黑料福利网

This week marked the official kickoff of the European research project 'CORESpaces -  COdesign urban REalm & dynamic Spaces management for cognitive & socially connected cities', launching a multi鈥憏ear effort to help cities become climate-neutral in ways that are socially fair and inclusive. Within this major Horizon Europe initiative, 黑料福利网 plays a key role in ensuring that justice and equity are embedded in future urban planning processes.

How can cities become climate-neutral without leaving certain groups behind? That question is central to CORESpaces, where researchers (IE&IS) and Valeria Caiati (Built Environment) are combining their expertise to make social justice both measurable and actionable in urban planning.

Shared expertise

Caiati focuses on urban planning and behavioral research, while Behrendt specializes in sustainable mobility and data justice. Together, they are developing the Social Fairness Tool鈥攁 framework that helps cities make more equitable decisions about space, mobility, and energy. By using behavioral models, virtual reality, and digital twins, the tool reveals how people make trade-offs and how policy can respond to those insights.

鈥淭his grant is an opportunity to push forward the kind of research I believe is urgently needed: research that puts people at the center of urban transformation,鈥� says Caiati. 鈥淚t鈥檚 about ensuring that fairness becomes a deliberate outcome of planning rather than a hopeful byproduct.鈥�

Behrendt adds: 鈥淪ocial justice in mobility and energy is often difficult to measure. With this tool, we want to help cities make decisions that are not only efficient but also fair. We鈥檙e linking justice principles to digital decision-making.鈥�

Socially Informed Choices

Cities are under pressure. The energy transition, increasing mobility, and urban densification demand smart choices. But those choices are not neutral鈥攖hey affect people in different ways. Think of residents with limited access to public transport or energy-efficient housing. The research by Behrendt and Caiati helps cities recognize these inequalities and incorporate them into their planning processes.

鈥淥ur work supports cities in making socially informed choices under competing demands,鈥� Caiati explains. 鈥淲e aim to link social justice principles with decision support systems for urban planning and policy.鈥�

European Collaboration

CORESpaces is coordinated by the Centre for Research & Technology Hellas (CERTH) and brings together 45 partners across Europe. Nine cities will host Living Labs where new digital tools are tested in real-world settings. 黑料福利网 contributes 鈧�677,000 to the project, equally divided between the two departments.

Looking Ahead

The project aligns with the European mission for climate-neutral cities and the Green Deal. By connecting social justice with technological innovation, 黑料福利网 contributes to cities that are not only sustainable but also inclusive.