skip to content

Cambridge Centre for Smart Infrastructure and Construction

Transforming infrastructure through smarter information
 

In the cover story of the latest issue of BIM Today, Dr Kwadwo Oti-Sarpong, senior research associate at the  University of Cambridge, reflects on the evolving landscape of decision-making with AI in connected places and cities, emphasising the increasing reliance of the public sector on artificial intelligence to address complex societal challenges and advance digitalisation efforts. He argues that the ethical and responsible use of AI in this domain has emerged as a significant concern.

Dr Sarpong explains how in England, some local authorities (LAs) are already employing large language models and predictive analytics to inform decisions at the city scale, aligning with a global trend of leveraging AI for public value creation. Nonetheless, ethical considerations cast a shadow over these endeavours due to worries about algorithmic biases and the potential reinforcement of marginalization and discrimination. The pioneering study launched by a multidisciplinary team of researchers from the University of Cambridge aims at developing an ethically grounded approach to AI use in the public sector to address these concerns. This is part of the University's AI@CAM program which endeavours to embed ethical considerations into decision-making processes surrounding AI adoption in digitalization initiatives.

Led by the Department of Engineering, the project brings together experts from diverse fields such as Land Economy, Architecture, and the Leverhulme Centre for Future Intelligence. Through engagement with city managers and digitalization project partners, the team seeks to grasp the motivations and factors driving the adoption of AI in urban governance.

Dr Oti-Sarpong states that the primary objective of the project is to provide actionable insights and guidance for LAs and their collaborators on ethically informed decision-making concerning AI utilization in large-scale digitalization projects. Through workshops and knowledge-sharing activities, the project aims to empower stakeholders to navigate the complexities of AI adoption while upholding ethical standards. As the project advances, there is a call for collaboration from stakeholders involved in local government and digitalization initiatives related to placemaking, land use, mobility, and sustainable water supply systems. By pooling resources and expertise, stakeholders can influence the trajectory of AI utilization in public sector decision-making and ensure that ethical considerations remain central to innovation.


Read the full article here

Latest news

Workshop highlights public value and ethics in digitalisation initiatives.

17 July 2024

On 4 June 2024, The Digital Cities for Change (DC2) team, led by Professor Jennifer Schooling , OBE FICE, convened a pivotal one-day workshop in the Lord Ashcroft Building at Anglia Ruskin University. This event aimed to provide a collaborative platform for local authorities to discuss and integrate public value into...

CSIC Research Talk by Professor Ian Beausoleil-Morrison: “Teaching the fundamentals of building performance simulation”.

26 June 2024

At his recent CSIC Research Talk, Ian Beausoleil-Morrison, professor of mechanical and aerospace engineering at Carleton University in Ottawa, delivered an insightful presentation titled "Teaching the Fundamentals of Building Performance Simulation”. The talk emphasised the importance and potential of Building Performance...

CSIC Twitter