The Cities We Have, the Cities We Want

This paper discusses the outcomes of the third Symposium for Sustainable Infrastructure (SSI-3) in Colorado under the theme The Cities We Have, the Cities We Want. The one-day symposium brought in nationally recognized experts that provided a continuum of discussion—beginning with understanding The Cities We Have and leading to The Cities We Want. What has led our cities to the current infrastructure and planning paradigm? What are the key issues facing engineering and planning? Can the status quo guide our efforts without dealing with underlying assumptions? This paper provides an analysis of an existing paradigm of infrastructure management and how the paradigm impacts urban planning. In order to build truly smart cities and succeed in reversing the threat of aging infrastructure, we must evaluate the status quo and its inability to reverse the threat.