The project was structured around four core axes of work: energy, water, food systems, and mobility and safety. Before applying contemporary tools, we examined the historical evolution of research on informal urbanism, from early observational and ethnographic approaches to more recent participatory frameworks and technology-enabled diagnostics. Building on this foundation, we implemented a mixed-method strategy tailored to each axis. Across multiple years, we combined surveys, structured interviews, behavioral mapping, videography, drone-based remote sensing, mobile applications, and wireless sensor networks to generate layered insights into both physical infrastructure and everyday practices. This integrated approach allowed us to move beyond single-method diagnostics and instead construct a multidimensional understanding of how resource management, spatial conditions, and social dynamics interact within the settlement. The result was a set of community-informed interventions that were technically grounded, culturally contextualized, and aligned with long-term urban sustainability goals.

This project was developed through a collaboration between the MIT Media Lab’s City Science group and the University of Guadalajara as part of the Global City Science Network. The partnership integrates international research expertise with deep local knowledge and community engagement. By working closely with faculty, students, and community members in Guadalajara, the collaboration enabled long-term fieldwork, participatory research, and the deployment of innovative data-collection methods. This cross-institutional model demonstrates how global research networks can support locally grounded solutions to complex urban challenges.

External Collaborators

• Mayra Gamboa
• Mónica Gómez
• Eduardo Delgado