Sidewalk has been limping along since the end of the Quayside project.
The founders started Sidewalk Labs with good intentions, but it exemplifies how manufactured smart cities fail.
Local data collecting technology would aid city planning and development processes.
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In May 2020 the project wascanceled.
But its not the first effort to build a smart city
Manufactured smart cities are nothing new.
Sensors track building energy consumption.
A central pneumatic waste disposal system eliminates the need for garbage pick up.
The city plans include wooden buildings powered by hydrogen fuel cells.
Photo-voltaic panels generate solar power on rooftops alongside power generated by hydrogen fuel cells.
Only fully autonomous, zero-emission vehicles are available.
AutonomousToyota e-Paletteswill be used for transportation and deliveries, as well as for changeable mobile retail.
Ultimately, it looks like an interesting venture.
Will NEOM become a successful smart city?
However, the tide might be turning.
The NEOM airport received classification as acommercial airport(still in development) in May 2020.
NEOM hasplaced a confirmed orderof 15 Volocopter aircraft to commence initial flight operations within 2-3 years.
Building a smart city from scratch is a monumental task.
Its incredibly expensive, and requires significant buy-in from both public and private institutions.
Further, can you create a culture in a newly built city?
Culture is about ephemeral things like music, art, nature, and public spaces.
Can you plan for what people want?
Story byCate Lawrence
Cate Lawrence is an Australian tech journo living in Berlin.
