Seminar with Dr. Constance Carr
"Research directions and dilemmas in data center (sub)urban development"
October 8, 2026, 12.30pm-1.30pm, room 626 Kaneff Tower, Keele campus, 91亚色
The data centre industry is evolving rapidly, with new concepts such as hyperscales, megascales, exoscales, AI Growth Zones and AI Factories reshaping the geography and governance of digital infrastructure. In this talk, Carr will provide an overview of key strands in the emerging literature on data centre development, examining how these trends intersect with wider debates in urban and regional planning, local governance, and the growing influence of Big Tech in shaping territorial development. Drawing on a range of current research projects, the presentation will explore the social, economic and spatial implications of large-scale digital infrastructure. Following the overview, the session will open into a roundtable discussion, inviting attendees to share their own perspectives, experiences and research interests related to the development of data centres and their impacts across different scales and contexts.
Dr. Constance Carr聽is a tenured Research Scientist at the Department of Geography and Spatial Planning, University of Luxembourg. Her work focuses on the social spatial dimensions of digital infrastructure, examining how the infrastructures that support artificial intelligence shape cities and regions. Recent publications on this subject can be found in Urban Studies, Environment and Planning A, Planning Theory & Practice.
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