In the next five years we will see the unveiling of future technologies that will become part of our daily lives, and even by 2020 new announcements will flip the digital landscape, putting to practice new advancements related to automation and Artificial Intelligence. The future for cities and people living in high-density urban areas will see a great implementation of technological resolutions, and they have the power to help the environment by curbing CO2 emissions, waste management, and overall greenhouse gasses.
Some technologies already exist and are passing their final testing phases. Consider autonomous cars and their ability to maximize driving efficiency by plotting the best route, and the on-board computer will make good use of acceleration timing and speed, allowing for optimal fuel consumption. Human error will be minimized to virtually 0%, reducing common driving mistakes and unnecessary fuel consumption.
For a long time, car manufacturers, politicians, and economists, have discussed the future of the environment by addressing only one issue: the car engine. Forums, panels, webinars, online videos, have all discussed alternative fuel methods like batteries, hydrogen, methane, recycled oils, peanut oil; however, nobody has seriously tackled the need to reshape not only the car but the spaces where they exist: roads, highways, parking spaces, driveways. It’s more than the four wheels, it’s an issue of designing the future of our cities and the roads that weave through it.
Alternative technologies attempting to reduce car pollution to zero already exist and are improving every year. Tesla has proven that being stubborn and relentless in pursuing an idea eventually pays off, having now obtained better vehicle batteries. Elon Musk knew that if he wanted to sustain his vision of having millions of electric cars on the road, he would have to build a sustainable network to make sure his cars could rely on it. So Tesla installed recharging stations across North America to assist car owners with their daily drive as they bypassed gas stations. This was a game changer and inspired new behaviour in the car experience.
Today’s infrastructure is not solely represented anymore by highways, bridges, aqueducts; they come in the shape of internet connections, sustainable housing architecture, roundabouts, and better urban design strategies. All of these major elements will be part of the next big change assisting governments to make better environmental choices in the near future while entering the industrial revolution 4.0; one of automation, AI, robots, hybrid components, advanced networking and fast telecommunications systems.
Holograms placed on the side of the road will enhance driving safety by instructing cars about the traffic conditions ahead, displaying last-minute notifications of road conditions. On-board computers will be connected through an extensive network to other systems like city traffic controls or emergency services; augmented reality via windshield displays is the next reference point for drivers in terms of information and driving aid. The industry 4.0 will also see AI assisting pedestrians by controlling vehicle traffic patterns and analyzing their safety and risks, so school and residential areas can benefit from reduced threat of high traffic volumes. Traffic lights and road signalling are going to be part of this self-governed system.
In the span of twenty years, cities will be reshaped by new waves of technological revolutions such as green vehicles that allow for pollution reductions. There is a chance of restructuring the public transportation system in North America by extending its network beyond high-density urban areas. Automated electric buses will glide on a dedicated lane letting passengers off in the suburbs, thus heavily reducing the daily exodus of automobile commuters to and from downtown.
On-demand transportation methods will be the protagonist of sustainable policy for many cities to fill the gap between regional transport and private vehicles. This will be done by fleets of small coaches driving autonomously, supported by advanced AI transporting people according to their needs. And this set of innovations will have the benefit of saving costs to municipalities so they can reinvest that capital towards underground transportation like subways and light rail, to further reduce traffic problems from the surface.
AI will play a main role in the next industrial revolution while technologies become increasingly powerful, cheap, and small. This means automation systems will replace humans in situations where labour is too dangerous, intensive, or hard to find. This has already been documented in the application of robots helping to assess the damage of the Fukushima nuclear reactor meltdown. Automated drones will be deployed to preserve areas that are at risk of natural disasters like wildfires in rural areas in Northern Canada, California, and Southern Europe. These drones will be fitted with equipment allowing for live reporting through thermal scans that will help to find the location of people in disaster zones.
Today, information is the basic DNA of tomorrow’s potential to improve our environment. Data will help to build better solutions in the industrial revolution 4.0 we are heading towards, creating solutions tailored to the needs of different engagement levels regardless of cost or scalability. However, our current relationship with nature still remains problematic because technology shouldn’t be the only method to solve environmental issues. We have all seen recent reports of the vast plastic dumping in the ocean and its effect on wildlife. First, we have to curb our human behavior and prevent the waste-economy that harms natural spaces, including a better approach at plastic production and recycling regulations. This improvement will only occur when we understand the importance of not indulging into a disposable culture each day of the year.
By Carlo Ienna, Experience Designer
Please note that opinions expressed do not necessarily reflect the views and values of The Blank Page.
