Technology and the City

‘This book is an important and exciting addition to the growing literature of interrelations between technology and cities. It is a detailed account on the history, present and the future of societal developments caused by technological advancements. This book will be a most welcome addition to all students, researchers and practitioners working with topics of urban planning, economic geography and civil engineering.’ —Tommi Inkinen, Professor of Economic Geography, University of Helsinki, Finland

‘For those who want to know more about the evolution of urban technologies, this well-written book offers a comprehensive overview over the state-of-the art in smart city development. Arguing that smart city development processes need to be more open, participatory, and collaborative, Yigitcanlar calls for more technologically and economically balanced approaches by responsible city governments. The author’s detailed insights into the numerous applications of smart technologies in urban development are another impressive outcome of his sedulous explorations into the evolution of knowledge development in cities.’ — Klaus R. Kunzmann, Professor emeritus, Technical University of Dortmund, Germany

‘With Technology and the City, Tan Yigitcanlar delivers a comprehensive account of smart cities that translates the buzz of the term into a rigorous treatment of the topic. On the basis of discussing smart city systems and applications, it is the resulting implications that pose new and exciting questions for the reader to ponder.’ — Professor Marcus Foth, Director, Urban Informatics Research Lab, Queensland University of Technology, Australia

‘The term "smart cities" has become as ubiquitous as the technology that makes smart cities possible. In this ambitious book, Tan Yigitcanlar offers a vast panorama of urban development ranging from the Stone Age to an urban future infused with, and disrupted by, the information and communication technologies first developed in the late twentieth century. The author not only describes the emergence of smart cities and details how they work, he also gives a detailed description of the operation of smart cities in urban centers around the world and the implications of smart cites for urban economies, environments, and quality of life. In the final chapter, Yigitcanlar speculates on the future of smart technologies and smart cities and the effects they will have on the planet, itself. This chapter will, I believe, prove prescient and will provide ways for scholars and practitioners to conceive of and use smart technologies to confront the myriad of issues facing an increasingly urbanized world.’ — Richard E. Hanley, Editor, Journal of Urban Technology, The City University of New York, USA

‘Technology and the City is a timely and thoughtful analysis of the complex relationships between urban life and the technologies that shape cities. There have always been smart cities, and this volume shows how technology has affected urban life from ancient times to the present. Of note is the detailed analysis of the technological systems that form urban infrastructures, and are used to manage modern cities. It is a valuable text for scholars and students interested in how cities evolve and function.’ — Mark Wilson, Associate Director of School of Planning, Design and Construction, and Professor of Urban & Regional Planning/Geography, Michigan State University, USA.