Smart and sustainable technologies could be crucial to turning the 15-minute city from concept into reality, with major implications for infrastructure planning.
A new meta-analysis has found that smart and sustainable mobility solutions significantly enhance the viability of the 15-minute city model – an urban design approach where residents can access key services within a short walk or ride from home.
The study, which synthesises global research on urban accessibility, mobility and well-being, confirms the infrastructure sector has a vital role to play in implementing this increasingly popular planning framework.
According to the study, integrating intelligent transport systems, electric vehicles, shared mobility and micromobility can bridge accessibility gaps and reduce reliance on private cars – particularly in sprawling or car-centric urban environments.
These technologies also support broader sustainability goals, improving air quality, reducing emissions, and promoting healthier lifestyles.
The research distinguishes between the classic 15-minute city model – focused on local, walkable access – and an extended version that includes seamless multimodal links to broader metropolitan services.
This shift has important implications for infrastructure investment, including the need to better connect active travel networks with public transport nodes and to deploy digital solutions like Mobility-as-a-Service (MaaS) platforms.
Equity also emerged as a key theme.
Smart mobility tools can help reduce spatial and social disparities, the study found, but only if supported by policies that ensure affordability and access for all.
Without careful planning, rising demand for compact, well-serviced neighbourhoods could drive up housing costs and displace vulnerable communities.
The findings suggest urban planners, transport agencies and local councils should embrace smart technologies not as optional extras, but as core components of sustainable, inclusive city design.
