"Cities for People: The Human Impact of Infrastructure" — Bishoy Azmy, Innovo CEO

The rise of the Megacity

Cities across the world are booming. For the first time in human history, population growth in rural areas is beginning to fall while the population in the world’s 1000 largest global cities are expected to rise by more than half a billion by 2050. This increase is driven by megacities – cities with populations over ten million – whose numbers are expected to increase by almost 50%, from 44% today to 67% by 2050.

The challenges and opportunities of rapid urbanisation

Cities are centres of dynamism and possibility, and the growth of megacities will offer fantastic opportunities. They are responsible for the bulk of economic growth and are places where people from diverse cultures, religions, and backgrounds coexist. However, they can also be centres of deprivation and poverty. Poor investment and infrastructure development can create dangerous and poor living conditions, forming neighbourhoods that are plagued by crime and violence.

Urban planning decisions will impact which trajectory the cities of the future take. If done poorly, cities can become centres of inequality. If done well, government and industry can come together to create cities that promote growth, improve quality of life, and create new centres for opportunity, for the future.

Fostering people-centric urban design

The key to creating positive impact through the built environment is placing people at the heart of the city. This is at the core of what we do at Innovo; we build urban environments that put people first.

This approach encompasses every step of a project. It starts with bringing together individuals with diverse perspectives, who analyse our buildings and communities to ensure they are creating places people can call home. Our expert teams are also empowered by innovative technology that equips them to deliver infrastructure with efficiencies and a positive human impact.

For instance, we use AI technology - AI powered Digital Twin - across the lifecycle of a project. From community planning, and asset design, to construction, operation and maintenance. The digital twin gathers and analyses data throughout the lifecycle of the project, resulting in predictive maintenance and the opportunity for proactive improvements. AI technology allows us to better monitor construction sites to ensure our projects are running efficiently and safely, but we can harness this technology to design communities that place people at the centre.

Tech-empowered human design

An example of this in action is Park St. Edition, a mixed-use complex setting a new standard for modern living in New Cairo, Egypt. A joint venture, with Egypt based Sky Investments - Sky Innovo Developments has designed this mixed-use site that will feature luxury residential buildings, offices, and retail spaces, and will prioritise wellness and sustainability.

Park St. Edition will be a complete community with ample green and public spaces to encourage residents to interact and help develop a sense of home. It has also been designed to maximise natural light and adjust oxygen flow to create an ideal environment to live and work in. The development also features clean energy sources, energy-efficient lighting and appliances, and advanced waste management systems.

This is just one of many Innovo projects that demonstrates how smart, people-centric, community focused design can be paired with modern technology to help create an ideal living environment.

A vision for the future of the built environment

Park St. Edition is an example of what the future could look like.

If increasing numbers of buildings are designed following principles that place people at the centre of the community, we will start to create cities that improve the quality of life of their inhabitants.

Seemingly small changes can go a long way to create the homes of the future, that, piece by piece, will build cities that can embrace the coming wave of urbanisation. With the use of smart technology, we can create environments that allow people to thrive.