Thirty new digital kiosks will soon be found on the streets of downtown Washington, D.C. The information flowing through those kiosks will be a two-way street.
Zach Edelson reports on the new digital kiosks and sensor network on their way to Washington, D.C.
"At seven feet tall and featuring 55-inch screens, the 30 kiosks coming to downtown D.C. will be much more than glorified digital ad machines…the kiosks will feature timely information relating to nearby restaurants, retail, events, and public transportation," according to Edelson.
The initiative is the work of the DowntownDC Business Improvement District (BID), with help from kiosk designers Smart City Media and other local stakeholders like the U.S. General Services Administration.
In addition to offering a way for residents to access data, the kiosks will become a key component of a data collection effort. "The kiosks will monitor noise levels, temperature, air quality, humidity, and barometric pressure. This data will be supplemented by an array of sensors placed on the BID’s buildings that will also monitor the surroundings," explains Edelson. The article includes more detail about the other "Internet of Things" and data collecting efforts that will supplement the work done by the kiosks—all of which will result in what Edelson calls a "formidable data set" for the BID.
FULL STORY: Washington, D.C.’s new digital kiosks and sensor network will harvest a wealth of urban data

Planetizen Federal Action Tracker
A weekly monitor of how Trump’s orders and actions are impacting planners and planning in America.

Chicago’s Ghost Rails
Just beneath the surface of the modern city lie the remnants of its expansive early 20th-century streetcar system.

San Antonio and Austin are Fusing Into one Massive Megaregion
The region spanning the two central Texas cities is growing fast, posing challenges for local infrastructure and water supplies.

Since Zion's Shuttles Went Electric “The Smog is Gone”
Visitors to Zion National Park can enjoy the canyon via the nation’s first fully electric park shuttle system.

Trump Distributing DOT Safety Funds at 1/10 Rate of Biden
Funds for Safe Streets and other transportation safety and equity programs are being held up by administrative reviews and conflicts with the Trump administration’s priorities.

German Cities Subsidize Taxis for Women Amid Wave of Violence
Free or low-cost taxi rides can help women navigate cities more safely, but critics say the programs don't address the root causes of violence against women.
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.
planning NEXT
Appalachian Highlands Housing Partners
Mpact (founded as Rail~Volution)
City of Camden Redevelopment Agency
City of Astoria
City of Portland
City of Laramie