The Extent of New Technologies in Urban Environments: Virtual Reality, Lighting, and Accessibility

Abstract

The United Nations estimated in 2018 that 68% of the population would live in urban areas in 2050. At the time of the estimate, the percentage was 55%, which would mean an increase of 13% in 32 years. Furthermore, according to their calculations, there will be 43 megacities with more than 10 million citizens by 2030. To ensure that the development of city dwellers takes place in the best possible conditions, the United Nations is committed to a sustainable urban design that guarantees the quality of life of city dwellers. The use of new technologies comes into play in the design of the urban environment to guarantee access to decent housing, employment, the inclusion of people with disabilities, transportation, energy systems, lighting, and other types of infrastructure, as well as essential services such as health, culture, and education. Considering all these challenges and their complexity of resolution, modern architecture must be constituted, planned, and made up of multidisciplinary groups that embrace the interrelationships between human beings and the environment as a whole.