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Urban Evolution

Explore our spaces.


Shaping the world around us

As populations grow, so do the pressures on cities and their residents. From neighbourhood design to dog parks, from innovation to immigration, our scholars study every aspect of how our urban centres grow and evolve.


Articles for this theme

aerial view of a neighbourhood

Healthy neighbourhoods

Walkability in urban design: Building health into the places we live

Do our neighbourhoods affect our health? UCalgary researchers study walkability in our built environments to learn how we can design healthier places to live for 

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Pets and the city

Responsible pet ownership in crowded urban centres

As our cities become more and more crowded, and more of us choose to live with pets, how do we ensure that animals and people can co-exist?

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concept illustration

Economic resilience

Turning research into commerce in a down market

What happens when an industry that fuels explosive growth collapses? That depends on the ability of the marketplace to adapt and change course.

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aerial view of a highway distributor

Intelligent traffic systems

Studies in urban transportation and traffic management

At UCalgary's Schulich School of Engineering, researchers study innovative “ring” transit routes, commuter behavior, navigation systems, cycling alternatives and everything in-between in an effort to make getting around easier and more efficient.

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Refugee health

Resettling those who have lost everything

In a world facing a global refugee crisis, with ever more people fleeing their homelands, how do we make sure newcomers fit in successfully?

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Urban design

Building smart, safe and sustainable cities

As millions of people flock to urban centres around the world, there is an urgent need to create better cities — and researchers at UCalgary are working to build smarter, safer and more sustainable urban environments.

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All media for this theme

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Quick start guide for entrepreneurs

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image of two men talking in an oil field

How can we turn a downturn into an opportunity?

Watch video

image of two kids walking in a refugee camp

How do you rebuild after you've lost everything?

Watch video

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Healthy neighbourhoods

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image of construction waste dumpster

Can you recycle an entire house?

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image of a test self driven card in a highway

Will self-driving cars solve our traffic problems?

Watch video

image of two homes with garage

Can your garage make you less neighbourly?

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image of a traffic jam

Can we make traffic jams obsolete?

Watch webinar

image of kid rising a bicycle

Choosing a neighbourhood for kids

Download ebook

image of cute dog

Citizen Dog: A how-to guide to responsible dog ownership

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image of woman drawing a lightbulb on a wall

Ingredients for entrepreneurial success

Watch webinar

image of very cute dog out on a walk

Pets, people and urban places

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Let food be thy medicine

A growing body of evidence indicates our current diets are unhealthy and a major cause of premature death and disability. Watch to learn more about the risks of poor diet, and how changes in nutrition policy could better support the health of all Canadians.

More UCalgary stories


Study shows first computer-driven cars will have noticeable impact on rush hour

Schulich School of Engineering researcher Omid Ebadi says automated vehicles — even a few of them — will influence traffic with their good behaviour.

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Calgary's first supervised drug consumption site opens

Calgary’s first permanent supervised consumption site is now up and running, and it was informed by work conducted by University of Calgary researchers.

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Variable speed limits point to safer, faster commuting: study

Research from a Schulich School of Engineering master's student shows that changing speed limits on the fly can have a big impact on freeway congestion.

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What makes people want to walk?

A UCalgary research project aims to find out whether the person or the built environment is the primary inspiration for walkable communities.

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Futuristic furniture

Design students create a gesture-controlled workstation, sensory furniture and a form of office escape pod in their senior research studio.

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Schools: the first step to integration?

Education can be a powerful tool when it comes to helping refugees and other newcomers adapt quickly to life in Canada.

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Protecting a most precious resource

A unique waste water research and treatment facility in Calgary is geared toward finding better ways to remove pollutants from our drinking water.

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What colour is your roof?

An engineering study compares roof technologies to determine which is best for cold climates.

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Landscape or architecture?

Professor Marc Boutin’s award-winning designs explore the potential of public spaces

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Refugee shelter design gains international recognition

Students create prototypes of temporary shelters that keep in mind the most important consideration for displaced families: a sense of home.

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Shedding new light on helping the homeless

One social work professor's research looks into housing-first programs, rural trends and the wellness of front-line workers.

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