When cities first came into being, they were either near natural resources, or transport routes, or in an area that might have been easy to defend. Naturally, they evolved over time as infrastructure became necessary to support inhabitants and as populations started to grow.

In the early 1900s, governments began to plan cities and now, more than 100 years later, architects, town planners and designers are working together to ensure that new cities utilise high-tech materials, sensor networks, energy efficiencies, data integration, clean transport, environmentally sound buildings and aesthetically pleasing designs.

The rapidly growing global population and incredibly high levels of economic development has created more consumers than...