I work at the intersection of data, urban planning, art and technology to build inclusive futures for cities.
I'm an urban planner, technologist and artist working to advance ethics and inclusion in smart cities.
Currently I am Smart City Administrator at the Office of Innovation at the City of San Antonio. My job is to manage a small team to coordinate projects that use technology to deliver public services while keeping an eye on transparency, security, equity and accessibility for everyone.
Previously, I've worked on smart city projects in government and academic settings both domestically and internationally for groups like City Form Labs in Singapore, and the Massachusetts Office of Information Technology Digital Services department. Locally, I was Data Director for the digitally native non-profit newsroom, the San Antonio Report.
Formerly I served on San Antonio’s Digital Inclusion Alliance (DIASA), which strives to bring digital equity and affordable internet access to all citizens of our community. Currently I serve on the Alamo Regional Data Alliance.
As CEO of Ouvert, I collaborate with creative partners to re-imagine, perform, play and co-create an equitable digital future.
I received a B.S. Neuroscience and B.A. Plan II Arts at the University of Texas at Austin,and a Masters in City Design & Development from MIT DUSP.
Recent articles:
"Move smart and build things: defining digital rights for a changing world," Smart Cities News
"Cities are just getting started with CoVID-19 Engagement" - StateScoop
"San Antonio looks to eliminate bias within 'smart city' planning" - StateScoop
Find me in the usual places:
LinkedIn | @emily_royall
Education
2013 - 2016
Master Urban Planning - City Design & Development
Massachusetts Institute of Technology
2007 - 2011
B.S. Neuroscience, B.A. Plan II
University of Texas at Austin
Experience
Present
Present
Smart City Administrator
Office of Innovation, City of San Antonio
Consultant - People Centered Smart Cities Flagship Programme
UN Habitat
2017-
Present
2018
CEO, Ouvert Digital Equity Studio
Smart City Coordinator
Office of Innovation, City of San Antonio
2016
Data Director, The San Antonio Report
2014
Researcher, City Form Labs
Selected Publications
2021
2021
2021
2020
2020
2019
"Renegotiating the Social Contract in Smart Cities," Some Thoughts.
"Centering People in Smart Cities: A Playbook for Local and Regional Governments," United Nations People-Centered Flagship Program, November 2021.
"Assessing the Digital Divide: Understanding internet connectivity and digital literacy in cities and communities," United Nations People-Centered Flagship Program, November 2021.
"Addressing the Digital Divide: Taking action towards digital inclusion,"
United Nations People-Centered Flagship Program, November 2021.
"Renegotiating the Social Contract in Smart Cities," Some Thoughts Editorial with Bianca Wylie, Zhara Ebrahim, and Matthew Claudel.
"Move Smart and Build Things: Defining Digital Rights for a Changing World,"
Smart Cities News Australia, November 2020.
2017
“Tierrabyte: Democratizing San Antonio's Data," The Rivard Report.
2016
2016
“Planning for Digitally Mediated Public Space: Implications of IoT frameworks in Smart Cities” Responsive Cities: Urbanism in the Experience Age. Caxia Forum. Barcelona, Spain.
2016
"Cultural Computation Issue 0", MIT.
Selected Exhibitions
2018
"Data Fictions", FLAX Studio
2018
"Open Source Here", Dockspace Studio
2017
"Cyborg Mestiza", HighWire Arts
Press
2021
2020
"San Antonio is getting Serious about Data Governance" - StateScoop
"Cities are just getting started with CoVID-19 Engagement" - StateScoop
"San Antonio looks to eliminate bias within 'smart city' planning" - StateScoop
"Smart Streetlights to Scoop Data, Inform Policy," - Texas Public Radio
"Communities Close Digital Divide through Racial, Socioeconomic Analysis," - StateScoop