Kirkland will host King County’s February Sustainable Cities Roundtable, which will feature speaker Charles Wolfe, author of “Seeing the Better City: How to Explore, Observe and Improve Urban Space.”

He will discuss the value of visual sense, immersion and real-world observation as tools to create lasting positive changes in the urban environment.

Big data and other digital tools are reshaping modern life—and the urban fabric of our cities is no exception. Housing, infrastructure, and transportation policies and decisions are increasingly influenced by digital mapping, simulations, the “internet of things” and other new technologies. While these tools are valuable for understanding urban space, our increasing reliance on technology puts us at risk of losing sight of the value of personal observation of, and connection to, the cities we live in.

The focus of “Seeing the Better City” is on how to equip those who live or work in cities to identify and understand the impacts of urban form, neighborhood dynamics, transportation, and other elements they witness in their daily lives. Through an “urban diary” approach that focuses on cataloguing urban elements and their impacts, citizens can become acute observers of the interplay of form and function in their cities. But this exercise is not just for show: incorporating diverse experiences and perspectives into urban planning decisions will help ensure our cities remain dynamic and authentically reflect local culture and context.

The roundtable, which includes a walking tour of downtown Kirkland, is scheduled for noon to 2 pm. Feb. 9 at Kirkland City Hall. It is a brown bag event, meaning attendees are welcome to bring their own lunches to enjoy during the roundtable.

The event is free, but space is limited. Those interested can register online at bit.ly/2jpDtel.

This is taken from information distributed by King County.