Create synergies and inspire collaborations around the development of intelligent infrastructure for human‐centered communities

Abstract

Today there is the emerging horizon of smart infrastructure due to rapid developments in artificial intelligence, embedded sensing, pervasive computing, and ubiquitous mobility. To navigate this landscape and drive innovations, Virginia Tech launched the strategic development of Intelligent Infrastructure for Human Centered Communities or IIHCC. It is timely to study the integrative design process and transdisciplinary discourse for the “smart” future. This study employed qualitative research methods including ethnographic participant observation, document analysis, and semistructured interviews. The mixed‐methods approach is especially useful for capturing typical scenarios, emergent issues, and practical examples surrounding the smart infrastructure endeavors and the array of challenges and creative frictions encountered. Taking a sociotechnical perspective, this study explored how IIHCC can achieve significant program synergies and inspire new collaborations across intellectual boundaries. Furthermore, it investigated how libraries can work collaboratively and constructively with the community to build a stimulating culture of a transdisciplinary mechanism and collective intelligence. Tying all these together, the study then discusses how we can achieve a synergistic discourse by way of data as distinct unifiers for cross‐domain collaborations. It concludes by presenting multidimensional opportunities and multispectral engagement for libraries to potentially chart a new course and become a driving force in this evolution.

Mixed Methods Utilisation in Innovation Management Research: A Systematic Literature Review and Meta-Summary

“…Fully mixed dominant sequential methods and fully mixed complementary sequential methods occur in similar cases, but one approach is given greater weight in determining the final test result. An example of such a combination is research in 12 articles from the database (Imran and Gregor 2019;Lütjen et al 2019;Shen 2019;Grimsby and Kure 2019;Yetis Larsson et al 2019;Malan et al 2019;Bican et al 2017;Fellnhofer 2017aFellnhofer , 2017bThomas 2017;Berker and Throndsen.Throndsen 2017;O'Dwyer and Cormican 2017). One article (Bican et al 2017) examined the way in which companies best manage knowledge through intellectual property rights in open innovation processes.…”

Construction of Smart City Street Landscape Big Data‐Driven Intelligent System Based on Industry 4.0

“…With the help of dynamic characteristics analysis of smart infrastructure, a reliable method for demand forecast management is provided. Thus, public involvement can be achieved, and the quality of the service improves continuously [ 17 ].…”

Transdisciplinary Convergence: Intelligent Infrastructure for Sustainable Development

“…This way, people can act on their ideas, create values, and deliver solutions. All of these will require system design and social engineering to intentionally build connections and align interests toward solving bigger infrastructure problems [25]. In social informatics perspective, the "usage and effects" of new technologies "are tied to the socio-technical practices of design and use, situated in specific contexts" [26].…”