Queensland University of Technology (Australia) professor Marcus Foth looks positively toward the future of urban informatics.  As the editor of upcoming book the Handbook of Research on Urban Informatics: The Practice and Promise of the Real-Time City , Foth believes that upcoming research will bring exciting developments and innovations in numerous areas of the field like never before.

“Environmental sustainability and visualizing ecological impact on a more personal as well as collective level is definitely one area that has already started to produce significant results,” says Foth.

He also points out his prediction that the novel concepts and designs that urban informatics produce will have a great impact and benefit on future planning strategies and practices, an area that has already been called 'neo-planning' in line with other developments such as 'neo- geography'.

“In keeping with this nomenclature, what I call 'neo- communitarianism' is a third area that I'm very excited about,” says Foth.  “I see this as the political and community activism potential of urban informatics with a view to strengthen civic literacy and community engagement efforts, an area that embraces a new understanding of community values based on social networks and interaction supported by Web 2.0 services and mobile technology.”

Currently, the urban informatics expert is working on several projects including the study of how urban neighborhood communities can be assisted to grow in healthy ways by the use of new media and ICTs.  Also, Foth has begun research on new media creativity and literacy in two Australian communities, helping people participate in the urban planning process and empowering people to bring about change within their local community.  He hopes to begin research soon on ways to support urban residents in making more sustainable consumer and lifestyle choices.