Smart City Suggestions:
1. Rain water pond used for irrigation
2. Solar powered lights in park spaces
3. App for monitoring traffic in Portland (provides best routes for walking, driving, biking, etc. taking into account events, closed roads, and rush hour traffic)
4. App for Parking (Tells available parking times, locations, and cost)
5. App for Festivals, Concerts, etc schedule (what events are occurring and the details about each event)
Portland, Maine already has the necessary urban infrastructure to build a stronger, more networked system, which will help the transformation into a “smarter” city. In Greenfield’s Against the Smart City, he states that the typical “smart city” can refer to a “far more consequential drive to retrofit networked information technologies into existing urban places” [1], though this is not always the case. In fact, Greenfield argues that a city that relies too heavily on technology is unrealistic. Instead, when building smart cities, one should take into account the unpredictable and flawed nature of cities and their efficiency.
Listed above are five ideas that would help create a “better” Portland. I am defining a “better” city as one that would provide an efficiently running, more connected, people-friendly cultural setting. The majority of these ideas rely on the technology of some sort of smart phone, such as the apps that can connect and update people with events occurring in Portland. However, the suggestion I am going to focus on in detail is the addition of a rain water pond used for irrigation [2].
When visiting Portland, I noticed a fountain located in a park that was lacking in both aesthetics and functionality. A solution to this would be creating a pond that could support aquatic life, while also naturally filtering and collecting water to reuse for irrigation for other plants in the park. This would be aesthetically pleasing for visitors of the park because it can host plants and provide the same satisfaction as viewing a water fountain. Additionally, in the September 3, 2014 Portland Council Meeting, the members discussed repairing the current water treatment system of the Stormwater Outfall at Capisic Pond Park [3], which could also benefit from a water collection pond. This addition could be routed to collect small amounts of run-off from areas in the park, which would help reduce the amount of run-off left at Capisic Pond Park in an environmentally friendly way. Although this pond is not “smart” in a typical technological manner, it is smart in that it runs efficiently in an innovative way. The pond not only contributes to the beautification of the park, but also provides an efficient solution to controlling water run-off and supporting the irrigation system in a park.
1. Greenfield, Adam (2013-12-20). Against the smart city (The city is here for you to use) (Kindle Locations 119-120).
2. This idea was actually inspired by the Aquatic Pond and Rainwater Harvesting System at Yale University’s Environmental Studies building.
3. Portland Regular City Council Meeting (September 3, 2014). http://portlandmaine.gov/AgendaCenter/ViewFile/Agenda/09032014-583 (Accessed 9/25/14).
Jenny,
I really like your definition of a “better” city– “one that would provide an efficiently running, more connected, people-friendly cultural setting.” Based on my recent interactions with Portland residents while I sought mental maps, I feel that the Parking App is where Portland really needs to put some work in to fit your definition of “better.”
Of the four people I spoke to in Portland, three drove cars. All three of them said the parking situation was something they disliked about the city. A parking app that operates in real time is something I worry about, in terms of Greenfield’s warning against technology that is too complicated to be useful. However, an app that simply lists all of the parking options with hours and fees could be really helpful. This includes days and hours for street parking, as well as the location of lots and garages. Based on how this app went, a real time app might be worth developing as people were comfortable with that idea.
-Eva
I also agree that your definition of a “better” city is extremely helpful to the reader. So many people have personal definitions of “better” but more efficient, connected, and people-friendly seem to be three aspects that Portland can improve on. Smart phone apps seem to be a theme in these posts and again I agree. I like how you took this direction towards parking. I also suggested some sort of parking application to better utilize the parking that is available and unknown, but Eva’s suggestion about an app that simply lists available parking and hours is more realistic and also extremely helpful. A more complex idea can come out of the success of this app, but even tourists being aware of the available parking can increase the pedestrian life of the city and reduce the amount of cars on the road throughout Portland.
The idea for ponds that collects storm water run-off in parks is particularly interesting; however, it brings up a series of issues that should be considered. I am not too familiar with best practices for storm water run-off ponds, but I worry that the costs involved for creating and then maintaining the pond could be quite high. I also wonder what sort of technologies are used for channeling the collected water for irrigation, and if any sensor technologies can be used for monitoring the pH of the water, etc. Ponds are aesthetically pleasing, but I do think they need to be carefully integrated into parks. It would look a little odd to just throw a pond in the middle of Lincoln Park. A pond with shrubbery at its edges and foliage nearby, makes the landscape appear more “natural”, allowing it to have the same calming effect as the environment it seeks to mimic. Ponds can also be a great water feature that people can actually interact with, as opposed to some of NYC’s plazas that prohibit people from touching their water features.
I really liked how you defined a smart city. It is true that smart cities do not have to be stuffed with sensors and automated systems; smart cities just take a smarter approach for solving common problems. I think the idea of a self-supporting irrigation system is great! In the wake of automated systems we should be trying to create more and more microsystems that can support themselves thus removing stress from the main framework. This kind of irrigation system can also be used to keep track of water contents while creating better public spaces around the city.
I think the last three ideas can be united into one, universal city app that would provide guidance and advice to residents and visitors alike, about routes, walking tours, events, food places and etc.
I like how you are really diving into technological advancements that are geared towards the environment. I think it is important that “smart” technologies are not only designed to offset part of their own damage, but are specifically geared towards solving pre-existing problems. Your idea is a good example of a multi-use installation that would promote both aesthetic and environment. I feel a “smart” city could use a lot of these technologies. We need to make sure that as we are changing infrastructure to accommodate “smart” changes, we are not taking a step in the wrong direction in terms of the environment. A shift in structure towards a smart city could be a big chance to restructure ways of life. Thinking about Sorkin’s “Traffic in Democracy,” how can we change the physical composition of the city to align with more environmentally-friendly habits?
Jenny,
I love the idea of the pond. I think the best step towards intersecting functionality, aesthetics and sustainability are solutions like this; ones that bring a multitude of benefits. The project also naturally asks for collaboration. I bet there are people who specialize in sustainable landscape architecture.
I find it interesting that as we have read through many articles so far in this class, “smart” may mean efficient, modern, renewed and organized, but all under the theme of technology. A lot of it seems to abandon existing infrastructure in favor of the new however. The irrigation pond is a different instance of “retrofitting” that I think is on a much more immediate and feasible level.
As you move forward in determining your recommended solution, I admit this idea has stuck with me and is really reminiscent of the Urban Meadow in Red Hook, Brooklyn. I think this could do a lot of good without a lot of cost for the city, and also push for park space near the waterfront as Max has urged for all seven of his posts. :)