Earthna Center for a Sustainable Future (Earthna), in cooperation with social analytics platform Neighbourlytics, launched a report titled ‘Education City as an Innovation District’, at Cityscape Qatar.
The report is based on a study which analyses how residents, employees and visitors engage with the district and recommends ways to enhance environmental, social and economic prosperity.
During a session at Cityscape Qatar 2023, Nihal Mohamed Al-Saleh, Director of Programs at Earthna, presented key findings from the study, which uses unique technology and social data analytics to provide a holistic view of urban life in Education City. This involves looking at the volume and variety of activities, walkability, relevance, and character of the district.
‘Placemaking’ communities in Education City
The report benchmarks Education City against five key areas in Doha, and other innovation districts worldwide.
It highlights that the campus has a mix of places that people can visit for work, study or leisure, utilise a high number of community assets, and a robust business and services network. It also identifies opportunities to create more ways for people to enjoy Education City, by focusing on how people move around the area, offering more activities and creating greater awareness of events and attractions.
The report marks the first step in an ongoing programme of ‘placemaking’ work, which will empower communities within Education City to identify ways to improve sustainability and liveability at a grassroots level.
Al-Saleh believes that cooperative action will be an essential aspect of Education City’s future success.
Earthna is committed to developing sustainable societies and liveable, resilient cities in hot and arid environments, and this report provides a foundation for the future development of Education City.
The report’s findings, according to Al-Saleh will help ensure that the district’s evolution will be focused on supporting the well-being of residents and visitors, by creating a year-round vibrant campus with low-carbon spaces that can be fully utilised, even in Qatar’s hot climate.
However, she said that the people who use Education City must be at the heart of this work, and it is essential that everyone work with the community to explore ways to re-visualise the spaces and create a thriving urban neighbourhood from the ground up.
Understanding human dynamics
Neighbourlytics Founding Director Jessica Christiansen-Franks said that their innovative social analytics platform fills the gap in understanding human dynamics within urban areas, and offers unique insights that traditional data – which tends to focus on the physical environment – cannot.
The report dives deep into how people use Education City, examining it through a hyper-local lens to reveal achievements and untapped opportunities.
Christiansen-Franks added that it’s a reminder that places are more than bricks and mortar – they are central to the health and happiness of their residents and visitors. The findings and actionable data will empower decision-making, guide planners and establish a data-driven decision-making norm for future development.
The full report is available on Earthna’s website.
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