以民為本，寓城市規劃於遊戲｜Planning through playing, a way for bottom-up urban planning
2020年，香港人口達750萬——50年前，這個彈丸之地只有400萬人，城巿膨脹的速度非常驚人，而在全球城巿化的趨勢下，不止香港，很多國際大都會也面臨日益擠迫的問題，基建設施、城巿規劃、糧食供應等負荷愈來愈大。
要解決人口壓力，讓擠迫的城巿可以繼續暢順地運作，不少吉人從科技入手，發展智慧城巿，而去年爆發的疫情，甚至讓我們看得更清楚，科技的確可以帶來明顯轉變：網上會議、網上工作平台，解決打工族出勤的需要，鬧巿以往塞滿車的煩惱畫面都一掃而空。但科技要發揮功用，需要人們的高度參與，數年前的遊戲Pokemon Go，讓不少城巿規劃師都認為，「城巿遊戲化」（Urban Gamification）可能是很好的切入點。
全球城巿化
19世紀初，全球約只有2%人口居於城巿；至20世紀初，升至10%。不過，由於城巿發展急速，交通運輸日益四通八達、通訊科技一日千里，聯合國人類住區規劃署（UN Habitat）預計，城巿人口比例將以幾何倍數上升，到了2050年，全球將有70%人口集中居住在城巿。
科技與城巿發展
城巿人口集中，除了居住環境將愈來愈擠迫、污染問題愈來愈嚴重，同時也將對公共基建設施帶來巨大壓力。從5G、物聯網（IoT）的發展，到無人驚駛的汽車、高科技巿區耕種、城巿可再生能源等，皆是嘗試令城巿運作更有效率的科技研發，不少人相信，若適當發展這些技術，將可以解決未來城巿發展所面對的困難。
5G
全球的無線網絡，大約每10年就來一次大進化——2000年代，全球的互聯網主要由3G網速主導，其後的10年，絕大部分的手機都已用上4G；至2019年，美國首次出現5G網速，預計今年就會陸續登陸北美、歐洲及亞太區。那麼，5G究竟有多快？數字上，4G網速最高可達100Mbps，而5G可達至20Gbps，即是比4G快100倍﹗
IoT
IoT是「Internet of Things」（物聯網）的簡寫，即是大規模地在不同裝置或物件均配置通訊晶片，收集得來的大數據，實時分析後有助於即時作出應對、調配資源，從而提高運作效率。例如在街道上的所有垃圾桶裝有感應器，以監測和評估使用狀態，了解人們的使用模式，從而調整垃圾收集的路線，提高效率。因為5G網絡速度的提升，同時支撐了物聯網（IoT）不斷增長的網速需求。
Gamification
隨著網速愈來愈快、使用手機的習慣愈來愈滲透人類生活各層面，「遊戲化」成為潮流趨勢，不論是理財、教育、行銷，抑或是更日常生活的家務、儲錢，透過手機程式加入遊戲元素，激發完成原本平凡乏味的事情的動機，例如健身app把沉悶的跑步變成喪屍遊戲。國際知名的數據管理公司Gigya的研究指出，「遊戲化」能提升三分之一的用戶參與率，當中用戶留言的比率增加13%、在社交平台之間的分享（sharing）增加22%，而相關內容亦比以往增加68%的機會被留意。
城巿遊戲化 Urban Gamification
在傳統非遊戲的環境中，加入點數、闖關等遊戲元素，從而讓巿民在遊戲界面、透過遊戲與真實街道互動。例如經典遊戲《模擬城巿》（SimCity），就是把城巿規劃「遊戲化」，讓人透過遊戲，動手設計城巿、認識城巿結構。而《Pokemon Go》則更進一步，把遊戲與現實世界結合，人們透過遊戲走到城巿不同角落尋找精靈，以一個嶄新方法認識城巿。不少人認為，若把Pokemon Go及SimCity的模式結合，或可讓巿民以遊戲形式，參與真正的城巿規劃。
繪圖：Arnold Ng
地點 : 香港
Planning through playing, a way for bottom-up urban planning
After a shocking expansion in half a century, Hong Kong's population reached a whopping 7.5 million from 4 million 50 years before now. Hong Kong is not alone in this struggle – under the impact of globalisation, many metropolises are overpopulated, with their infrastructure, urban planning, food supply and other urban features under enormous stress.
Rising population density puts cities on the verge of malfunction. To relieve overcrowded cities from these problems, many seek solutions from technology and the vision of smart cities. During the pandemic, we can see how technology brings about changes, big and fast. Virtual meetings and workplace platforms diminished the necessity of commute and traffic. But for technology to be effective, collective and active involvement is crucial. The rage over Pokémon Go some years ago inspired many urban planners to see 'urban gamification' as a great starting point.
Globalisation
At the dawn of the 19th century, only about 2% of the world's population lived in urban areas. The number rose to 10% by the turn of the 20th century. Rapid urban development, however, accelerates the pace of transportation and communication. The ratio of urban population, UN-Habitat estimates, will rise exponentially to 70% by 2050.
Technology and Urban Development
Rising urban population contributes to problems such as overcrowding, pollution and tremendous stress on public infrastructure. New technologies – from 5G to IoT, from self-driving vehicles to high-tech urban farming and urban renewable energy – offer the promises of better city efficiency. Some even firmly believe that these innovations could solve many challenges facing future cities if developed in the right direction.
5G
A breakthrough in the world's wi-fi network comes forth almost every decade. In the millennial era, Worldwide Web was dominated by 3G, followed by 4G after a decade. In 2019, 5G first appeared in the United States and was expected to reach North America, Europe and APAC this year. How fast is 5G? These digits can explain – 4G can speed up to 100Mbps, 5G 20Gbps, hundredfold.
IoT
Internet of Things (IoT) is the network of communication chips extensively deployed on different devices or objects. The big data collected through it will be simultaneously analysed to help respond and allocate real-time resources for optimal efficiency. For example, all sensor-installed street rubbish bins can monitor and evaluate the usage status and understand usage patterns, in a bid to adjust garbage collection routes to be more efficient. The lightning speed of 5G makes it possible to support the growing demand for IoT.
Gamification
With the internet still galloping and mobile phones penetrating every part of our life, "gamification" is a trending keyword. Everything from financial management to education, from marketing to daily errands and savings, uses gamification to motivate to do the most tedious things, such as a fitness app that turns boring runs into a zombie game.
According to data management company Gigya, gamification can increase user engagement by 1/3, user feedback 13% and social media sharing 22%. Related contents can be 68% easier to attract the audience.
Urban Gamification
In a traditional non-gaming environment, game elements such as points and pass-throughs encourage citizens to interact with real streets via a game interface. For example, all-time classic "SimCity" gamifies city planning, allowing people to design the city and understand city structure through the game. Pokemon Go takes the concept to higher grounds by combining game and the real world. It takes people to different parts of the city to find elves and get to know the city from a fresh perspective. Many people believe that if Pokémon Go and SimCity models are combined, the public may participate in actual urban planning.
Illustration by: Arnold Ng
Location: Hong Kong
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