This research is encouraged by a reading of the military urbanisms of the developing world. Dalia's work investigates the process codification of architectural and urban form that occurs in the performative space of simulated cities. The informal city, informal urbanisation and unplanned dispositions of structures and services present a threat to the US military. Every year, they invest billions of dollars in simulated cities (mock cities) around the world. Simulated cities are replicas of existing cities, where military personnel and background cast performers participate in active combat training, or “war-planning exercises.” In these spaces, shifting urban power dynamics are conceived and rehearsed before they are executed and deployed across civilian spaces. The lines between simulation and authenticity, construction, and violence, placemaking and war-making are continually blurred. Architecture plays a significant role in this process of mimicry and performance. Dalia’s research explores the methods and techniques employed by military personnel to imitate and replicate authentic living spaces of a given city. Dalia's research leads to larger questions relating to the relationship between forcesof global security and urban development. How do we anticipate and protect the cities that have not yet suffered severe military remodelling? How do we arm architects and urbanists with the tools to defend the informal city against the military quest for standardisation and operational control?

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