UrbanitiesLab (© 2015-2025)

The UrbanitiesLab is an initiative to explore, theorize, and engage with people on their experiences with aware technologies affecting information interactions, engagement, literacies, and learning in urban life.

Responsive & Interactive

The UrbanitiesLab fosters spaces for discussion and action about open, vibrant, people-interactive, responsive, livable, and sustainable cities.

Activities & Events 2024-2025

Current Urban AI-related Initiatives ...

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What: Book, in press
Title: AI in Urban Life: Perspective, Challenges, and Opportunities
When: May 2025.
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What: Conference Paper
Title: Improving our Awareness of Data Generation, Use, and Ownership: People and Data Interactions in AI-Rich Environments
Where: HCII 2025, Gothenburg, Sweden
When: June 2025.
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What: Work in progress
Title: Data Models and Frameworks
When: 2025.

                                Activities & Events on Smart Cities 2016-2023
  • An Exploration of the Potential of Large Language Models to Enable Cognitive Flexibility in AI-Augmented Learning Environments (November 2023) Chauncey & McKenna
  • HCII2023 Paper on The nurturing of theory for smart environments and spaces: The case of ambient theory for smart cities (July 2023)​
  • Urban life and the ambient in smart cities, learning cities, and future cities. IGI Global, 2023.
  • HCII2022 Paper on Exploring the usefulness and usability of ambient theory for smart cities (June-July 2022)​
  • IHSI2022 Paper on Ambient theory for smart cities: Is it a good theory? (February 2022)
  • FTC2021 Paper Is ambient theory for smart cities even a theory? An affirmative assessment (2022)
  • Elements to Consider in Critiquing a Theory: The Emerging Case of Ambient Theory for Smart Cities. November 2021. Video presentation prepared in response to an invitation to speak to students in a Doctoral Course on Critiquing Theories, De La Salle University, Manila, Philippines
  • HCII2021 Paper on The importance of theory for understanding smart cities: Making a case for ambient theory (July 2021) [Best Paper Award]​
  • Seeing Smart Cities Through a Multi-Dimensional Lens: Perspectives, Relationships, and Patterns for Success. Springer. 2021.
  • Visibilities and Invisibilities in Smart Cities: Emerging Research and Opportunities. IGI Global. 2021
  • HCII2020 Paper on Adaptability and attuning in smart cities: Exploring the HCI grand challenge of learning and creativity (July 2020)
  • Journal article, Human-Smart Environment Interactions in Smart Cities: Exploring Dimensionalities of Smartness, Future Internet, special issue, Smart Cities, Innovation, and Multi-Dimensionality (April 2020)
  • Book Chapter, Awareness and smart city implementations: Sensing, sensors, and the IoT in the public sector. In J. R. Gil Garcia, T. A. Pardo, and M. Gascó (Eds.). Beyond smart and connected governments: Sensors and the Internet of Things in the public sector. Springer, Public Administration and Information Technology (PAIT). (March 2020)
  • FICC2020 Paper on Urban sensibilities, sharing and interactive public spaces: In search of a good correlation for information and communication in smart cities (March 2020)
  • IHSI2020 Paper on Beyond confluence, integration and symbiosis: Creating more aware relationships in smart cities (February 2020)
  • HCII2019 Presentation on Getting smarter about data and access in smart cities (July 2019)
  • CSC2019 Reflections on evolving urban correlations for connected smart cities (July 2019)
  • Ambient Urbanities as the Intersection Between the IoT and the IoP in Smart Cities. IGI Global. 2019.
  • Innovating metrics for smarter, responsive cities. Data, Special Issue - Big Data Challenges in Smart Cities,   March 2019
  • Future Technologies Conference (FTC) 2018 Presentation on Exploring the quantified experience: Finding spaces for people and their voices in smarter, more responsive cities Nov 2018
  • HCII2018 Presentation on Creativity & ambient urbanizing at the intersection of the Internet of Things & People in smart cities (July 2018)
  • Collaboration in the 1st Victoria Design Nerds Jam, Upcycled Urbanism: How Might We Upcycle &/or Memorialize the Blue Bridge? (Mar 2018)
  • Smart Cities & Learning Cities booth at Discover Tectoria featuring a local smart city project (Feb 2018)
  • VICTA2017 Presentation on Adaptive reuse of cultural heritage elements and fragments in public spaces: The Internet of Cultural Things (IoCTs) and applications as infrastructures for learning in smart cities (Dec 2017)
  • iCERi2017 Presentation on Re-conceptualizing jobs, work & labour: Transforming learning for more creative economies in 21st century smart cities (Nov 2017)
  • HCII2017 Presentation on Civic Tech & Ambient Data in the Public Realm (July 2017)
  • Course on Learning Cities (24 May 2017)
  • ​Invited Speaker (Oct 2016): Emerging Green Builders for Smarter Cities/Communities​
  • Workshop (PreConference, April 2016): BCNET2016
  • Workshop (Jan 2016): CitySmarts
For more information about the UrbanitiesLab please contact the Director, Patricia McKenna