Weather plays a big factor in the "smart cities" technology experiments in development by Sidewalk Labs for its Toronto pilot project.
Jacques Gallant reports on a recent Sidewalk Labs open house where the beleaguered company demonstrated some of its ideas for its "smart city" pilot in the Quayside neighborhood on the waterfront in Toronto.
"Sidewalk, backed by Google parent company Alphabet Inc., was showing off projects for the planned Quayside district, a test zone for urban tech on a 12-acre piece of land where Queens Quay E. meets Lake Shore Blvd.," according to Gallant.
"The projects included a 'building raincoat' — described as an adjustable plastic film awning attached to a building that can extend to protect the sidewalk from the elements. Another is a hexagonal paving system, including heated slabs to melt the snow and reduce the need for plowing and salting," reports Gallant.
The demonstration was effective in winning over at least some members of the public who attended the open house, as the project faces a spate of recent criticism.
FULL STORY: ‘Building raincoats’ and heated paving stones: Smart city technology on display at Sidewalk Labs open house
Tech and the Post-Pandemic City
To steer American cities into the future, public and private sectors—and citizens—must work together to build broad, lasting support around complicated issues such as transparency and data privacy.
Waterfront Toronto Greenlights Most of Sidewalk Labs' Quayside Master Plan
An evaluation committee made up of Waterfront Toronto staff has given a green light for the Sidewalk Labs master plan for Toronto to proceed to the next stages of planning.
Sidewalk Labs' 'Smart Cities' Experiment in Toronto Scaled Way Back
From 190 acres to 12 acres, that's the reduction in scale announced this week by representatives of Sidewalk Labs of its plan for Quayside on the waterfront in Toronto.
National Parks Layoffs Will Cause Communities to Lose Billions
Thousands of essential park workers were laid off this week, just before the busy spring break season.
Retro-silient?: America’s First “Eco-burb,” The Woodlands Turns 50
A master-planned community north of Houston offers lessons on green infrastructure and resilient design, but falls short of its founder’s lofty affordability and walkability goals.
Delivering for America Plan Will Downgrade Mail Service in at Least 49.5 Percent of Zip Codes
Republican and Democrat lawmakers criticize the plan for its disproportionate negative impact on rural communities.
Test News Post 1
This is a summary
Test News Headline 46
Test for the image on the front page.
Balancing Bombs and Butterflies: How the National Guard Protects a Rare Species
The National Guard at Fort Indiantown Gap uses GIS technology and land management strategies to balance military training with conservation efforts, ensuring the survival of the rare eastern regal fritillary butterfly.
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.
EMC Planning Group, Inc.
Planetizen
Planetizen
Mpact (formerly Rail~Volution)
Great Falls Development Authority, Inc.
HUDs Office of Policy Development and Research
NYU Wagner Graduate School of Public Service