Knowledge politics in the smart city: A case study of strategic urban planning in Cambridge, UK

Abstract This paper highlights the need and opportunities for constructively combining different types of (analogue data-driven) knowledges in evidence-informed policy decision-making future smart cities. Problematizing assumed universality objectivity data-driven knowledge, we call attention to notions “positionality” “situatedness” knowledge production relating urban present possible futures. In order illustrate our arguments, draw on a case study strategic (spatial) planning Cambridge city region United Kingdom. Tracing diverse processes, including top-down derived from modeling, bottom-up analogue community-based knowledges, allows us identify locationally specific politics around evidence policy. The findings highlight how can benefit political processes competition, contestation, negotiation, complementarity that arise interactions between “digital” “analogue” knowledges. We argue studying such help assembling more multifaceted, inclusive knowledge-base which base decisions, as well raise awareness improve active participation ongoing “smartification”