The Blended Intensive Program (BIP) Digital Tools Supporting the Management of the Built Environment for Sustainable and Inclusive Urban Transformation, organized by the Politecnico di Milano, brought together 33 students from 5 ENHANCE universities to explore how digital tools can help transform small and medium-sized cities in a sustainable and inclusive way.
A Real Challenge: Reinventing an Industrial City
Lecco is undergoing a process of transformation. Its industrial past now coexists with its growing appeal as a tourist destination, which poses new challenges for land management, the use of urban spaces, and the development of the local economy.
To better understand this situation, the students conducted fieldwork and analyzed the city’s opportunities and challenges. Organized into five international teams, they had to develop proposals that would address urban needs while also capitalizing on Lecco’s potential.
Among the ideas proposed were transform former industrial spaces into student housing, create affordable hostels for young travelers and backpackers, and revitalize underutilized urban spaces through dining districts and community gathering places. Strategies were also explored to promote sustainable urban regeneration and strengthen local economic activity.
Technology as a Tool for Transforming the Environment
The program focused on digital tools used in the management of the built environment. Technologies such as digital twins, geographic information systems (GIS), and augmented reality They allow us to analyze the territory from different perspectives, visualize possible changes, and support decision-making.
These tools can help us better understand how a city functions, evaluate different alternatives, and base proposals on data and evidence. They also offer new opportunities to involve the various stakeholders in urban development.