Reimagining urban infrastructure with AI and Autodesk
Mar 13, 2025
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Dara Treseder, Chief Marketing Officer at Autodesk, and Matt Mahan, Mayor of San Jose, delve into the transformative impact of technology on urban spaces. They discuss how AI is revolutionizing traffic management and safety. The conversation highlights the role of digital twins in enhancing climate resilience and disaster preparedness. They also touch on the integration of data centers within urban landscapes and the ethical implications of data use. With fascinating insights, they envision smarter, more sustainable cities of the future.
AI technologies are optimizing urban mobility by improving public transportation efficiency, reducing traffic issues and enhancing climate-friendly practices.
Digital twins are being utilized to simulate real-world systems, allowing cities to anticipate and manage risks associated with climate disasters effectively.
Deep dives
The Role of AI in Urban Development
Cities are increasingly integrating AI technologies to enhance the delivery of services and improve urban living. For example, AI applications are being leveraged for tasks like optimizing public transportation routes, thereby reducing travel times and encouraging more people to use buses over personal vehicles. Mayor Matt Mahan highlighted a successful pilot that improved bus efficiency by 25% and reduced instances of buses hitting red lights by 50%. This illustrates how AI can significantly enhance city operations, making public transit a viable option for residents while also promoting climate-friendly practices.
Digital Twins for Climate Resilience
Digital twins are being employed to bolster cities' resilience against climate disasters. These virtual models simulate real-world systems, enabling cities to anticipate and mitigate risks related to natural events like floods and wildfires. For instance, San Marcos, Texas, is developing a 3D model of its storm drain network to better manage flood risks, while San Jose is exploring vegetation modeling to assess fire risks. The ability to visualize and analyze potential disaster scenarios through digital twinning empowers cities to improve safety and preparedness effectively.
Public-Private Partnerships for Innovation
Collaboration between cities and tech companies is essential for fostering innovation and addressing civic challenges. The Gov.ai coalition, started by San Jose, has expanded from a few municipalities to over 600 public agencies sharing resources and best practices for AI implementation. This community-driven approach allows cities to pilot new technologies collectively, ensuring that they can adapt innovative solutions with minimal risk and investment. Such partnerships also establish a framework for cities to engage AI startups, which can evolve into long-term collaborations benefiting both parties.
Sustainable Urban Infrastructure Development
Sustainability remains a pivotal focus in urban infrastructure projects, as cities strive to make themselves attractive and livable. Autodesk is utilizing its technology for sustainable planning, helping municipalities design buildings and infrastructures that meet environmental standards. A notable example includes a project in San Jose that integrates energy-efficient data centers into urban areas, enabling resource sharing between commercial and residential sectors. Promoting sustainable practices is not merely a trend but a necessary strategy that aligns with long-term economic and environmental goals in rapid urban development.
Today on Equity, we’re taking you to Austin, Texas, for South by Southwest, where Rebecca Bellan caught up with Dara Treseder, Chief Marketing Officer at Autodesk, and Mayor Matt Mahan of San Jose, to discuss how technology is transforming urban spaces and building the cities of the future.
The panel dug into how cities today are using AI to improve traffic and safety, why digital twins can help make cities more resilient to climate disasters, and how cities can integrate data centers into the fabric of their urban landscapes, among other topics. It’s a timely discussion, especially in the wake of Autodesk laying off roughly 1350 workers—about 9% of their staff—following a restructuring to focus on cloud and AI initiatives.
Equity is TechCrunch’s flagship podcast, produced by Theresa Loconsolo, and posts every Wednesday and Friday.
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Credits: Equity is produced by Theresa Loconsolo with editing by Kell. We’d also like to thank TechCrunch’s audience development team. Thank you so much for listening, and we'll talk to you next time.