Urban Science

We integrate data analysis, visualization, sensors, and artificial intelligence into a planning, design, and policy-making context to answer urgent challenges such as the climate crisis, digital citizenship, sustainable urban development, and building a just city.

Overview

In the years to come, solutions to the complex global problems, which are increasingly urban, will require an understanding of large amounts of data and a facility with analysis, visualization, sensors, and even the integration of artificial intelligence into planning and policy-making contexts in a democratic and ethical manner. At the same time, the fields of computer science and machine learning can benefit from the urgency and “hands-on” nature of the sorts of challenges presented in policy-making and urban planning contexts and can lead to democratic and ethical innovations of technology. In short: urban planners have excellent problems, and computer scientists have excellent tools.

Areas of Study

Sensing

Modeling and Simulation

Visualization

Control and Optimization

Key Themes

Mobility

Environment

Infrastructure and Information Systems (IIS)

Health/Wellbeing

Data Action

Cybersecurity

Bachelor of Urban Science and Planning with Computer Science

The 11-6 degree (Bachelor of Urban Science and Planning with Computer Science) aims to help MIT undergraduates use their computer science skills to make positive social impacts. For the predominantly technically-minded undergraduates at MIT, working within real urban contexts and environments will introduce them to:

  • Fundamental and socially-relevant questions of equity, fairness, diversity;
  • Specific applications of computer science skills (e.g. statistics, data science, geospatial analysis, and visualization) to urban-related questions;
  • Diverse contexts in which technology is tested and used. 

Learn more about the degree program