SIDEWALK LABS
TECHNOLOGY
42
SIDEWALK LABS
Owned by Alphabet , Sidewalk Labs is one of the most prominent smart city-focused companies . The firm aims to improve urban living by addressing issues such as rising rent prices and environmental damage . “ New technology can help , but people can ’ t afford to wait for digital advances to transform the urban environment . So we ’ re creating a new type of place to accelerate urban innovation and serve as a beacon for cities around the world ,” the company claims . Debuting its technologies in Toronto , Canada , the company is working on a project on the Eastern Waterfront . Sidewalk Labs is working with Waterfront Toronto and the local community to improve mobility , housing and real estate , city services and public spaces by making them more safe , sustainable and efficient .
The firm recently released its Master Innovation and Development Plan ( MIDP ) for the project , including a breakdown of job prosperity and energy management . Whilst anticipating to create 44,000 jobs in the area , the plan sees an 89 % reduction of the city ’ s carbon emissions and an 80 % reduction of waste going to landfill through innovations and technologies . Sidewalk Labs has outlined an energy-efficient building strategy that will see a reduction in energy demand , and intends to ease the issue of fossil fuel reliance with an
AUGUST 2019