Smart City Suggestions:
- Reconfiguring traffic space as public space: Using longitudinal data about traffic patterns (I don’t know if this exists yet), the city could open and close streets to allow for more public space. If certain streets get very little traffic, they could be repurposed as plazas. I know they did this in many major squares in Manhattan and it really improved both traffic and the quality of the area. The September 15th City Council Meeting made reference to the opening and closing of streets temporarily for festivals, it would be cool to seem them do this full time (City of Portland, 24).
- Interactive public art: It would be really interesting to see Portland’s public spaces integrate more public art, particularly interactive or “smart” art. We all remember the sad little fountain on our walking tour, wouldn’t it be great if the fountain could sense movement and put on special shows as people walked by? Or a sidewalk that played music to the beat you were walking?
- Indoor public spaces: Portland needs more indoor public spaces and atriums that would give a place for people to relax and socialize in the winter months. Thinking of a “smart” indoor public space made me think of Songdo’s smart buildings. These buildings could be designed as low environmental impact, with special temperature control mechanisms (maybe even those fancy shades). It could also be a central information hub, with screens giving information on the weather, transportation, traffic and world news.
- Interactive history tours: Many students suggested that they wanted more information about the history of the city and historic landmarks. Similar to the interactive public art idea, it would be great to have interactive history tours. Screens dispersed throughout the city could give you information about the site, show historical pictures, and tell stories. This could be similar to the bricks project we saw during the walking tour, except they could constantly update, with people submitting their own stories.
- A public space events app: An app advertising events could make public spaces less of a placeholder and more of a destination. Public spaces could host concerts, public theater, children’s workshops, and sponsored events from local organizations. This would help these spaces gain a reputation as vibrant locales. The app could also feature more day-to-day information, like which food trucks will be in which square when.
I think the most exciting suggestion would be the interactive history tours. The kiosks could support of a host of activities – facts, photos, and serve as a platform to share stories and experiences. It gives Portland a sense of places, teaching residents and tourists about the history of the area. It fosters a sense of community and acts as a virtual artwork through the sharing of stories. It would also help brand Portland as a cutting edge “smart” city. In relation to public space, it incentivizes spending time on the sidewalks, and treats the street as not just a thoroughfare to walk but a place to spend time in, appreciate and interact with.
Greenfield’s notion that the smart city is built in generic space and time made me realize how important the location and history of a city really is (Greenfield*). While a new smart city may be placed anywhere, generic versatility would totally neglect Portland’s unique charm. That is why I think learning about the constantly-updating history of the city is so important when experiencing it. Greenfield’s critique of smart cities as “pretending” to “perfect knowledge that are nowhere achievable” made my shy away from suggestions that were too far reaching. Greenfield states: that algorithms used to design smart cities suggest “there is one and only one universal and transcendently correct solution to each identified individual or collective human need,” and that this can stifle diversity or malfunction (Greenfield). The kiosks don’t carry this risk because they are about fostering the creative and human aspects of the city. The September 15th City Council Meeting did not address any creative aspects of the city – it was only concerned with permits, development and maintenance of infrastructure. I would be nice to change this.
On a completely unrelated note, why/how are they able to publically publish the criminal records of a man trying to get a liquor license for his restaurant? (City of Portland, 49)
Sources:
- Greenfield, Adam. 2013. Against the Smart City. 1.3 edition. Do projects.
* I couldn’t get page numbers on the Kindle. - City of Portland. Regular City Council Meeting: September 15th, 2014. Portland, ME: September 15th, 2014.
Libby,
I like the idea of interactive history in the city, and especially the addition of new histories. However, my worry regarding the interactive history tours is that they might be in danger of occupying the same social space in the city as horse-drawn historical tours of Portland, which seem to be exclusively directed at tourists.
I am very excited about your idea for a city app. I actually read the Bowdoin Digest email every day and I find it helpful for knowing what is going on around campus on a basic institutional level. (I have no idea how many students actually read the email, though.) I think the basic info concept is applicable and could be similarly helpful to the city of Portland. There are so many great opportunities, between Art Walk, gallery openings, special nights at restaurants, and other culturally present things that might be date-specific in the city. A simple but informative daily update on an app, geared towards residents as well as tourists, could be a great innovation for the city.
I really like the idea of interactive history and residents having the opportunity to share their personal stories and connection to specific places. I am not totally sold on the idea of screens – I am having a bit of trouble envisioning how these would look and wonder if they would be able to withstand the harsh Maine winters. Also, would solar energy be able to power them? Would they be vulnerable to damage and vandalism? Nevertheless, the idea of creating a forum for public story sharing is a fantastic thought!
I also agree that Portland would greatly benefit from indoor public spaces. I cannot think of any that exist at the moment. There are opportunities for creating atriums, tunnels connecting buildings (that are lined with shops), indoor food courts, etc. It is so important for Portland to invest in public spaces that are going to be used, not just in the beautiful summer months, but all year long.
I definitely like your idea of an app of the city. As many people have suggested before, it seems like the perfect opportunity to incorporate technology into public space by listing a host of things available for the public that they may not otherwise know about. I also like your idea of incorporate history tours into the city, but maybe they could become part of the app instead of on screens? This would be more cost-effective and also be more easily accessible to the people of Portland, both residents and tourists alike. An app including history can give key insights into Portland without taking up actual public space, but making the city “smarter” through technology. I definitely think Portland should invest in this sort of public-space app that could benefit everyone in Portland.
I really like your idea of having indoor public space. When I was interviewing people in Portland for the mental maps, I heard many suggestions for public indoor space so that the city would be more accessible during all seasons. One notable idea was an aquarium (especially since Portland is a coastal city)!
I think the most interesting part of the historical kiosks is that people can add their own stories. So much of this class so far has been about how a city is defined by the people living in it, and adding personal experiences would definitely help create a stronger sense of community.
I love the idea of indoor space for socialization in the winter months; Portland has such potential to better its off-season image. There definitely needs to be a means of escape without leaving the city or hiding away from the cold. I think I personally would like to see a hybrid of a farmer’s market and botanical gardens with adult-sized indoor playgrounds.
Also, the idea for interactive public art and sidewalk history tours is like turning a museum inside out and bringing the experience of art and information onto the streets. People can read history as the walk actual paths and they can listen to their pace on what I assume to be life-size piano keys as sidewalk panels.
Libby, Your idea for an interactive historical map of the city is definitely something that could draw visitors to different parts of the story, increase tourism, and increase community involvement and connectivity. The turn the others in your group took that focused on the indoor space is also a solid idea, but involves more investment from the city. Perhaps Monument Square #1 and #2 (the unattractive, modern buildings) could use a gutting on the ground floor?