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Smart and disruptive infrastructures: Re-building knowledge on the informal city

Author

Listed:
  • Kerry Bobbins

    (University of Exeter, UK)

  • Federico Caprotti

    (University of Exeter, UK)

  • Jiska de Groot

    (University of Cape Town, South Africa)

  • Whitney Pailman

    (University of Cape Town, South Africa)

  • Mascha Moorlach

    (University of Cape Town, South Africa)

  • Hendrik Schloemann

    (Zonke Energy, South Africa)

  • Alex Densmore

    (Zonke Energy, South Africa)

  • Kimenthrie Finlay

    (Thrie Energy Collective, South Africa)

  • Ellen Fischat

    (Story Room SA, South Africa)

  • Siseko Siwali

    (Virtual Operative Services, South Africa)

  • Joslyn Links

    (Virtual Operative Services, South Africa)

Abstract

Smart urbanism is an established research area in geography and the social sciences. We draw on ‘worlding-provincialising’ strategies identified in an Urban Studies Special Issue from February 2021 to explore how smart infrastructures, a form of smart urbanism, disrupt representations of informality and urban development in new and productive ways. Focussing on the disruptive or troublesome implications of smart infrastructures reveals site-level considerations for developing policy and practice, where acknowledging the nuanced context for its use can present opportunities for not only understanding energy transitions in the Global South, but also creates opportunities for cross-learning. Drawing on our collective insights on a solar mini-grid project in Qandu-Qandu, Cape Town, we sketch out three ways the disruptive aspects of solar energy can be helpful for re-building knowledge on the informal city by: (i) re-positioning notions of ‘formal’ and ‘informal’ infrastructure(s) in urban planning and policymaking; (ii) highlighting new avenues for citizen autonomy; and (iii) recasting the informal city as a site for continuous innovation and learning.

Suggested Citation

  • Kerry Bobbins & Federico Caprotti & Jiska de Groot & Whitney Pailman & Mascha Moorlach & Hendrik Schloemann & Alex Densmore & Kimenthrie Finlay & Ellen Fischat & Siseko Siwali & Joslyn Links, 2024. "Smart and disruptive infrastructures: Re-building knowledge on the informal city," Urban Studies, Urban Studies Journal Limited, vol. 61(1), pages 165-179, January.
    • Handle: RePEc:sae:urbstu:v:61:y:2024:i:1:p:165-179
    DOI: 10.1177/00420980231172582
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    References listed on IDEAS

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