This module is a critical exploration of the concepts of the sustainable city, the smart city, and the creative city and how they relate to each other. Using applied case-studies it considers how smart city and creative city initiatives can be used to address social, economic, and environmental issues, promote urban sustainability, and progress the United Nation’s Sustainable Development Goals.

The First half of the module covers content that Introduces the differing dimensions of a smart city – economy, environment, living, people, mobility, governance. It continues by discussing the role of digital technologies, nature-based solutions, and smart approaches in addressing the SDGs and delivering urban sustainability and decarbonisation strategies.



The second half of the module will draw on expertise from across the university and beyond to explore:

Greening the City - the concepts of green infrastructure, sustainable drainage systems, water sensitive urban design, low impact development, sponge cities and nature-based strategies for managing climate change and improving environmental quality;

Sustainable Buildings - what makes a building sustainable, and an introduction to green or environmental building standards (e.g., BREEAM, LEED, Passive House), sustainable and low-carbon building materials and construction techniques, decarbonising existing buildings and the challenges involved in creating a sustainable, carbon neutral building stock, and low-carbon energy systems.

The Digital City – the role of digital skills, smart technologies, mobile technologies, and big data and city dashboards in creating smarter and more sustainable cities; and the contribution that tools such as virtual reality systems, 3d visualisation and digital twins can make to sustainable urban planning and design.

Transport and Mobility – approaches to, and challenges in, decarbonising travel and transport system, the role of active travel and the 15-minute city, alternative transport paradigms, and the relationship between transport and mobility, environmental quality and quality of life.

A 2,000-word critical review of the sustainability issues and management responses for a specific urban area chosen by the student (Learning Outcomes: 1, 3, 5)

A 2,500-word Report outlining a smart and/or creative city response to a sustainability issue within a specific urban area chosen by the student (Learning Outcomes: 1, 2, 4, 5)

Formative Assessment: The use of structured learning activities will provide students with the opportunity to discuss ideas introduced in the module learning resources during the virtual class-sessions and/or on discussion forums. Where appropriate this will be supported using worksheets and will enable students to self-evaluate their understanding of the learning materials as the module progresses. Students will also be provided with opportunities to discuss their ideas for the graded assignments as the module progresses.

This module will be delivered through a combination of independent online learning, fortnightly virtual class sessions, and planning, researching, and producing the assessments.

Materials and resources that introduce the main themes and key concepts covered in the module, as well as supporting the development of the key skills required to complete the assessment, will be made available via the VLE. These may be in the form of pre-recorded lectures, a set of directed readings, links to videos and other online resources, appropriate micro-certification or Linked-in learning packages, or a mixture.

The scheduled virtual class sessions will provide students with the opportunity to: (i) debate and further explore the ideas and issues introduced in the learning materials; (ii) discuss how they will use them to address the module assessment; and (iii) receive guidance on completing the assessment.

Students should spend the independent learning hours working through the learning resources and self-instructional materials provided in the VLE, completing preparatory and follow-up activities for the virtual class sessions, and completing the module assessment.

University Learning Outcome

1. Demonstrate an advanced and critical understanding of the concepts of the sustainable city, the smart city, and the creative city and the role they can play in the delivery of the UN sustainable development goals

Knowledge & Understanding, Analysis

2. Critically evaluate the contribution that a range of sustainable, smart, and creative city initiatives can make to urban sustainability strategies

Knowledge & Understanding, Application

3. Demonstrate a detailed knowledge of a specific urban area, its environmental and sustainability issues, and critically explore the way in which sustainable city, smart city, and creative city principles have been incorporated into its management

Knowledge & Understanding, Enquiry, Application

4. Identify and justify an appropriate smart and/or creative city initiative to respond to a sustainability issue within a specific urban area

Problem Solving, Application, Reflection

5. Demonstrate effective intellectual, communication and learning management skills relating to smart and sustainable cities and urban sustainability

Learning, Enquiry, Communication

Doyle, J. (2019) The Creative City: Vision and Execution. Routledge

Estevez, E. et al. (Editors – 2022) Smart Cities and Smart Governance: Towards the 22nd Century Sustainable City. Springer

Evans, J. et al. (editors – 2020) Smart and Sustainable Cities? Pipedreams, Practicalities and Possibilities. Routledge

Halegoua, G. (2020) Smart Cities. MIT Press

Leorke, D. & Owen, M. (editors – 2020) Games and Play in the Creative, Smart and Ecological City. Routledge

McLaren, D. & Agyeman, J. (2015) Sharing Cities: A Case of Truly Smart and Sustainable Cities. MIT Press

Shmelev, S, (editor – 2019) Sustainable Cities Reimagined: Multidimensional Assessment and Smart Solutions. Routledge

Wheeler, S.M. and Rosan, C.d. (2021) Reimagining Sustainable Cities: Strategies for Designing Greener, Healthier, More Equitable Communities. University of California Press

Wheeler, S. (Editor – 2022) The Sustainable Urban Development Reader. Routledge

Willis, K. & Aurigi, A. (2020) The Routledge Companion to Smart Cities. Routledge.

Access to: (i) the VLE used for hosting the module learning resources; (ii) the software used to run live virtual classes and meetings; and (iii) relevant eBooks, e-journals, and websites such as:

United Nations https://www.un.org/sustainabledevelopment/cities/

World Bank https://www.worldbank.org/en/topic/sustainable-communities

This module provides you with the opportunity to critically explore the concepts of the sustainable city, the smart city and the creative city and how they relate to each other. Using applied case-studies you will consider how smart city and creative city strategies and initiatives can be used to address social, economic, and environmental issues, promote urban sustainability and progress the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals.