Steering in the Right Direction

March 11, 2019

Arthur C. Clarke said, “Significantly advanced technology is indistinguishable from magic.”

Isn’t it incredible then, that today we live in a world of magic? The past two decades have seen one of the steepest increases in technological development in the history of modern society. And things aren’t slowing down anytime soon.

Transportation is no exception, and arguably has some of the most major, long-lasting effects of any technological advancement. Transportation is an artery of society, it both binds us together and sets us free. As transportation evolves, how society functions will change as well.

Autonomous vehicles are one of the most exciting and intriguing advancements to enter our world. While the technology appears to still be in preliminary stages, autonomous vehicles will be accessible by the masses sooner than you think. Self-driving cars will change so much of how we lead our daily lives, allowing us to use our time and space more efficiently.

One industry not often included in the autonomous vehicle conversation is real estate. But, when you think about it, autonomous vehicles will change almost everything about it.

Consider parking garages. They account for a significant amount of space in most urban environments. But what if you didn’t have to worry about parking close to your destination or finding a spot in a time crunch? With an autonomous vehicle, your car could drop you off, then go park somewhere on its own. Or even drive itself home!

The idea of all these large structures becoming outdated or obsolete may sound scary or costly. But behind this innovation in transportation lies an unexpected solution. Most major cities deal with overcrowding and a shortage of available real estate. Think about all of the ways this space could become repurposed, and in turn all the jobs that would be created.

“Significantly advanced technology is indistinguishable from magic” — Arthur C. Clarke

Technology brings with it cycles of change. Some jobs may be eliminated, but new ones will sprout in their wake. Adjusting to these transitions can be difficult, but it’s important to remember that the end result is typically a better allocation of our resources and great improvements in efficiency.

A reimagining of real estate is just the tip of the iceberg in how automated vehicles will restructure society. But soon, they will be like electricity: a once incredulous invention that is now an essential (and often forgotten) part of our daily lives.

Watch episode one of season two of Driving Disruption here.

For more insights into where transportation is headed, stay tuned for the release of my next episode of Driving Disruption. We’ll be tackling one of my favorite topics…I’ll give you one guess what it is.

Originally posted by Larry Jordan on LinkedIn – 3/11/2019