DG Cities

Through our work this year, we have touched on how the appearance of a place can change the way it is cared for. We have researched the communication of trust in emerging AI brands. We have found ways to visualise data to help make sense of complex housing assets. In different ways, we have considered how a visual identity informs people’s perception, behaviour and understanding. So at the end of this year, to mark almost a decade of DG Cities, we did a small rebranding project of our own. Next year is looking like a busy one: we’re taking our Home by Home plan on the road, we're talking to even more organisations about #behaviouralinnovation, #evaluation and #AI, and we’ll be presenting new insights from some of our research, so we wanted to look our best. As it turned out, the process was more than a makeover. It gave us the chance to get together as a company, expertly facilitated by Ana Beatriz Fernandes, to have fun, explain why we do what we do, what motivates us and what we want to share with the world. For some, it's the different backgrounds and skills in the team that makes our work so unique; for others, it's the social and environmental purpose - the opportunity to design and deliver projects that improve people's lives. From these discussions, we also have some interesting features planned for the new year, so follow, like, read, wave, say hello, have a good holidays, and see you in 2025! 💫

Are you making the most of what you already know? Is your housing data supporting your retrofit programme - or giving you the insights you need to prioritise and deliver improvements? If not, we have a plan - and a tool that can help. Get in touch with us to find out more and request a demo: https://lnkd.in/emjKymST Balázs Csuvár Rasheed Sokunbi Nima Karshenas #assetmanagement #housingrepairs #localgovernment

Are you ready for another 2024 wrapped? We hope so, because here are some of DG Cities' highlights! It's been a busy year for the team in the Design District London. We've been working on a wide range of projects across housing, transport, data, AI, connectivity, behavioural innovation and evaluation, in the Royal Borough of Greenwich and beyond. Alongside some fantastic local initiatives, we have contributed to some important government research, looking at the challenge of decarbonisation when it comes to different types of housing, as well as the emerging risks and opportunities of AI for industry and local authorities. We've got lots of news to share in 2025 (and you may notice something is a little different about us... 👀 ), but until then, thank you to our clients, collaborators and a great team, past and present, this year. To revisit our work in a little more depth, why not catch up with some of our latest blogs... "Computer says yes: can AI help to streamline a council's complaints process?" https://lnkd.in/exFXdJ58 "Increasing cycling rates: from the Dutch seaside to Stevenage, the value of examining what works in practice." https://lnkd.in/ebnQnnKQ "Lost in translation? How language defines trust in AI tools" https://lnkd.in/eUXA5a6T "Have you factored evaluation into your retrofit funding bid?" https://lnkd.in/ef2Q2uVq 💫 Ash Dowler Balázs Csuvár Nima Karshenas Rasheed Sokunbi Lara Suraci, PhD Gabriela Mihaylova Trevor P. Dorling Edward Houghton Sarah Simpkin Emily King Iona Norton Rosa D'Alessandro Leanne Kelly

"Without clear assurance terminology, it’s unlikely that AI technologies will be widely accepted and trusted." Last month, the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology released the report Assuring a Responsible Future for #AI. This important piece of work highlights the challenge of businesses and public sector organisations adopting AI tools without sufficient safeguards in place. For our latest blog, Edward Houghton looks at the importance of choosing the right words for assurance, and takes an in-depth look at some of the trust issues our research uncovered. https://lnkd.in/eUXA5a6T

"Technological innovation isn’t what we need now. The innovation we need is in how we talk to people, the governance, procurement, funding and financial structures surrounding the technology, and how we get behavioural change so that more of that technology is being taken up." DG Cities' Director of Innovation & Net Zero, Balázs Csuvár was back on campus in a popular event that brought together leading Imperial College London alumni to explore the future of the city. You can catch up with some fascinating insights into the future of energy, housing, transport and more from Balazs, Caroline Howe, Pepe Puchol-Salort and Sarah Holliday here: https://lnkd.in/exYTnJPr

Enjoying an interesting morning at the techUK Digital Ethics Summit on the shape of the UKs regulatory and industry approach to ensuring safe AI. Wide ranging discussion on UK institutional innovation in #AI role of policy, regulation and business - particularly open techniques and businesses working in the open on open source technologies. Agree with Linda Griffin of Mozilla that there are societal benefits that the public will reap from open tools. Excellent point from Alex Krasodomski-Jones on the global political and governance spheres moving "from the handbrake to the accelerator" - in a world of strongman protectionism the UK needs to focus on fast and safe innovation. Also great to hear our DG Cities work on AI taxonomies and language referenced alongside Department for Science, Innovation and Technology consultation of the AI Management Essentials. 🤓 Language of AI assurance and ethics is key! #DES2024 #digitalethics2024

We have been working with DG Cities to raise awareness of and prevent fly-tipping on the Woolwich Common Estate. 🎨♻️ Families on the Woolwich Common Estate have produced artwork, in collaboration with local arts group TARU Arts, from recycled materials (such as food wrappers and plastic bottles), to display around the estate. This is part of a project which aims to reduce fly-tipping and littering, encourage recycling and help communities start conversations on how to keep their neighbourhood tidy. You can see the murals installed on the estate until March 2025.

"Digital inclusion is social inclusion." Molly Gavriel, Senior Business Analyst at dxw, reflects on the recent LGA conference for the Local Government Information Unit (LGIU). In her piece, she highlights some of the work Digital Greenwich Connect is doing to address #digitalinclusion in the borough. Read Molly's article here: https://lnkd.in/ew5CijBv Digital Greenwich Connect was set up to build and maintain a 21-kilometre full-fibre, gigabit-capable network infrastructure in the Royal Borough of Greenwich, as a joint venture between DG Cities and full-fibre provider ITS Technology Group. Understanding the importance of accessible technology as a foundation for social inclusion, our work will provide stable, high-quality and affordable internet connectivity to help improve public service delivery and enable greater community participation in democratic processes. Find out more about the joint venture here: https://lnkd.in/e23zPR2h Trevor P. Dorling

As the UK's first New Town, Stevenage was designed from scratch to bring together all forms of transport, including cycling - yet many residents today aren’t embracing life on two wheels. DG Cities partnered with Stevenage Borough Council and Hertfordshire County Council to understand why, and how we could help encourage people to give cycling a spin. By using behavioural science, co-creation, and evidence-based techniques, we worked with families, students, and healthcare staff to identify barriers, practical challenges and find solutions. From cycle miles schemes to bicycle libraries, our work aimed to help unlock Stevenage’s cycling potential. Curious about how small changes can lead to big impact? Read our latest case study: https://lnkd.in/eVjjm5yU #CyclingForAll #SustainableTravel #BehaviouralInnovation Leanne Kelly Emily King Edward Houghton

Come and see some fantastic murals made by residents in Woolwich to help stop fly-tipping on their estate! We have been working on a project with the Royal Borough of Greenwich to raise awareness of and deter fly-tipping on the Woolwich Common Estate. Families in the area have collaborated with local arts group, TARU Arts to turn wrappers and plastic bottles into these wonderful murals – the aim is to help reduce fly-tipping and littering, promote recycling, bring people together and start conversations on how to keep the neighbourhood tidy. Fly-tipping is also a drain on budgets, and costs the council over £1 million a year. As part of the ongoing work to tackle the issue, CCTV cameras have been installed in fly-tipping hotspots, and information on how to dispose of bulky waste has been shared. Find out more here: https://lnkd.in/epMAxWDc