{"616468":{"#nid":"616468","#data":{"type":"news","title":"Today\u0027s Automated Cities Raise Ethics and Privacy Issues","body":[{"value":"\u003Cp\u003EWe\u0026rsquo;ve already seen driverless car experiments, drones surveying highways and disaster sites, e-commerce automated lockers, and digital doorbells monitoring homes. Urban automation\u0026rsquo;s potential to create disruptive technologies that change cities\u0026rsquo; future development is evident, and there is much more to come.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\r\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\r\nWhile urban automation delivers city dwellers numerous benefits, its various forms raise issues of access, privacy, safety, trust, and discrimination. Many issues still need to be addressed in its design and deployment, said \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/planning.gatech.edu\/nancey-green-leigh-faicp\u0022\u003ENancey Green Leigh\u003C\/a\u003E, the associate dean for research at the College of Design.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\r\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\r\nThe panelists of the first College of Design Research Forum of 2019 will explore ethical principles and values from a range of perspectives that include, autonomous vehicles, building AI and sensors, urban supply chain, and disability services.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\r\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\r\nThe forum will take place Thursday, January 24, from 11 a.m. to noon in the Caddell Flex Space.\u003C\/p\u003E\r\n\r\n\u003Cp\u003EWe talked with Leigh ahead of the forum to learn more about the complexity of urban automation.\u003C\/p\u003E\r\n\r\n\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003ETo start, what are we referring to when we say \u0026ldquo;urban automation\u0026rdquo;? Can you give a couple of examples?\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\r\n\r\n\u003Cp\u003EThere is no one definition of urban automation. Loosely it refers to hardware and software developments that substitute for previous mechanical and human-operated physical or decision-making systems to regulate and service urban functions. These developments are largely enabled by advances in information and communication technologies.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\r\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\r\nSome present examples include, drones, robots, and sensors. Others will evolve in the future.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\r\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\r\n\u003Cstrong\u003EHow does the topic of urban automation fit in with research at the College of Design?\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\r\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\r\nIn \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/planning.gatech.edu\/\u0022\u003Eplanning\u003C\/a\u003E, it can potentially be used to create smart cities, with optimized functions such as transportation, energy and water use, improving the economy and the environment.\u003C\/p\u003E\r\n\r\n\u003Cp\u003EIn \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/arch.gatech.edu\/\u0022\u003Earchitecture\u003C\/a\u003E, urban automation is used to make intelligent buildings that are more energy efficient, and meet human needs of comfort, for example in office environments.\u003C\/p\u003E\r\n\r\n\u003Cp\u003EIn \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/bc.gatech.edu\/\u0022\u003Ebuilding construction\u003C\/a\u003E, it is used in the process of putting up buildings and creating infrastructure. We use drones to survey the physical condition of buildings and roads, and\u0026nbsp; to access damage of natural disasters and develop more effective responses.\u003C\/p\u003E\r\n\r\n\u003Cp\u003EIn \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/id.gatech.edu\/\u0022\u003Eindustrial design\u003C\/a\u003E, much of that focuses on products we use every day in urban environments, ties into the development of autonomous vehicles, and in the more novel application of wearable technologies,\u003C\/p\u003E\r\n\r\n\u003Cp\u003EIn \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/music.gatech.edu\/\u0022\u003Emusic\u003C\/a\u003E, urban automation can capture and analyze the sounds of a city, helping to track noise pollution, monitor traffic patterns, or generate new musical compositions.\u003C\/p\u003E\r\n\r\n\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EHow does your research into the economics of the robotics industry play into this research?\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\r\n\r\n\u003Cp\u003EI focus on local economic development planning and how technology drives change that affects the opportunities for work, standards of living, and the strength of local industries that support local economies.\u003C\/p\u003E\r\n\r\n\u003Cp\u003EOne key point is that the majority of economic activity in our jobs is located in metropolitan areas. We are very much a metropolitan nation, rather than the traditional view of urban and rural nation. So the use of robotics in firms has the potential to make them more competitive and productive. It also has the potential to eliminate jobs, which would affect people\u0026rsquo;s ability to live in cities and have a high quality of life and standard of living. It also has the potential to change existing work and create new jobs.