One of the main benefits of utilizing modern technology in a city is the ability to see changes in the environment in real-time. Big data has made it possible to monitor behavioral patterns and analyze urban lifestyles at the intersection of categories such as population, economic growth, transport, development, and infrastructure. Data is being collected in almost every area of urban life, which creates new opportunities but also creates new challenges and tasks. Apart from the creation and maintenance of technical infrastructure, these challenges also concern administrative management, regulatory frameworks, and training of analytical personnel. Ensuring high quality data sets while keeping citizens anonymous during data collection, processing big data efficiently, and applying research results to city planning are all issues that are becoming increasingly relevant and require public discussion.

• How does data collection and its analysis help make urban life safer and more comfortable?
• What are the main challenges for big data in urban design?
• Do cities need data consortia? If so, what steps should be taken to create them?