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From Traffic Modeling to Smart Cities and Digital Democracies
Last Updated: 2026-02-05 16:02:10
Abstract
This seminar will present speakers who discuss the challenges and opportunities arisinig for our cities and societies with the digital revolution. Besides discussing questions of automation using Big Data, AI and other digital technologies, we will reflect on the question of how democracy could be digitally upgraded to promote innovation, sustainability, and resilience.
Objective
To collect credit points, students will have to give a 30-40 minute presentation in the seminar, after which the presentation will be discussed. The presentation will be graded.
Content
This seminar will present speakers who discuss the challenges and opportunities arisinig for our cities and societies with the digital revolution. Besides discussing questions of automation using Big Data, AI and other digital technologies, we will also reflect on the question of how democracy could be digitally upgraded, and how citizen participation could contribute to innovation, sustainability, resilience, and quality of life. This includes questions around collective intelligence and digital platforms that support creativity, engagement, coordination and cooperation.
Resources
Literature
Martin Treiber and Arne Kesting Traffic Flow Dynamics: Data, Models and Simulation Link Dirk Helbing Traffic and related self-driven many-particle systems Reviews of Modern Physics 73, 1067 https://journals.aps.org/rmp/abstract/10.1103/RevModPhys.73.1067 Dirk Helbing An Analytical Theory of Traffic Flow (collection of papers) https://www.researchgate.net/publication/261629187 Michael Batty, Kay Axhausen et al. Smart cities of the future Books by Michael Batty https://link.springer.com/article/10.1140/epjst/e2012-01703-3 How social influence can undermine the wisdom of crowd effect https://www.pnas.org/content/108/22/9020 Evidence for a collective intelligence factor in the performance of human groups https://science.sciencemag.org/content/330/6004/686.full Optimal incentives for collective intelligence https://www.pnas.org/content/114/20/5077.short Collective Intelligence: Creating a Prosperous World at Peace Link Big Mind: How Collective Intelligence Can Change Our World https://www.amazon.com/Big-Mind-Collective-Intelligence-Change/dp/0691170797/ Programming Collective Intelligence Link Urban architecture as connective-collective intelligence. Which spaces of interaction? https://www.mdpi.com/2071-1050/5/7/2928 Build digital democracy https://www.nature.com/news/society-build-digital-democracy-1.18690 How to make democracy work in the digital age Link Digital Democracy: How to make it work? http://futurict.blogspot.com/2020/06/digital-democracy-how-to-make-it-work.html Proof of witness presence: Blockchain consensus for augmented democracy in smart cities https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0743731520303282 Iterative Learning Control for Multi-agent Systems Coordination Link Decentralized Collective Learning for Self-managed Sharing Economies https://dl.acm.org/doi/abs/10.1145/3277668 Further literature will be recommended in the lectures.
Learning Materials (Links)
General Information
- Language
- English
- Levels
- DS , MSC
- Frequency
- Yearly recurring
Examination
- Type
- graded semester performance
Registration & Places
- Max Places
- 40
Course Components
| Type | Title | Time & Place | Hours |
|---|---|---|---|
| seminar | From Traffic Modeling to Smart Cities and Digital Democracies |
|
2 h weekly |
Offered In
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Science in Perspective (In “Science in Perspective”-courses students learn to reflect on ETH’s STEM subjects from the perspective of humanities, political and social sciences. Only the courses listed below will be recognized as "Science in Perspective" courses.)
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Type A: Enhancement of Reflection Competence (SiP courses are recommended for bachelor students after their first-year examination and for all master- or doctoral students. All SiP courses are listed in Type A. Courses listed under Type B are only recommendations for enrollment for specific departments.)
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Type B: Reflection About Subject-Specific Methods and Contents (Subject-specific courses. Particularly relevant for students interested in those subjects. All these courses are also listed under the category “Typ A”, and every student can enroll in these courses.)
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