Hello again!
Today we took a tour of a few areas in the city, Marineterrein and Oosterdok, and finished at Centraal Station. We had passed by Marineterrein on our canal tour last week and it was intriguing, so today we had the opportunity to learn more about it. Marineterrein used to be an old ship building wharf in the 17th century, as it is on the water and had various buildings for building boats and trading. In the 20th century, Marineterrein shifted to being the military base for the city. It still is today, with part of the area being blocked off and blurred out on maps for military purposes. However, Marineterrein’s main purpose today is to serve as one of the only public swimming spots in the city, but more importantly, an innovation and research district. The area houses various institutions, schools, and research centers, focused on field testing solutions to urban issues. They have low regulations for detection systems, drones, and autonomous robots, making it ideal for testing. The tour primarily focused on this; we observed the various ways of testing, gathering information, and tracking activity in order to improve planning processes. Specifically, we looked at ways of gathering data without recording individuals on cameras. We observed boxes that detect classifications of sound, specifically bird sounds. If there is an increase in sounds, that means there is an increase in biodiversity. I found the use of millimeter waves to be particularly interesting, as it is a way to track activity in the park and can identify if people are walking, biking, or running based on the waves in movement it is picking up. Autonomous robots and vehicles were also fascinating, as they were being used to test water quality, deliver items on the canals, and to create spatial distancing during the pandemic. We looked at small sensors that gather data, such as one that goes in the wheel of a bike and one that sits in a window. These are just a few examples of ways to collect data while maintaining privacy.
As an urban studies student, this tour was fascinating to me as data is incredibly important in urban planning processes. In terms of sustainability and making cities more sustainable, the very first step is data collection. Data helps to see what is working, what is not, and how the urban environment directly impacts people. Privacy is a major concern for many people, as data collection often involves the recording of people and their activity. I was pleased and impressed with the processes seen today, even with inventions such as the Shutter Cam that allows people to opt out of being monitored with a traditional surveillance camera. It is important to note however that Marineterrein specifically tells visitors that it is a heavily monitored area. When implementing similar systems in other areas of Amsterdam, people may be more opposed to it as it is something they may not be able to avoid. I believe that similar means of data collection should be implemented in other areas of the city, as Amsterdam has various goals such as being electric only by 2030, gas free by 2040, and completely circular by 2050. In order to meet these goals, data collection must be done. In America, I feel as though people would be more uncomfortable with similar practices, as there lies a lot of distrust with the government and their dealing with data. Similar practices are being done though whether people are aware of it or not. Using public transportation for example, when swiping your card or tapping your phone, transportation companies often utilize this data to understand which routes are used the most and the demographics of those using the services. This technology did not surprise me, as I view Amsterdam as an incredibly innovative city. I hope that the utilization of such processes will help the city reach its goals of becoming increasingly sustainable in the future while maintaining the comfort and privacy of its citizens.
P.S. I came back after my tour and went swimming multiple times! It is a great part of the city.
I’ll talk to you soon!