The project explores the potential of crowdsourcing (an online, distributed problem-solving process for creative solutions development) to advance innovative urban sustainability governance (USG) models. It is intended to investigate whether and how crowdsourcing can be appropriate for:
- dealing with the mutable, multi-scalar and complex character of urban sustainability;
- activating real participatory processes in knowledge production and decision-making;
- empowering technological agency of heterogeneous actor-networks for narrowing the gap between research results and policy applications.
Research hypothesis are tested against evidences collected through investigation on the city of Ghent (Belgium), whose commitment for achieving urban sustainability goals through people’s participation, technological development and public-private partnerships makes it a forefront example in the European panorama. Actor-Network Theory framework and Scenario Building analysis are adopted for modelling current material-semiotic fluxes in USG; and for prefiguring future social, political and economic development determined by the introduction of crowdsourcing processes. Scientific results will include the assessment of the most appropriate crowdsourcing processes for citizens, administrations and business to collaboratively produce an innovative USG model; and the provision of policy-suggestions for the implementation of crowdsourcing-based participatory processes for USG in the context of European cities.
More information at: www.crowdusg.net