COVID-19 has had an unprecedented effect on the way we interact with our built environment. It is clear that increased personal space, outdoor access, and limited contact with others are some of the primary ways to reduce risk of transmission. Flexibility is the most important quality a city can possess to adapt to this new shifting reality. Notably, cities are quickly learning how to incorporate more smart city technologies into their planning practices to better cope with the crisis and promote public safety and economic vitality.

Evolving digitalization and investments into smart technologies will likely be a long-term effect of this pandemic. With the increased conversations surrounding autonomous vehicles, we need to place focus on the ways that cars and people intersect in public spaces - particularly at crosswalks. Sensol sees an opportunity to play a vital role in becoming a part of this evolving digital world by providing a safe crosswalk that can become embedded into the smart city of the future.