Quick notes from this nice CCAT panel on funding smart infrastructure. I used to think this stuff was boring, but now I recognize that nothing can happen without money. In short: We have smart phones and smart cars, why don't we have smart roads? 👇 www.youtube.com/watch?v=nEtw... - ThreadSky

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cathywu.bsky.social • 2 days ago

Quick notes from this nice CCAT panel on funding smart infrastructure. I used to think this stuff was boring, but now I recognize that nothing can happen without money.

In short: We have smart phones and smart cars, why don't we have smart roads? 👇

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nEtwMEKs-P8

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cathywu.bsky.social•2 days ago

Financing infrastructure is hard even in the best of times. Add to that the dwindling highway trust fund (from the gas tax), growing inflation (spurred by COVID-19, tariffs), and uncertainty (unproven technology). Finding investment is tough!

cathywu.bsky.social•2 days ago

There are innovators in the space looking at new revenue models that could emerge from smart infrastructure, e.g., monetizing right-of-way and data. But the execution of this must be done carefully with privacy considerations.

cathywu.bsky.social•2 days ago

There was also a nice discussion about the different role of government vs the private sector.

Paraphrasing: The private sector is ultra-focused on the short term. We need someone (government) to think long term.

cathywu.bsky.social•2 days ago

The private sector also would not want the government to be in the business of generating profit. It would be impossible for the private sector to compete, which can ultimately harm efficiency. Hence public-private partnerships (P3s).

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