This tech company is using robots to save sinking cities
San Rafael is sinking—literally. Parts of the city, especially the Canal District, have dropped three feet, making flooding a real threat as sea levels rise.
Now, Terranova, a tech company with roots in San Rafael, wants to fight back by using robots to inject a slurry made from waste wood deep underground, raising the land and helping keep water out.
Terranova's approach is way less expensive than building massive seawalls
Terranova's approach is way less expensive than building massive seawalls—$92 million for 240 acres versus up to $900 million with old-school methods.
Their robotic system uses smart software (think: genetic algorithms and public map data) to figure out exactly where and how much material to inject for the best results.
It's a sustainable fix that could help cities like San Rafael stay dry without breaking the bank.