Current trends in urban growth demand big thinking and creative solutions. As our cities expand, these dense populations will require sophisticated infrastructure, transportation and communication systems. According to the World Health Organization, some one hundred years ago two out of every 10 people lived in an urban area. By 1990, around 40 percent of the global population lived in a city. As of 2010 more than half of all people live in urban areas. By 2030, six out of every 10 people will live in a city and by 2050 this figure will jump to seven out of 10 people. This trend is clearly evident across North America. Recently it was announced that Toronto had surpassed Chicago as the fourth largest city on the continent. Toronto’s...

A couple of decades ago, traveling meant being out of contact. Now, people are more connected than ever before while moving between destinations, whether riding an inner-city bus or soaring 30,000 feet above the ground. Increasing numbers of passengers use digital devices during transit. A DePaul University study, for instance, found that of 7,770 passengers on 92 buses, trains and planes, about half were using portable devices such as iPads and laptops at any given time. Many workers take advantage of their commute time to start in on the workday. Others simply want to unwind with online entertainment. But until recently, one needed a special wireless card to access the Internet en route. Fortunately, however, Wi-Fi technology is...