In the series From the Edges, Alexander Gutzmer, editorial director of topos, comments on urban phenomena taking place in the growing metropolises outside the classic urban New York-London-Tokyo triad. In this episode, he talks about Google’s new plans to engage in city planning in Toronto:
“Don’t be evil” – is the famous original claim of technology brand Google. Sounded nice, was probably honestly felt – at least initially. And yet, nobody seems to believe it today. Many see Google as just that – evil. Scepticism is particularly high when it comes to the firm’s engagement with the urban realm. And now this: Google is planning a part of a city. Of Toronto, to be specific. The corporate spinoff Sidewalk Labs, run by former NYC deputy mayor Dan Doctoroff, will build from scratch an undeveloped 12-acre area called Quayside. The basic idea: Google will use its key resources – money and data – to develop an urban structure capable of finding optimal solutions regarding water use, air quality or transport. The prototypical smart city, if you will. Of course, criticism came swiftly. Commercial enterprises in charge of cities – a scary idea for many. The ridiculous case of Disney developing an American dream world called Celebration still serves as a horrid example. Ikea does it, too, and Londoners are far from amazed.
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“Outstanding solutions as global role models”
And now, Google / Alphabet. The data behemoth. Susan Crawford, professor at Harvard Law School, writes in Wired: “Details of the arrangement are not public, the planning process is being paid for by Google, and Google won’t continue funding that process unless government authorities promise they’ll reach a final agreement that aligns with Google’s interests.” So far so problematic. Or not? Here’s the thing: I’m not sure that criticism sticks. True, a company that is so much involved as Google is with transparency should be willing to make public its strategies and contractual arrangements with Toronto. But the fact that the company wants to acquire knowledge with this? Of course it does. This is how companies work. And let’s be clear – this is also how cities work, and increasingly so. There are more and more networks of cities around the world in search of globally distributable best practices. Take the C40 initiative. The idea is always to look for outstanding solutions and use those as global role models.
“The deal is simple”
And the fact that Google will create a place based on data? This is the very essence of the concept known as “Smart City”. As of this day, this “smartness” tends to be a vague promise, as I argue in my book Urban Innovation Networks (Springer Gabler 2016). And yet, if the smart city promises are to be tested, then this should happen in the urban sphere. The deal is simple: If Google can create an urban experience substantially better than elsewhere, people will move in. If not, we will know the limits of data-based urban redevelopment. Hence my suggestion: Let us observe, let us be critical – but let them go ahead and try!
“An aspect that disappoints”
There is, however, one aspect I find disappointing: Why did it have to be Toronto? Why a cozy city in a developed country? Presumably, the potential of such involvement could be bigger in the metropolises beyond the traditional “tec city networks”; in the urban centres “on the edges”. There are three reasons for this: Firstly, money is scarcer. Secondly, the governmental institutions are often weaker. Thirdly, the level of understanding those institutions have about how these cities function is lower. Hence, the resources Google has might prove more valuable in Rio or Bogotá than in Toronto.
This column can be found in topos 103.
Read also the columns of the past issues:
In topos 102 Alexander Gutzmer wrote about “Crossing Borders in El Paso” and in topos 101 about “Shaking Ground in Mexico City”.
How can we improve our waste recycling systems?
In our modern world the lifestyle of people is changing in an eco-friendly way. Everyone tries to reduce waste as much as possible and simultaneously everyday objects transform to smart intelligent objects. So it should come as little surprise that even within industries that are traditionally late adopters of new technologies, forward-thinking ideas in terms of waste reduction and energy savings arise.
Last year, Victor Stanley, an international designer and manufacturer of premium outdoor furnishings, introduced a new generation of connected, intelligent waste receptacles. They are smart enough, in fact, to save an estimated 20%–40% on litter and recycling collection expenses each year.
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GPS tracking of waste decreases carbon footprint
Traditional static systems allow for some receptacles to overfill before they are collected, while others that sit empty are collected anyway. Using GPS in conjunction with other sensors, the new litter receptacles of Victor Stanley only need to be emptied when they are full. So these smart receptacles not only save time, but also decrease fuel costs, carbon footprints and unsightly waste overflows. Monitoring of containers provides a holistic view of an area’s trash and recycling status, and improves landfill diversion rates.
What does this all mean from a practical perspective? Put simply, it means that the hospitals, campuses, municipalities and individuals charged with waste control can now employ networks of connected receptacles and software that enable collection plannings and routings that are substantially more efficient.
For further information:
Which future traffic model are we striving for?
To be able to display the appropriate e-mode of transport for the fastest, safest, or most eco-friendly way on your phone sounds like a utopia? It is the case at the moment. However, researchers and entrepreneurs are developing visions for a “smart city” that links the city via innovative mobility networks. The world of mobility is constantly inventing new technologies, such as autonomous driving, electromobility, or even new air transport systems. So how will we be moving in cities in 30 or 50 years?
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Mobility concepts for the future
The change in usage patterns with regard to digitalisation and increasing flexibility raises many questions:
Is the sharing economy of different modes of transport growing? Are we travelling more individually and more often in future? And do environmentally friendly transport modes such as bicycles and public transport become even more important? What is the influence of increasingly fluctuating traffic systems on the design and structure of the city?
Workshop in Berlin
These and other questions are discussed in „Bundesinstitut für Bau-, Stadt- und Raumforschung“ in Berlin, which is the federal institute for urban research. Participate at the workshop with the topic „Smart City – future traffic models of tomorrow“ on the 5th of April 2017, in Berlin.
Further Informations: http://www.bbsr.bund.de/BBSR/DE/Aktuell/Veranstaltungen/programme-2017/2017-stadtverkehr.html
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This week, US-President Barack Obama announced a new Smart Cities Initiative that will invest over $160 million in federal research and leverage more than 25 new technology collaborations to help local communities tackle key challenges such as reducing traffic congestion, fighting crime, fostering economic growth, managing the effects of a changing climate, and improving the delivery of city services. The new initiative is part of this Administration’s overall commitment to target federal resources to meet local needs and support community-led solutions.
Over the past six years, the Administration has pursued a place-based approach to working with communities as they tackle a wide range of challenges, from investing in infrastructure and filling open technology jobs to bolstering community policing. Advances in science and technology have the potential to accelerate these efforts. An emerging community of civic leaders, data scientists, technologists, and companies are joining forces to build “Smart Cities” – communities that are building an infrastructure to continuously improve the collection, aggregation, and use of data to improve the life of their residents – by harnessing the growing data revolution, low-cost sensors, and research collaborations, and doing so securely to protect safety and privacy.
“Every community is different, with different needs and different approaches. But communities that are making the most progress on these issues have some things in common. They don’t look for a single silver bullet; instead they bring together local government and nonprofits and businesses and teachers and parents around a shared goal”, says President Obama.
