Urban planning is undergoing a transformation, driven by the ever-expanding capabilities of data-driven technologies. In Barcelona, where the Superblock model has sparked intense debates and discussions, the integration of data-driven approaches is reshaping the way policymakers and stakeholders make critical decisions. In this article, we explore how data-driven tools are being adopted today in urban contexts, offering a pathway to more effective and sustainable urban transformations.
To establish effective intervention criteria for Superblocks, gathering data on public spaces, pedestrian occupancy, traffic, and mobility has become essential. The municipality of Barcelona has already implemented various data collection solutions [1], but with emerging technologies, new data-driven tools have emerged, offering diverse approaches to uncover urban dependencies, identify patterns, and reveal implications through data-based observation and analysis.