Overview
With climate change and resource depletion hot topics on the world stage, the folks behind Auckland’s Wynyard Quarter have set out to give the public a crystal clear view of initiatives and targets put in place to make the area as sustainable as possible.
The multi-purpose waterfront neighbourhood was originally a starting point for the city, used for port activities like timber trading and petro-chemical storage. In 2011, it was refurbished into an entertainment district with the introduction of bars, restaurants, market spaces, a playground, and silo-turned-cinema screens. Now, thanks to a trailblazing website, the area is set to become even slicker.
The online platform, Wynyard Quarter Smart, is believed to be the first of its kind in the country. Created by local digital agency Method Studios, it captures data to measure and communicate the area’s sustainability credentials, including everything from: building performance, resource efficiency, transport, climate change, rain water collection, air quality and natural hazards.
The first available set of data on the site comes from live pedestrian data in public spaces and sensors housed in the recently refurbished Lysaght building. The information will be later supported as further buildings are constructed and business take part. It will eventually include data relating to spaces between the building such as air and water quality.
It also seeks to influence building owners, tenants and visitors to the area to modify their behaviour in the interest of sustainability.
