Smart Cities: Technology and Planning for Sustainable Urban Development

Borja López Albéniz, Associate and Sustainability & ESG Director at Almar Consulting, examines in Expansión the role of technology in smart city planning and its contribution to land management, housing accessibility and balanced urban development.

14/10/2026

Madrid

“Technology enables more effective urban planning, helps anticipate housing needs and drives progress towards more sustainable and balanced cities.”

The transition towards smart cities presents new challenges in housing, mobility and urban planning. The integration of digital technologies and data analytics tools is becoming an increasingly strategic resource for improving land management and promoting more efficient and sustainable urban development.

In the feature article “More Technology to Achieve Urban Balance”, published in Expansión, Borja López Albéniz, Associate and Sustainability & ESG Director at Almar Consulting, examines the potential of Geographic Information Systems (GIS), big data, artificial intelligence and digital twins to optimise land use, streamline urban planning processes and anticipate housing needs.

He also highlights the importance of promoting more balanced urban development models that integrate residential uses and economic activities, preventing the concentration of employment in specific areas and affordable housing on the urban periphery. This approach positions strategic urban planning and technology as complementary tools for addressing the challenges facing modern cities.

📰 Read the full feature article in Expansión.

< class="fs-normal lh-1 fw-500 text-white text-start mb-3">