#  Infrastructure 

 



##  Infrastructure 

 

 

       ![Swooping highway ramps seen from below on a bright day](/sites/g/files/omnuum10826/files/styles/hwp_21_9__1920x825/public/datasmart/files/infrastructure-highway-1-full_0.jpg?itok=KYZ99IQL) 

 

 



 

 



 

Here you can find research, writing, and projects on the physical and digital infrastructure of cities. Our primary focus is the intersection of urban planning and infrastructure with an increasingly connected digital realm, and the governance required to safely and effectively manage this emerging framework.

We focus on how cities govern and use data at the intersection of urban planning, infrastructure, and an increasingly connected digital realm, emphasizing governance and equity rather than technical design or construction.

Our work explores how digital tools and data platforms layer onto physical assets like streets, transit, streetlights, water systems, and broadband networks. Explore our work below to see how policies, practices, and community partnerships can help cities use this “smart” infrastructure to advance equity, safety, sustainability, and resilience while protecting privacy and building public trust.



 

##  Explore popular resources and articles 

Highlighted below are a few of our most influential resources on infrastructure, showcasing how residents and algorithms perceive problems differently, how planners envision the future American city, and how better data can transform something as everyday as parking.



 

 



 [ Seeking Better Parking Data, Boston Breaks Up its Giant Contract arrow\_circle\_right ](/seeking-better-parking-data-boston-breaks-its-giant-contract) [ When Residents and Algorithms See Different Problems  arrow\_circle\_right ](/residents-algorithms-see-different-problems) [  Charles Waldheim on the Future of the American City  arrow\_circle\_right ](/charles-waldheim-future-american-city) 

 

 

 

 

##  Recent Articles, Research, and Podcasts 

 



  [### The Value of Concentrating Neighborhood Investment

 ](/atlanta-neighborhood-investment) June 01, 2026 

 

   ![Empty storefronts in Lakeville, Atlanta](/sites/g/files/omnuum10826/files/styles/hwp_16_9__480x270/public/2026-06/AdobeStock_588887170_Editorial_Use_Only.jpg?itok=3ew-VtOJ) 

 



 

 

   [### Milwaukee's Data-Driven Strategy to Eliminate Childhood Lead Poisoning

 ](/milwaukee-data-driven-lead-pipes) May 28, 2026 

 

   ![Water main lines in a ground trench for repair](/sites/g/files/omnuum10826/files/styles/hwp_16_9__480x270/public/2026-05/AdobeStock_251538232.jpg?itok=V8zVbtY-) 

 



 

 

   [### De-Risking Equitable Development with 3D Spatial Technology

 ](/equitable-development-st-louis-digital) May 14, 2026 

 

   ![St. Louis skyline](/sites/g/files/omnuum10826/files/styles/hwp_16_9__480x270/public/2026-05/AdobeStock_83742029%20St%20Louis.jpg?itok=ZhLujYRe) 

 



 

 

   [### How AI Helps Cities Manage Disaster Response Data

 ](/ai-disaster-response-data) April 28, 2026 

  [April Hopcroft](/people/april-hopcroft)

 

   ![Drone image of a coastline with colorful dots showing types of damage, with the majority marked as "destroyed"](/sites/g/files/omnuum10826/files/styles/hwp_16_9__480x270/public/2026-04/Hurricane%20damage%20Manzini.png?itok=LhQYGwOG) 

 



 

 

   [### Crisis Leadership and Cross-Agency Collaboration: Milwaukee’s Rapid Response to a Lead Emergency

 ](/crisis-leadership-collaboration-milwaukee-lead) April 09, 2026 

 

   ![Tap reading "danger, lead hazard" in foreground with lead removal experts in background](/sites/g/files/omnuum10826/files/styles/hwp_16_9__480x270/public/2026-04/AdobeStock_116416994.jpg?itok=bG42LExR) 

 



 

 

  

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