Published by Zoe Taylor on 20 February 2026 With more than half of the world’s population living in cities, and urban areas responsible for over , it’s clear we need to be smarter about urban planning and development. The term ‘smart city’ seems ubiquitous when it comes to urban sustainability discourse and practice, but what does it actually mean? To find out, The Future Of podcast team spoke with Dr Courtney Babb, a senior lecturer in the School of Design and the Built Environment.