems, which are increasingly strained by the combined effects of climate change, demographic pressure, and systemic governance challenges. Annual losses from extreme weather events—such as tropical storms, flooding, saltwater intrusion, and landslides—continue to mount, underscoring the urgent need for resilient urban infrastructure capable of withstanding environmental shocks…

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Smart Cities, Technology, Innovation and Energy

Wired for the Future: How Fibre-Powered Smart Cities Can Transform South Africa

By IDHUS Institute Nov 05, 2025

By the year 2050, approximately two-thirds of the global population will reside in urban areas. This ongoing demographic transformation is already having significant implications for South Africa, where metropolitan centers are experiencing a steady influx of people seeking employment opportunities, improved living standards, and access to modern services. However, this rapid urban migration is placing enormous pressure on the country’s urban infrastructure. Many South African cities are grappling with the consequences: overburdened and ageing utilities, frequent service disruptions, traffic congestion, and insufficient public services are…

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Urban development and city planning

El desafío de la sostenibilidad en el sueño malasio de ciudades inteligentes

By IDHUS Institute Sep 17, 2025

En la actualidad, las ciudades representan tanto el corazón de la actividad económica mundial como uno de los principales focos de presión ambiental. Las áreas urbanas, que albergan a más del 55% de la población global, generan aproximadamente el 70% de las emisiones de gases de efecto invernadero (GEI) y consumen más del 75% de los recursos naturales disponibles. Esta realidad plantea una paradoja crucial para los países en desarrollo como Malasia: mientras las ciudades actúan como catalizadores de crecimiento, innovación y modernización, también…

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Opinion and Analysis of Current Affairs

Ciudades Sostenibles desde el Comportamiento: El Poder de las Decisiones Cotidianas en la Transformación Urbana

By IDHUS Institute Sep 15, 2025

Las ciudades contemporáneas constituyen el epicentro de la civilización moderna, concentrando más del 55% de la población mundial, una cifra que se estima alcanzará el 68% para el año 2050. Esta expansión urbana sin precedentes ha sido acompañada por importantes avances tecnológicos, inversiones considerables en infraestructura verde, y la formulación de políticas climáticas ambiciosas. Sin embargo, a pesar de estos esfuerzos, las ciudades continúan generando aproximadamente el 70% de las emisiones globales de gases de efecto invernadero, y enfrentan enormes dificultades para involucrar a sus…

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