Guest Blog: The reinvention of urban spaces with digital technologies

Digitisation is impacting urban spaces, office complexes and other consumer-centric locations in very tangible ways. The rise of digital services has forced high street businesses to adapt their models, showcased by disruptors like Amazon and their introduction of checkout-less stores. And on a larger scale, the ongoing evolution of Smart Cities is transforming how we define mixed-use urban areas, with integrated digital services such as live updates and interactive information boards becoming the norm.

Although the reinvention of shared space experiences using Smart and Responsive technologies is not a new concept, the hope of a post-lockdown society has fast-tracked the necessity of urban transformation. From retail and pedestrianised complexes, to tourism, to leisure facilities, to offices and airport buildings; adopting digital technology solutions can accelerate the safe reopening of public, populated, and urban spaces in a post-covid era.

The role of technology solutions in urban reopening

Our collective perception of urban spaces has changed. A post-covid society is likely to place much more importance on the safety of navigation, crowds, and the functionality of health-conscious travel. Digital activation is the key to opening business doors in a way that accommodates these concerns. It allows operators to reintroduce safety in their designs, and foster public trust in the use of urban environments in order to encourage their repopulation.

There are many smart technologies involved in the digitalisation of urban spaces, but some of the most integral solutions in our journey out of lockdown will be those that are user-focused. Digital tools that facilitate live routing, positioning, mapping and location-finding in complex spaces will be integral for successfully adapting public areas to an inevitable need for smarter and safer forms of interaction.

At their core, digital mapping services enable real-time context and navigation of physical spaces in order to optimise people’s movements and experiences within complex areas. But the wider ramification of this is matching people’s needs to a service in real-time. The use of live information and context-aware navigation on digital maps, responsive location-related push notifications within an app, and dynamic asset tracking all serve to create safer, more efficient use of facilities for operators and customers alike, as well as streamlined navigation.

With minimal man-powered resources, these customisable and dynamic data technologies provide immediate solutions to people’s challenges or demands. Covid-19 in particular has emphasised previously innocuous concerns in many areas, such as one-way navigation or capacity monitoring and congestion avoidance.

What urban spaces could look like with digital technology

Densely populated spaces like city centre tourist and business districts, airports, train stations and campuses can be complicated to navigate and explore. This often leads to congestion and frustration, disruption to travel, services and emergency response, and lost profit for businesses, amongst other challenges.

Digital mapping solutions offer more awareness of routes, services, experiences, and support facilities in these areas. The dynamic use of behavioural data, such as live updates about business promotions or location capacity can optimise the user experience and facilitate greater operator efficiency in the context of evolving situations. This combats common historical challenges as well as those that will become a big part of our society’s future.

At Living Map, we are here to advance the progress of this transition. To help integrate digital mapping, wayfinding and positioning technologies into previously populated areas, and aid people’s journey back into public places, safely and with strategic consideration.

Read our case studies for more information, or get in touch with one of our team to discuss how digital technology solutions can help transform your space.

This article was authored by Living Map