Mapping the Future City (in-person)

Audience Level: Beginner to Intermediate

This session is perfect for newcomers and those who have a foundational understanding and are looking to expand their skills.

Session Information:

Professor Melissa Gregg (BDFI/ University of Bristol Business School) will chair this informative session on how data science is being used in urban mapping projects.

Meta's Said Turkserver will provide an introduction to the technical capabilities of Mapillary and other AI for Good projects at Meta using open street maps to enable data science for good. This will be followed by a presentation and conversation with Associate Professor Trivik Verma (School for Policy Studies, BDFI) to explore opportunities for building inclusive cities by deploying data sets, spatial data science in the public interest, and mapping tools and techniques more generally. There will be time for questions from the audience, and lunch provided afterwards to continue networking.

Academics with relevant expertise are invited to participate in an afternoon workshop to explore partnership and collaboration ideas on urban futures, especially in light of climate change. This session is co-sponsored by the BDFI and Cabot Institute. Please contact alice.quigley@bristol.ac.uk if you are interested in attending.

Access information: The event space at BDFI is wheelchair accessible. There are separate spaces available for breastfeeding, prayers, or for anyone who needs to take some time out for any reason - these will be signposted at the beginning of the event. We strive to ensure BDFI is an inclusive and safe space, and we welcome everyone inclusive of gender, sexuality and ethnicity. If there is anything we can do to help you enjoy and engage with this event please contact alice.quigley@bristol.ac.uk.

Intended Learning Objectives:

• Awareness of cutting-edge open source mapping platforms and data analytics capabilities
• Examples of and inspiration for new academic and industry research partnerships addressing city space
• Social science expertise and illustrations of how to design cities for inclusive, sustainable, and just outcomes

Code of Conduct

Please look at our Code of Conduct for all online and in-person events organised by the JGI.

Bristol Data Week 2025

This event is part of Bristol Data Week 2025, organised by the Jean Golding Institute taking place from Monday 2nd June - Friday 6th June. Bristol Data Week is a leading platform for learning, discussion, and collaboration in data science and AI. It brings together researchers, industry experts, policymakers, and community groups to explore the latest advancements in data and technology, addressing real-world challenges and shaping the future of responsible AI.

This year, we will be running a week long series of events featuring:

• Expert-led workshops and training on cutting-edge data science and AI topics.
• Thought-provoking panel discussions with leading voices in the field.
• Opportunities to network with researchers, industry professionals, and policymakers.

Keep up to date with activities happening throughout Bristol Data Week on the Jean Golding Institute website, follow us on Bluesky, LinkedIn and tag us with #BristolDataWeek2025 or #BDW2025.

Please be aware that photography and recording of the sessions may be taking place. Please let us know if you would not like to be filmed by contacting jgi-admin@bristol.ac.uk

Speakers:

Melissa Gregg, University of Bristol

Melissa Gregg is Professor of Digital Futures at the University of Bristol Business School and the Bristol Digital Futures Institute, and an advisor on sustainability strategy at Meta Reality Labs. Her research provides guidance on carbon emissions reduction, circular economy, nature-based thinking and Green UX. As a scholar, she has over 60 publications including The Affect Theory Reader (Duke UP, 2010), Work's Intimacy (Polity, 2011), Counterproductive: Time Management in the Knowledge Economy (Duke UP, 2018) and Media and Management (Meson, 2021). Her regular column, "Computing Ecologies," is published in ACM Interactions.

Said Turksever, Meta

I’m Project Manager at Meta’s Mapping team and based in London, United Kingdom. I support Meta’s open mapping community effort across the globe and coordinating community activities and supporting partner organizations. I'm a passionate Geomatics Engineer, OpenStreetMap contributor and community builder. I love building maps and solving community problems by using my geospatial knowledge. I’m a strong believer that open data brings creativity, innovation and freedom to society. I evangelize open data initiatives and develop the OSM community growth strategies for Türkiye.

Trivik Verma, University of Bristol

I am an Associate Professor at the Bristol Digital Futures Institute and the School for Policy Studies, University of Bristol. My research focusses on cities, inequalities, and justice. I study various challenges of urbanisation such as segregation, inequities in access and wellbeing, transport and energy poverty, and climate-related vulnerabilities. Although I am trained in computational methods like quantitative human geography, I am agnostic to them and focus more on evidence-based research, participatory planning, and public engagement to identify pathways for just urban futures.

I also instruct on remote expeditions for National Geographic and Smithsonian where high school students have the opportunity to learn about conservation, anthropology, engineering, and policy. Previously, I helped build a media and technology startup dedicated to the cause of making this planet a healthier place through authentic journalism and data science at The Outdoor Journal.