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 equity in smart cities.
Currently I am a Smart City Coordinator at the Office of Innovation at the City of San Antonio. My job is 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
2019-Present
Smart City Coordinator
Office of Innovation, City of San Antonio
2017-
Present
CEO, Ouvert Digital Equity Studio
2016
Data Director, The San Antonio Report
2014
Researcher, City Form Labs
Selected Exhibitions
2018
"Data Fictions", FLAX Studio
2018
"Open Source Here", Dockspace Studio
2017
"Cyborg Mestiza", HighWire Arts
Selected Publications
2019
"Renegotiating the Social Contract in Smart Cities," Some Thoughts.
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.