Hello guys, I am seriously needing help in framing a topic for myself. I am currently a MSc Risk student at Durham University. I have always been interested in smart cities and urban analytics in relation to flooding. I will also like to expand on my selected topic for my PhD. Thanks in anticipation for your help.
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Jorgen Karskens,
Project manager Civic Interaction Design
at Amsterdam University of Applied Sciences,
posted
How can we, as citizens, designers, and policymakers, regain control over the technologies that shape our cities?
Join us for the workshop: Civic Sousveillance & Democratic Oversight of Sensor Technology.
In this interactive workshop, we explore democratic oversight of camera detection and other urban sensors: from citizen initiatives such as the On Camera pocket guide and smart city camera-spotting tours to current policies on data collection in public space.
With contributions by Tom van Arman & Mike de Kreek from the Human Values for Smarter Cities research project, Inge Janse & Arthur De Jaeger from Centre for BOLD Cities, and council member Elisabeth IJmker from GroenLinks-PvdA. Next to talks we will also go outside for a joint camera-spotting tour around Arcam.
Date: Thursday, January 29, 2026
Time: 4:00 p.m. – 6:00 p.m.
Location: Arcam
Address: Prins Hendrikkade 600
Language: Dutch
Registration: free, but mandatory via the registration form which is here
More info on the Human Values for Smarter Cities research project is here
Manon den Dunnen,
Strategisch specialist digitaal
,
posted
Sensemakers Workshop DIY Smart Glasses
During this evening Paul Stefaan Mooij will introduce the DIY Smart Glasses he developed, he is bringing several 'arms'. The PMSG kit lets you swap out those boring old arms from your (sun)glasses for a custom-made PCBA that looks and functions like something a hacker MacGyver would dream up. It fits just like the original—using the same hinges, screws, and probably duct tape somewhere—but now you’ve got space for sensors, connectors, and all the IoT magic you can pack onto your temples.
Join us to experiment, learn and envision new sensors and possibilities.
https://www.hackster.io/psmooij/pmsg-prototype-modular-smart-glasses-8bd4e6
https://github.com/Control-C/PMSG
For more info and rsvp: https://sensemakersams.org/events/
The workshop is from 19-21h in the Makerspace of the OBA and you can also just walk in!
OBA: Oosterdokskade 143, 1011DL Amsterdam
Manon den Dunnen,
Strategisch specialist digitaal
,
posted
Sensemakers Workshop MeshCore, configure your own node
Join us to learn to understand the concept of MeshCore, an open source, off grid, decentralized, mesh network build to run on affordable low-power devices!
Prepare and configure your own device as to contribute to Amsterdam wide coverage, or just for fun / to chat:-)
The workshop is based on this device: https://nl.aliexpress.com/item/1005007752194012.html Of course you may bring a different device, it only might take a little extra effort on your part if the settings are different. We will try to help of course!
For more info and rsvp: https://sensemakersams.org/events/
The workshop is from 19-21h in the Makerspace of the OBA and you can just walk in!
OBA: Oosterdokskade 143, 1011DL Amsterdam
Hello Grace, thank you for this. I have not started the dissertation yet, just trying to bring my idea together. Thanks.
Hi Peter I hope your dissertation is going well, I don't know how far you have progressed since your post, so you may already know what you are writing on. I am also currently writing dissertation, and have formed my question by choosing a city important to me and seeing how it could improve in relation to my area of interest. I'm looking at urban greening, but if you were to do this with smart cities, you could use case studies of other projects such as the Amsterdam smart city or Milton Keynes (only 2 I know of, though I'm sure you'll know many more) and see how their efforts could be applied in another location. The other benefit I have found of relating it to a city you know is that you can talk to people locally about their opinions and knowledge, and you will have an understanding of the potential challenges in that location.
I hope everything goes well with your dissertation work, it sounds very interesting