Transforming Urban Problems as “Divergent Cities”

HARMONIC ONE – COMMENTARY | June 2022 Edition

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Article Dedication: African American inventor, Garret Morgan – Inventor of the Traffic Light (3 light)

Morgan was a voracious inventor and observer who focused on fixing problems and soon turned his attention to all kinds of things, from hats to belt fasteners to car parts.

On November 20, 1923, the U.S. Patent Office grants Patent No. 1,475,074 to Garrett Morgan for his three-position traffic signal. Though Morgan’s was not the first traffic signal (that one had been installed in London in 1868), it was an important innovation nonetheless: By having a third position besides just “Stop” and “Go,” it regulated crossing vehicles more safely than earlier signals had. Prior to this invention, the “Stop” and “Go” signals switched back and forth with no interval in between. This caused drivers to have no time to react when the command changed. This led to many collisions between vehicles that both had the right of way when they entered the intersection.

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The Persistent Problem in Cities/States/Countries

There are several challenges which synergistically affect the vitality of communities and cities across various geographic regions. But, one challenge that is commonly the most difficult is as follows: developing solutions which are self-sustainable and could continually change and adapt according to the dynamic needs of people and the environment at any point in time. This would include city-wide challenges associated with dynamically sustainable energy sources, transportation complexities, progressive economic/financial development, issues associated with human behaviors, education, law, politics, labor and others.

But what commonly happens for problems which do exist, they often repeat themselves at the same level of re-occurrence or get worse. Several instances exist, to which some solution was applied to the problem, but failed to make an impact as intended. There are many reasons for these types of failures, but, one of the biggest reasons is the lack of understanding a problem from a holistic point of view. This may include failing to account for human nature, or some other hidden issue that was not accounted for when a stagnant, non-living solution was conceptualized, built and implemented.

Applying Human Driven AI Tech in Divergent Cities

One possibility for addressing re-occurring problems in cities is to decompose the larger problem into manageable smaller parts and to reassemble the parts into a larger solution. This ideology has been utilized extensively within systems engineering principles which guided projects ranging from exa-scale objects to microscale constructions. This include projects such as airplanes, supercomputers, electric cars, bridges, buildings and micro-robotics.

Since many of society’s problems exist and are exacerbated in large cities, this idea can also be applied to support the idea of breaking large cities into a finite number of smaller ones, for what I refer to as “Divergent Cities”. This term builds off the ideas of Compact and Smart cities, which were similar urban models which could provide land mass efficiencies to common problems.

The idea of a compact city is not new and has been discussed among researchers beginning in the 1970’s. Additionally, Smart Cities are basically associated with the idea of using technology to modernize various aspects of an urban area to increase efficiencies among diverse aspects and components of city life.

The term “Divergent” was coined to maximize the advantages and minimize disadvantages associated with Compact Cities and Smart Cities. Obviously, because we live in a very diverse world, it would be inefficient, within a Compact City, to reduce green space and reasonable views in hopes of “reducing pollution” or “reducing congested roads”. Additionally, utilizing an Internet of things ('IoT') network to optimize the efficiency of city operations in a Smart City does not make it necessarily efficient without insight and input from local residents.

Hence the basic idea of a “Divergent City” is to decompose large cities into a diverse, finite array of “compact-smart cities” whose urban characteristics change and adapt according to the needs of a pre-determined critical mass of residents. Determining these characteristics would involve combining human insight with AI technology to simulate and construct the appropriate urban layout that maximize environmental protection and human quality of life. Divergent cities would have a smaller land mass “footprint” and could reduce the large “land sprawl” often found in large, mega-sized cities.

A model, such as a divergent city, would have multiple advantages, when compared to problems often found in conventional cities. For example, a Divergent city model could help address congested road traffic with shorter commute times, walking, cycling, AI powered high speed electric trains and low energy private and public electrical vehicle transports.

Additionally, Divergent cities will be “self-sustaining”, meaning, the residents in that area will have mostly everything they need within a particular area. This includes entertainment, schools, stores, employers, service providers, public protection, energy generation, waste disposal and processing, small-scale agricultural production (community gardening) and other elements normally found in large cities. This also include processes and AI technologies which can be used to manage urban flows and allow for real-time responses to various needs to support strong and healthy economic residential development.

A Focus On Africa

Africa is one of the most divergent and resource rich continents with respect to wealth, natural resources, ecological footprint, cultures and living situations. These complexities associated with the continent requires solutions which are able to adapt and change according to the diverse needs which exist. Using AI to assist with collecting, organizing and analyzing information about these problems could yield ideas which become “living” solutions which respond to problems in real time. Since there is a projection of an increase in population in many African cites in the next years, it is vital such solutions also be implemented in a appropriate time frame.

No Solution Is Perfect, but must be Progressive

Despite these proposed advantages, comprehensive research should take place to holistically and scientifically understand the feasibility and effectiveness of Divergent Cities for application in urban areas, such as those found in Africa. The core feature of this model to be studied is the possible ability to change and adapt according to city needs based on a tool which infuse AI with human insight to address a wide range of problems. This feature could possibly address the “re-occurrence” of difficult problems based on an initial list of core measures such as compactness, density, diversity, holistic human health, mixed land use, social/environment development, resilient energy sources, sustainable transportation, and green space.

As Africa enter an era where population growth is projected to take place in large cities, it is imperative that any research methodology adopted be accompanied with case studies to promote converting theory into practical solutions. Hopefully, implementing a Divergent City model will develop organic and holistic solutions desperately need for humans and the environment.