Sidewalks might not be synonymous with innovation, but the street-lining surface could soon be a lot different.
As technology gets smarter, the routes you take will too. For example, sidewalks may become more porous and absorbent in certain regions to help prevent flooding, and some pathways will even embrace green tech.
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Innovation is already underway at George Washington University's Virginia campus, which has the world's first solar-powered walkway, connecting its science and technology buildings. The path — developed by Spanish company Onyx Solar — uses the sunlight to help power its built-in LED lights. Right now, the route is rather small (just 100 feet), but it's serving as a testing ground to see how the school could make the most of the technology.

"We wanted a walkway that went with the science and tech theme of the campus, and we needed something exciting and different," said Eric Selbst, senior land use planner at George Washington University. "We are installing benches around the pathway so people are forced to walk on it to get to the benches but not forced to walk on it to get to a building. It will be used like a plaza."
When pedestrians aren't walking on the path, it collects rays from the sun and stores that energy in battery packs under the surface: "It's a self-sustaining system that is used to fuel the LED lights," Selbst said. "Similar to solar panels, it's not necessarily cost-saving technology out of the gate, but it could be long term. It would be really interesting if technology would allow in the future energy from pedestrians to be collected too."

Selbst describes the sensation as similar to walking on tile, but it's more slip-resistant than typical concrete. It has received a positive response so far ,and although the university hasn't announced plans to bring the solar route to its main campus in D.C. yet, it's something that could happen in the future.
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Meanwhile, urban environments are looking to innovate walking space too. Boston is currently using a crowdsourcing app, SeeClickFix, to encourage residents to report neighborhood issues such as potholes, damaged signs, and graffiti, and ultimately improve the walking and wayfinding experience.

Joanna Frank, director at The Center of Active Design in New York City told Mashable it might develop a similar crowdsourcing app model too. The city has been taking strides to learn more about pedestrians' daily behaviors.
"We look at the most effective strategies to get people to use the sidewalk more and approach it as though it's a room," said Frank. "You aren't just experiencing paved cement, it's about the whole experience — from the walls of a nearby building to tree canopies and signage above your head."

The center is motivated by helping people stay active and creating spaces that influence how people want to move.
"You probably don't realize how easily influenced you are by design — if there is an open stairway, you'll probably walk a few floors down, but if it's off somewhere else and out of sight, you will probably take the elevator," says Frank. "We will start to see more innovation in more places where you least expect it."
Late last year, New York City Mayor Mike Bloomberg's office announced a Reinvent Payphones competition to reimagine the city's 11,000+ phone booths, many of which are from a 1999 contract that will expire in 2014.
With payphone contracts expiring soon, the city wants to reinvent the underutilized sidewalk machinery as innovation hubs (pilot programs have turned several payphones into hotspots). The mayor's office received more than 125 Reinvent Payphone submissions, many of which focused on wayfinding, connectivity, weather and local events.
The judges awarded architecture firm Sage and Coombe's NYfi (a play on "Wi-Fi") the best connectivity award, and New York citizens deemed it their favorite design. Other top entries included Beacon, Windchimes and NYC Loop
Wayfinding has been top of mind in New York City, evidenced by the Walk NYC pilot program, which encourages foot transport and helps locals and tourists alike navigate the city, since 10% of people in the city are lost at any given time.
City dwellers are always surrounded by sidewalks — New York City has 12,750 miles of sidewalk — and the space presents an immense opportunity for technological innovation and design.
What innovations would you like to see on your sidewalks? Tell us in the comments.
Images: Sage and Coombe; Boston Citizens Connect; George Washington University