Cities as Socio-Technical Systems

This lecture explores cities as socio-technical systems, focusing on the interplay between urban infrastructures and the economic, social, political, and cultural aspects of a city. It discusses the implications of this view on the management and governance of cities, emphasizing the systemic nature of urban environments and the importance of feedback loops, complexity, and path dependency. The lecture also delves into the role of infrastructures such as transport, housing, energy, and water in shaping urban life, highlighting the need for a holistic approach to urban governance that considers performance, efficiency, resilience, and sustainability.