About
ur-scape studio
OVERVIEW
ur-scape studio is an online learning platform with video-based courses developed by Future Cities Laboratory Global. Through these courses, you will learn the fundamentals of geospatial data management and how to use ur-scape for spatial analysis and visualisation.
Each course has step-by-step video tutorials led by a member of the ur-scape team, giving you a tour through the software’s features. These videos are followed by practice exercises and quizzes to help you build your knowledge and skills in using ur-scape for urban analysis.
This course is designed to enable users of various backgrounds (including policymakers, researchers, and engaged citizens) to quickly and iteratively use spatial data to generate knowledge, facilitate engaging and interactive dialogues, and enable collaborative problem-solving.
Methodology
Learning ur-scape is not just about knowing how to operate the software. It is about using data to understand the world, communicate insights, and engage in dialogue with other city-makers.
The goal of learning in ur-scape studio is to equip you with a basic technical and intuitive understanding of geospatial data, with which you can confidently analyse urban issues either by yourself or alongside fellow stakeholders.
The asynchronous, self-guided online learning programme is designed with the ur-scape team’s experience working with different organisations since 2018, built on proven adult learning frameworks and tested through multiple real-world workshops.
In addition, we partner with local governments to provide customised programmes, including in-person workshops and online Clinic sessions, training tailored to the city’s existing data capacity, and customised versions of the ur-scape tool.
Step-by-step video tutorials
A member of the ur-scape team guides you through every step needed to get familiarised with an aspect of using ur-scape.
You will learn features through concrete and practical examples based on real-world cases, which help you understand not only how ur-scape tools work, but also how they might be applicable to your city.
Some courses may have Supplements, concise articles that offer additional information and resources that cater to diverse groups of participants.
Exercises & quizzes
Get acquainted with key features through application, and familiarise yourself with crucial concepts through quizzes.
Each lesson has quizzes that help track your progress and reinforce important terminology. Passing the quizzes is a requirement for earning your ur-scape studio certificate.
Forums
Share your work with the rest of the ur-scape studio community.
Forums are our interactive online gathering spaces where participants can share their practice work with the rest of the ur-scape studio community. Participants can comment on each other’s work, discuss best practices, and get inspiration from the insights others are able to reach with the same data.
Participation in Forums is optional, but highly recommended!
The ur-scape team
ur-scape began at Future Cities Laboratory in Singapore. A team at FCL continues to manage and promote the project, and we are also building the ur-scape open-source community.
Stephen Cairns
Principal Investigator
Future Cities Lab Global Singapore
Niraly Mangal
Doctoral Researcher
ETH Zurich
Joshua Vargas
Programme Coordinator
Future Cities Lab Global Singapore
Denise Lee
Researcher
Future Cities Lab Global Singapore
Pari Sen Biswas
Yale-NUS College
formerly Future Cities Lab Global Singapore
Darshan Lineswala
National University of Singapore
formerly Future Cities Lab Global Singapore
Sean Eu
Associate Director (Technology)
Future Cities Lab Global Singapore
LOCAL FACILITATORS (INDONESIA)
Dr. Aria Mariany
Senior Research Fellow
Resilience Development Initiative
Husnul Aris Alberdi
Researcher & Program Manager
Resilience Development Initiative
Aisha Hanifa Salsabilla
Research Officer
Resilience Development Initiative
Sakti Heriyansah
Research Officer
Resilience Development Initiative
LOCAL FACILITATORS (INDIA)
Mr. Sanjay Saxena
Total Synergy Consulting
Mr. Kabir Saxena
Total Synergy Consulting
Ms. Priyanka Ahirwar
Total Synergy Consulting
ABOUT FUTURE CITIES LAB GLOBAL
The research and initial development behind ur-scape was conducted at the Future Cities Laboratory Global, the urban science research programme at Singapore-ETH Centre.
Future Cities Lab Global is supported and funded by the National Research Foundation, Prime Minister’s Office, Singapore under its Campus for Research Excellence and Technological Enterprise (CREATE) programme and ETH Zurich (ETHZ), with additional contributions from the National University of Singapore (NUS), Nanyang Technological University (NTU), Singapore and the Singapore University of Technology and Design (SUTD).
Over the past 13 years, FCL Global has established itself as a leading international platform for sustainable urban development, with over 150 researchers from various backgrounds in Singapore and Zurich.