Bristol Is Open became one of the world’s first cities to experiment with a city-scale digital infrastructure, effectively creating an urban operating system. The Internet of Things is advancing on a metropolitan scale, with citywide sensors able to track everything from pollution to crime. As networks grow more complex, so too does their vulnerability, expanding the attack surface for hackers.

 

What happens when critical infrastructure becomes digital infrastructure? The stakes move beyond inconvenience to systemic risk, including the possibility of state-on-state cyber conflict. Our work helped position Bristol Is Open at the forefront of this global conversation — exploring how cities can innovate boldly while remaining secure, resilient and human-centred.