“ A focus on sustainability will ensure these spaces contribute to a healthier, cleaner future” JEREMY M. GOLDBERG, MICROSOFT 178 The built environment is growing. According to the National Geographic, there were 28 megacities – urban areas with more than 10 million residents – in the world in 2021. The United Nations anticipates that there will be 43 megacities by 2030, with the number of inhabitants increasing from 2.8 billion today to 4 billion. City leaders and planners must adapt to this growth to create urban environments that can not only cope with these new numbers, but also enable people, businesses and communities to thrive. According to Jeremy M. Goldberg, worldwide director of critical infrastructure at Microsoft, the biggest benefits will be realised when the built environment operates as a seamless part of larger systems of infrastructure, which include transportation, public safety and data-based understanding of people’s behaviour and choices. One of the key ways that public sector leaders can do this is by creating more accessible experiences for citizens. “For anyone working in or visiting a place, the behind-the-scenes operations should remain invisible,” said City leaders are looking at how to better serve residents, businesses and visitors in accessible, safe and sustainable ways. Microsoft technology is key to helping them achieve these goals BY E L LY YAT E S - ROB E R T S F E ATUR E Improving through environment life thebuilt
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