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\r\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\r\nMy work is focused on understanding this. I\u0026rsquo;m primarily focused on the manufacturing sector, because that is where robotics are most in use at this point.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\r\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\r\n\u003Cstrong\u003EWhat is the most pressing concern that urban automation raises?\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\r\n\r\n\u003Cp\u003EThe most pressing concern is the reason we are having this forum: ethics and values. We know in many ways that urban automation has the potential to significantly transform the world that we live in. We also know our metro areas have longstanding, yet to be resolved, issues of justice for different communities and demographic groups\u003Cstrong\u003E.\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\r\n\r\n\u003Cp\u003EThere is a lot of controversy over artificial intelligence, which is a key component of urban automation, and to what extent does it augment, or substitute for, the capacity to make decisions by humans.\u003C\/p\u003E\r\n\r\n\u003Cp\u003EAll of this has major societal implications. Rather than create the technology without considering these potential impacts, the focus here is on: How do we make choices about the urban automation we use? What is our framework for developing these technologies, to be more conscious of the impact of that?\u003C\/p\u003E\r\n\r\n\u003Cp\u003ERelative to that are issues of, \u0026quot;Is it going to be accessible for all? How do we build in safety factors?,\u0026quot; because we would hope that \u0026ldquo;do no harm\u0026rdquo; is a key criteria for deployment of urban automation.\u003C\/p\u003E\r\n\r\n\u003Cp\u003EWill it give us the privacy that we expect to have? Privacy is a highly valued aspect of modern life.\u003C\/p\u003E\r\n\r\n\u003Cp\u003EIt\u0026rsquo;s also important to make sure that no one is left out of the benefits that can occur with the best of urban automation has to offer.\u003C\/p\u003E\r\n\r\n\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EHow do we address these privacy and ethical concerns?\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\r\n\r\n\u003Cp\u003EWe don\u0026rsquo;t yet have all the answers or solutions that we need. That is why it is important to have the discussion that we are planning for in our forum. We need to get these concerns to the forefront of the development of technology.\u003C\/p\u003E\r\n\r\n\u003Cp\u003EOne pressing concern is informing people about how their data will be used. Much of urban automation is about data collection. That data is used to develop software and hardware, forms of automation, as well as products.\u003C\/p\u003E\r\n\r\n\u003Cp\u003EWe have some ways to opt out, but it is all primitive and legally driven responses. We need more work on that.\u003C\/p\u003E\r\n\r\n\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EHow do we ensure a world that is inclusive and benefits all?\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\r\n\r\n\u003Cp\u003EThe hope is that urban automation will allow us to optimize the functions of smart cities such as transportation, energy, water use, improve the economy and the environment, and improve access to education and training.\u003C\/p\u003E\r\n\r\n\u003Cp\u003EThe goal is to improve the functions offered in urban areas and the ability of people to participate in society and the economy.\u003C\/p\u003E\r\n\r\n\u003Cp\u003EUrban automation should help the people who create and manage cities achieve goals of \u0026ldquo;smart cities that are just cities.\u0026rdquo;\u003C\/p\u003E\r\n\r\n\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EAlso on the Panel\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\r\nJoining Leigh on the panel will be \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/spp.gatech.edu\/people\/person\/jason-borenstein\u0022\u003EJason Borenstein\u003C\/a\u003E, associate director of the Center for Ethics and Technology at the School of Public Policy; \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/amacresearch.gatech.edu\/who-we-are\u0022\u003ECarolyn Phillips\u003C\/a\u003E, of the Center for Inclusive Design and Innovation (formerly AMAC Research Center); and \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/arch.gatech.edu\/people\/dennis-r-shelden\u0022\u003EDennis Shelden\u003C\/a\u003E, director of the Digital Building Lab and a professor in the School of Architecture. Leigh is also a professor in the School of City and Regional Planning.\u003C\/p\u003E\r\n\r\n\u003Cp\u003EBorenstein will focus on the ethics of autonomous vehicles and other computing technologies. While they hold much promise, he suggests that ethical issues emerging from their design and deployment must be addressed in a consistent and ongoing manner. Ethical issues that autonomous vehicles raise include the privacy of those who ride in them, vulnerability to hacking, and how they may interact with pedestrians or other entities in the surrounding environment.