Public space needs drastic improvement in Portland, and I am part of the group focused on this aspect of the city. I have many suggestions in terms of increasing the usage, accessibility, and efficiency of the public space that is available in Portland. However, in terms of smart city recommendations correlating with public space, only a few areas can easily be implemented. I have taken one of Greenfield\u2019s qualifications of a smart city, which he claims refers to retrofitting networked information technologies into existing urban places.[1] Greenfield also mentions that the philosopher Gilles Deleuze states that space is only important for the connections it creates rather than the qualities that it inherently holds, which is tightly linked to smart public spaces.[2] After reviewing Greenfield\u2019s claims about public space, here are some suggestions regarding the improvement of smart cities through public space in Portland.<\/p>\n
Looking through documents from the Portland City Council Board Meetings, there is little mention of public space. In Portland\u2019s Common Goals for 2014 document, there was no mention of the creation or improvement of public space in Portland, an immediate sign that more attention needs to be directed to this area. Very few \u201corders as passed\u201d from the fiscal year 2014-2015 had to do with public space, and furthermore no orders introduced the idea of smart cities to Portland. A few movements included improving traffic patterns through new signs or stoplights, which will allow for more traffic flow and less congestion in the streets, a common public space.[3] Order 34 concerned the redesign of Congress Square Park, suggesting both maintaining the existing structures of Congress Square Park or creating an event center with a public park over the event center.[4]. After visiting Congress Square Park and many other public spaces throughout Portland in the last few weeks however, it is safe to say they are still in need of improvement. It is one thing to improve public space and it is another thing to make the public space \u201csmart\u201d or filled with information technologies.<\/p>\n
The above suggestions all concern \u201csmart\u201d city suggestions, which as Greenfield argues, is not always the most efficient and often suffer from over-specification.[5] With constant technological changes there is little redeeming cultural value in areas of a city, something that Portland is filled with does not want to lose.[6] Despite these claims against smart cities, there are some technological devices that can increase the use and value of public spaces in the city of Portland.<\/p>\n
The suggestion that I would like to discuss is the interactive maps in Portland. This, in combination with the suggestion about the schedule of public space app, will give more people, both residents and tourists, knowledge about how and when to use public spaces throughout Portland. It is surprising that although Portland is such a small city, not many people feel totally comfortable with its landscape and layout. Many lose the value of public space or are unaware of the public space that Portland offers. If Portland had interactive maps showing all of the public areas available for people to take advantage of, the usage of such spaces would increase dramatically. Another feature of these maps can include scheduled events in public spaces, such as public art displays, concerts, and hours of food trucks in areas such as Congress Square Park. Not only would these increase traffic within public spaces, it would also increase attendance of events within public spaces. These aspects of a smart city are easily adaptable with the increase of public space or events taking place in public spaces.<\/p>\n
[1] Greenfield, Adam. 2013. \u201cWhat is the Smart City?\u201d Against the Smart City<\/em>. 1.3 edition. Location 115.<\/p>\n [2] Greenfield, Adam. 2013. \u201cThe Smart City is Built in Generic Space\u201d Against the Smart City<\/em>. 1.3 edition. Location 267.<\/p>\n [3] The City of Portland City Council. Order 11-14\/15<\/em>. Effective on 7\/31\/2014. http:\/\/www.portlandmaine.gov\/DocumentCenter\/Home\/View\/6159<\/a>.<\/p>\n [4] The City of Portland City Council. Order 34-14\/15<\/em>. Effective on 8\/14\/2014. http:\/\/www.portlandmaine.gov\/DocumentCenter\/Home\/View\/6376<\/a>.<\/p>\n [5] Greenfield, Adam. 2013. \u201cThe Smart City is Overspecified\u201d. Against the Smart City<\/em>. 1.3 edition. Location 642.<\/p>\n [6] Greenfield, Adam. 2013. \u201cThe Smart City is Overspecified\u201d. Against the Smart City<\/em>. 1.3 edition. Location 685.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" Public space needs drastic improvement in Portland, and I am part of the group focused on this aspect of the city. I have many suggestions in terms of increasing the usage, accessibility, and efficiency of the public space that is available in Portland. However, in terms of smart city recommendations correlating with public space, only … Continue reading Interactive Maps in Public Space<\/span>