Conversations about smart cities often center on software, sensors, data, and artificial intelligence. But those tools are only as reliable as the infrastructure beneath them. When underground access points like manholes crack, leak, or collapse, the entire smart system rests on unstable ground.
Concrete manholes are still common in many cities. They’re prone to corrosion, freeze-thaw damage and root intrusion. The failures threaten our water systems and disrupt flow monitors such as loT sensors, level sensors and gas detection systems installed underground. As cities continue to invest in digital tools to track stormwater or manage inflow and infiltration, aging concrete continues to be a major risk.
Solutions made of polyethylene like Poo Pit’s access chambers are changing that equation. Watertight, corrosion-resistant design creates a stable environment for underground networks. Sensors remain dry, connections stay secure, and city engineers can trust the data coming in. Poo Pit’s chambers are designed for up to 100 years of service life, which future-proof smart infrastructure investments to ensure today’s technology isn’t undermined by yesterday’s materials.
Smart city technology promises efficiency, sustainability, and resilience. But the reality is: no amount of AI or analytics can overcome cracked concrete. Municipalities that want to lead in digital infrastructure need to first solve the physical one.
By upgrading access points to durable, sealed systems, cities lay the groundwork (literally) for reliable, long-term digital transformation.If you want smart, you need to start underground.
