PlaceTech Innovation Lab summary report
2024 pilot project summary report
A report demonstrating the innovative use of data to support improved placemaking, has been published by infrastructure body, the Scottish Futures Trust (SFT) in partnership with Scottish Government and infrastructure consultancy Ramboll, with support from Architecture and Design Scotland.
A new approach
Our built environment, responsible for a significant portion of global carbon emissions, is undergoing a radical transformation. As we strive to meet ambitious climate targets and address growing demands on public services, we face the challenge of delivering more with fewer resources.
To navigate this complex landscape, we need a new approach to planning, delivering and managing our built environment. This approach must be underpinned by data-driven decision-making and collaborative efforts to optimise resource allocation and achieve the best possible outcomes.
The PlaceTech Innovation Lab: a catalyst for change
In 2023-2024, the Scottish Government, in partnership with the Scottish Futures Trust, ran a pilot programme to test the application of data, technologies and workflows to improve decisions within planning, placemaking, infrastructure investment and performance. This initiative aimed to improve decision-making processes and empower public sector asset owners by leveraging data and technology.
This programme formed part of the research and development phase of the PlaceTech Lab.
What were the outputs and who was invovled?
The pilot projects aimed to enhance existing digital tools or processes to assist local authorities in achieving their policy goals. The outputs from using the technology included:
- a digital twin of Glasgow with Glasgow City Council was built to better understand future population growth in the city centre and its impact on social infrastructure capacities to help with improved placemaking
- Perth & Kinross Council used the insights from various data sources to develop a strategic town centre investment plan in response to increased visitors to the newly opened Perth Museum to influence future public transport and active travel improvements
- Comhairle nan Eilan Siar used existing construction pipeline data to support its management of existing infrastructure that will support the delivery of offshore renewables, onshore renewables and port improvements on the Western Isles
Join us in shaping the future
We invite you to learn more about the PlaceTech Innovation Lab and its impact on the built environment. By downloading the comprehensive report, you can gain valuable insights into the challenges and opportunities facing our sector.
Acknowledgements
This report was produced by Ramboll in partnership with the Scottish Futures Trust and the Scottish Government.
Project partners who have supported the development of the projects and learnings include The Scottish Government; Scottish Futures Trust; Architecture and Design Scotland; Glasgow City Council; Perth & Kinross Council, Comhairle nan Eilean Siar (Western Isles Council).
Next steps
Further development of the Place-Tech Lab concept is now being facilitated by Architecture and Design Scotland following our relocation to the Edinburgh Futures Institute (which is part of Edinburgh University) in May 2024.
New opportunities to build on this first phase of pilot work for the PlaceTech Innovation Lab are currently being explored and developed. Further details of future work to support digital innovation and the role of data and analysis in supporting the planning system and infrastructure investment more generally will be provided in due course.