Institute of Information Science, Academia Sinica

Urban informatics has traditionally centered on algorithmic approaches to tackle city-scale challenges. Yet, the inherent complexity of urban systems calls for models that not only compute but also integrate human experience and community input. This talk explores how human-centered methodologies—encompassing participatory design, citizen science, open-source innovation, and immersive virtual reality environments—can complement algorithm-driven models to foster more inclusive and sustainable urban solutions. We will review recent work that bridges computational precision with socio-technical insights and present preliminary findings that demonstrate the added value of engaging diverse stakeholders in urban data analysis.

Dr. Sachit Mahajan is a Senior Scientist at ETH Zurich's Professorship of Computational Social Science, focusing on human-centered computing and urban analytics. His research combines ubiquitous computing, spatial data science, and citizen science to address challenges in sustainable urban development. Sachit's academic journey began as a TIGP student in Social Networks and Human-Centered Computing at Academia Sinica, followed by postdoctoral research position at the University of Cambridge. His work explores the integration of open source approaches and participatory methods to develop technologies that better serve community needs. At ETH Zurich, Sachit continues to investigate how computational methods can support more inclusive and responsive urban environments, with an emphasis on bridging technical innovation and practical urban solutions.