Exploring Urban Life From an Ambient Perspective

Abstract

The purpose of this chapter is to provide an introduction and background to the concept of the ambient in relation to urban life and to evolving understandings of smart, learning, and future cities. A review of the research literature is provided for the ambient and urban life, in the context of smart cities, focusing on culture, economies, and mobility. The literature review surfaces issues, controversies, and problems while also enabling formulation of a conceptual framework for urban life and the ambient in smart cities which is then operationalized for use in this chapter. Using an exploratory case study approach involving survey and in-depth interviews, combined with an explanatory correlational design, how the ambient emerges in urban life in the context of smart cities is explored focusing on a variety of variables such as multiple modes of transport and walkability for mobility. Directions for future practice and research are also discussed.