Collecting real-time information will be as essential to building the city 2.0 as coordinating the top-down integration of infrastructure systems. A new city in Portugal will use more than 100 million sensors to build its feedback loop.
Boyd Cohen describes how a new planned city for 225,000 inhabitants being developed in Portugal, called PlanIT Valley, intends to become "a living laboratory for new technologies" by establishing a robust feedback loop. According to Cohen, planners are expecting to install more than 100 million sensors in the city, or the equivalent of nearly 450 sensors per capita.
"The sensors will be used for a whole range of services, including smart
transit and parking; emergency services dispatching; energy monitoring
and management in smart buildings; and monitoring infrastructure
condition and performance. Sensors in homes will be set up to identify
water leaks and will be capable of autonomously notifying a plumber."
With leading smart city technology companies such as Cisco, Microsoft, and Philips involved in the development of the city, Cohen notes that "It will be interesting to see
what the future holds for these new cities and how existing cities can
learn from these experiments."
"It will also be interesting to see how
cities like PlanIT balance the power of one million sensors with
citizens' privacy needs, while also embracing diversity and feeling
alive--not just like robotic, high-tech laboratories."
FULL STORY: Baking Innovation Into New Smart Cities
Coronavirus Geography: Denmark Could Be an Omicron Harbinger
Denmark is one of three countries that experts suggest watching to determine how the Omicron wave will affect the U.S. and other well-vaccinated nations. Cases are surging notwithstanding having 78% of its population fully vaccinated.
The Practical Confessions of an Urbanist Pilgrim
After 12 days of walking the Portuguese Camino, the importance of many urban planning and development debates—from balanced growth to banning cars—became abundantly clear.
Fostering Global Tourism Without Destroying Cities
More people than ever are traveling, but cities around the world are struggling to keep up. A new declaration aims to balance the benefits and challenges of tourism.
Trump Administration Could Effectively End Housing Voucher Program
Federal officials are eyeing major cuts to the Section 8 program that helps millions of low-income households pay rent.
Planetizen Federal Action Tracker
A weekly monitor of how Trump’s orders and actions are impacting planners and planning in America.
Ken Jennings Launches Transit Web Series
The Jeopardy champ wants you to ride public transit.
Driving Equity and Clean Air: California Invests in Greener School Transportation
California has awarded $500 million to fund 1,000 zero-emission school buses and chargers for educational agencies as part of its effort to reduce pollution, improve student health, and accelerate the transition to clean transportation.
Congress Moves to End Reconnecting Communities and Related Grants
The House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee moved to rescind funding for the Neighborhood Equity and Access program, which funds highway removals, freeway caps, transit projects, pedestrian infrastructure, and more.
From Throughway to Public Space: Taking Back the American Street
How the Covid-19 pandemic taught us new ways to reclaim city streets from cars.
Urban Design for Planners 1: Software Tools
This six-course series explores essential urban design concepts using open source software and equips planners with the tools they need to participate fully in the urban design process.
Planning for Universal Design
Learn the tools for implementing Universal Design in planning regulations.
Heyer Gruel & Associates PA
Ada County Highway District
Institute for Housing and Urban Development Studies (IHS)
City of Grandview
Harvard GSD Executive Education
Toledo-Lucas County Plan Commissions
Salt Lake City
NYU Wagner Graduate School of Public Service