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The research presented in this paper introduces a conceptual modeling and database management approach for representing and analyzing human trajectories in urban spaces. The model considers the spatial, temporal and semantic dimensions in order to take into account the full range of properties that emerge from mobility patterns. Several object data types and data manipulation constructs are developed and experimented on top of an urban dataset testbed currently available in the city of Beijing. The interest of the approach is twofold: first, it clearly appears that very large mobility datasets can be integrated in current extensible GIS; secondly, significant patterns can be derived at the database manipulation level using some specifically developed query functions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Barcelona is under the international spotlight. The city that triumphed with the organisation of the Olympic Games in 1992 now wants to become a 21st Century creative city. In order to achieve this goal, the city must establish conditions that facilitate the emergence of a shared discourse around its ability to become an attractive city for creative talent and for businesses. The recognition of the historical-economic heritage, as a starting point for the creative city, along with the driving role played by culture in the generation of a exclusive and distinctive experience, turn Barcelona into a unique city. However, this is not sufficient. The participation and involvement of all the actors in a shared strategy pose significant challenges to Barcelona, as does the need to minimise the negative effects that inevitably accompany success. Companies, institutions and citizens constitute the city's best assets: they must work in partnership and take advantage of the synergies generated amongst them. Consensus and participation are more than mere utopias in Barcelona: they have become requirements for the city of tomorrow. Moreover, leadership in Barcelona is largely left to public initiative: the emergence of linkages across the needs of the various creative sectors, based on public intervention mechanisms is the best way to ensure success. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]