Smart Cities, Hot Climates: How Estefanía Tapias is turning research and experience into real cities

In this episode of We Are ETH, host Susan Kish talks with Dr. Estefanía Tapias, ETH Zurich alumna and smart-city expert, about building resilient, people-centered cities. Estefanía traces a path from Bogotá to Zurich, through the Future Cities Lab in Singapore, to her current work in Dubai, advising on urban development across the Gulf. She explains how extreme heat reshapes street design, materials, and building operations, why public transport, shading, and walkability still win in hot climates, and how to scale sustainable construction. The conversation explores Saudi Arabia’s NEOM and other build-from-scratch projects, weighing bold vision against practical constraints. Estefanía reflects on “living the problems” before critiquing, how Zurich shaped her systems view, and how data bias and missing perspectives can distort planning models. She closes with advice for young planners: go where change is happening, blend tech with anthropology, and test ideas in real streets.(00:00:48) Introduction: From Colombia to Dubai(00:02:03) The Middle East's Technology Transformation(00:02:34) Combining Urban Planning with Technology(00:03:39) Public Transportation and Urban Design(00:05:22) Falling in Love with Zurich(00:07:07) Working with Visionary Professor Gerhard Schmitt(00:09:13) Understanding Extreme Heat and Climate Adaptation(00:12:41)Living the Problems Before Criticizing(00:13:31)Cities Built from Scratch: Saudi Arabia's Opportunity(00:16:49) NEOM: Successes and Challenges(00:19:08) Advice for Young Urban Planners(00:20:16) What Makes ETH Special(00:21:20) Curiosity About Future Cities(00:22:17) Data Bias and Diverse Perspectives in Technology