Prof. dr. Karin Pfeffer, Dr. Javier Martínez, Dr. Rob Lemmens (for topic 1), Dr. Frank Ostermann (for topic 2)
Field site: Lima, Peru. Be aware that Spanish is the main language in the country and will be necessary to properly do this research.
Worldwide, cities are applying digital systems based on geo-information technologies to monitor and manage the flows of urban resources. These technologies are implemented with the aim to make the distribution of resources more efficient and inclusive. It is assumed this transition will make the distribution of resources more equitable, disregarding the ways that technologies, just like human actions, bear meanings, prescribe behaviours and are inscribed by norms and values.
Previous research on smart urbanism has extensively researched the implications of the introduction of smart technology and big data for surveillance, the protection of privacy, the representation of people in the data and the flow and possession of data. However, the nexus between urban resource distribution, physical infrastructure and smart elements is currently relatively under-researched. Thus, this research aims to understand what the implementation of ‘smart’ technology means in practice regarding the distribution of urban resources such as water.
PhD’s active in this research:
Fenna Hoefsloot
Néstor De la Paz Ruiz
Although we are open to suggestions from students who are excited about this topic (see topic description), we are specifically looking for students who are interested in working on the following two research areas:
1. As part of the larger research, we are working on creating a ‘Metropolitan Water Observatory’. This will be a web-based platform in which we will collect participatory data about the water distribution and quality and map this for Lima. The main aim is to make visible the inequality in water security amongst Lima’s residents. Ideally, this platform will form a tool for civil society and government to work towards a more just distribution of water in the city. As part of this, we are looking for people who want to help develop this platform and research how we can design it in such a way that it will be continued and used after its launch.
2. Social media (mainly Facebook and Twitter) are widely used in the communication between Lima’s water company and the residents of Lima. Sedapal, Lima’s water company, uses social media to inform people about water cuts, maintenance work, and to educate people about responsible water use. On the other hand, Lima’s residents use social media to let Sedapal know when they do not receive water, ask questions, and voice complaints about the water connection. We are therefore looking for a student who is interested in analyzing the data available via social media. Specifically, we would be interested in the types of complaints that are made and their spatial distribution within the city.
Methodology: To be defined by the student. The chosen methods depend on the specific research questions and could range from social media content analysis and participatory mapping to researching the data architecture and inter-operability.