Evolving Sustainable Cities through the Fabric of Technological Transformation

AbstractIn the mad race of development, we have developed a myopic vision thereby endangering the coming generations. No doubt, industrialization and urbanization are the ‘in things’, but what is missing in the today's style of development is the aspect of sustainability. Moreover, If the food we eat, the air we breathe, the water we drink, etc all are witnessing a marked deterioration in the quality, then by all means the developmental model needs to be questioned. Things like pattern of urbanization, materials used in building construction, building construction practices, urban commuter's behaviour, energy needs, waste disposal strategy, disaster management, etc. and juxtaposing all – ‘the carbon footprint of our life style’ should be relooked. Instead of just restricting to the evolving codes of ‘Green Buildings’ we should be evolving the codes of ‘Green Lifestyle’ and should have effective mechanisms in translating these codes into real time actions. It is these ‘differential green actions’ which when integrated would redefine the developmental model. Technology has the strength to make the people perform these differential green actions which not only benefit them at an individual level but also the society at a mass level. Through this curtain raising research paper we wish to bring forth the burning problems of the cities and herewith present a technological perspective in bridging the wide gap between sustainability and development