The Impact of Remote Working Digital Platforms on Cities

Abstract

The rise of remote working, accelerated by the COVID-19 pandemic, is reshaping urban landscapes in unprecedented ways. Digital platforms like Zoom and Teams are influencing land use, transportation, and economic trends. This webinar will explore how these platforms impact commuting patterns, urban zoning, and infrastructure needs. Dr. Elham Bahmanteymouri will discuss how cities adapt to these changes, including emergence of new commuting zones and shifts in land use and vacancy rates. Dr. Selena Sheng will address the impact on transportation systems and explore strategies for planning in the hybrid work era. By combining perspectives from urban planning and transport economics, this conversation will highlight opportunities to foster more resilient and sustainable urban development. It will offer actionable insights for policymakers, practitioners, and researchers as they navigate the evolving work landscape and its implications for the cities of tomorrow.

Speakers

Dr Elham Bahmanteymouri

School of Architecture and Planning, Future Cities Research Centre, University of Auckland

With a background in economics and urban planning, she specialises in urban land economics, housing markets, digital platforms, and the regulation of platform-based economies. Her recent book, Cities and Digital Platforms (Routledge, 2025), examines the economic and spatial impacts of platforms like Airbnb and Zoom across seven global cities. Elham brings nearly two decades of experience in urban planning and over 12 years in academic research, with a focus on urban transformation and critical policy analysis.

Dr Selena Sheng

Energy Centre, Business School, University of Auckland

Dr Sheng is a Senior Research Fellow at the Energy Centre, University of Auckland Business School. Her research focuses on applied economics, econometrics, and data analysis, with an emphasis on climate change, carbon emissions, NZETS, and transport systems issues. She explores environmental and behavioural aspects using empirical modelling and has published in leading academic journals.

Moderator

Dr Alessandro Premier University of Auckland, Future Cities Research Centre.

Details

Price: free

Registration: mandatory, via Eventbrite

NZRAB CPD Points: 10

NZPI CPD Points: 1 (NZPI members will need to manually enter their CPD point/s after they attend this event)

NOTE: All registered attendees will receive a link to the zoom webinar 15 minutes prior to the start of the event via Eventbrite email. Please check your spam folder if you don't receive it.

For more information please contact: alessandro.premier@auckland.ac.nz