\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\r\n\r\n\u003Cp\u003EPhillips notes that we are at a defining moment as we gather at the crossroads of urban automation, ethics, and individuals with disabilities. The ethical implications\u0026nbsp;when considering individuals with disabilities quickly move beyond beneficence, justice, and autonomy to specific concerns of privacy, safety, and informed choice. As we create disruptive, transformational technologies, it is critical that we pause to ensure we have employed an ethical framework throughout each phase of\u0026nbsp;development and deployment so we can design for true inclusion.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\r\n\r\n\u003Cp\u003EShelden will talk about urban automation from the perspective of the built environment -- buildings, infrastructure and cities \u0026nbsp;\u0026ndash; which is increasingly becoming \u0026ldquo;smart,\u0026rdquo; as physical spaces and devices in these spaces are connected to simulations and data platforms on the cloud. This presents opportunities for improved understanding of the behaviors of built environments and the interactions of occupants in these environments. At the same time, important questions of information, individuality, and culture are becoming more pressing. Questions of data privacy and ownership, security, and identity that are becoming critical questions for individuals and for societies will become pressing in the design and operation of the built environment.\u003C\/p\u003E\r\n\r\n\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EAbout the Research Forums\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\r\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\r\nThe College of Design Research Forums allow the College community and our friends across the campus to experience the design- and technology-focused research at Georgia Tech. From music technology to product design; from assistive technology to healthcare; from architecture to city planning, we explore the many ways technology can solve critical problems for the way we live.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\r\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\r\n\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/design.gatech.edu\/events\/college-design-research-forum-ethics-values-reflective-urban-automation\u0022\u003EThis forum will be January 24, 2019\u003C\/a\u003E, 11 a.m. - Noon, in the Caddell Flex Space.\u003C\/p\u003E\r\n\r\n\u003Cp\u003EThe final research forum of the 2018-19 academic year is scheduled for Thursday, March 7, in the Caddell Flex Space.\u003C\/p\u003E\r\n","summary":null,"format":"limited_html"}],"field_subtitle":"","field_summary":[{"value":"\u003Cp\u003EWhile urban automation delivers many benefits, its various forms raise issues of access, privacy, safety, trust, and discrimination. These issues raise ethical questions that should be addressed in its design and deployment.\u003C\/p\u003E\r\n","format":"limited_html"}],"field_summary_sentence":[{"value":"While urban automation delivers many benefits, its various forms raise issues of access, privacy, safety, trust, and discrimination. These issues raise ethical questions should be addressed in its design and deployment."}],"uid":"32550","created_gmt":"2019-01-15 19:18:53","changed_gmt":"2019-02-06 19:38:28","author":"Malrey Head","boilerplate_text":"","field_publication":"","field_article_url":"","dateline":{"date":"2019-01-15T00:00:00-05:00","iso_date":"2019-01-15T00:00:00-05:00","tz":"America\/New_York"},"extras":[],"hg_media":{"615792":{"id":"615792","type":"image","title":"Urban Automation","body":null,"created":"1546453200","gmt_created":"2019-01-02 18:20:00","changed":"1547758361","gmt_changed":"2019-01-17 20:52:41","alt":"Collage: drones, robots, autonomous cars, sensors","file":{"fid":"234437","name":"forum.collage.jpg","image_path":"\/sites\/default\/files\/images\/forum.collage.jpg","image_full_path":"http:\/\/hg.gatech.edu\/\/sites\/default\/files\/images\/forum.collage.jpg","mime":"image\/jpeg","size":483570,"path_740":"http:\/\/hg.gatech.edu\/sites\/default\/files\/styles\/740xx_scale\/public\/images\/forum.collage.jpg?itok=szzXm1ys"}}},"media_ids":["615792"],"related_links":[{"url":"https:\/\/design.gatech.edu\/events\/college-design-research-forum-ethics-values-reflective-urban-automation","title":"Research Forum"}],"groups":[{"id":"1221","name":"College of Design"},{"id":"1260","name":"CQGRD - Center for Quality Growth and Regional Development"},{"id":"60380","name":"CSPAV - Center for Spatial Planning Analytics and Visualization"},{"id":"48996","name":"School of Architecture"},{"id":"1224","name":"School of City \u0026 Regional Planning"},{"id":"1225","name":"School of Industrial Design"},{"id":"1227","name":"School of Music"},{"id":"468131","name":"SimTigrate"}],"categories":[{"id":"137","name":"Architecture"},{"id":"179355","name":"Building Construction"},{"id":"142","name":"City Planning, Transportation, and Urban Growth"},{"id":"179356","name":"Industrial Design"},{"id":"148","name":"Music and Music Technology"}],"keywords":[],"core_research_areas":[{"id":"39501","name":"People and Technology"}],"news_room_topics":[],"event_categories":[],"invited_audience":[],"affiliations":[],"classification":[],"areas_of_expertise":[],"news_and_recent_appearances":[],"phone":[],"contact":[{"value":"\u003Cp\u003E\u003Ca href=\u0022mailto:malrey.head@design.gatech.edu\u0022\u003EMalrey Head\u003C\/a\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\r\nDigital Communications Specialist\u003Cbr \/\u003E\r\nCollege of Design\u003C\/p\u003E\r\n","format":"limited_html"}],"email":[],"slides":[],"orientation":[],"userdata":""}}}