Across North America and Europe, major infrastructure is aging faster than it is being repaired. Roads, bridges, power grids and water systems are all under pressure. Extreme weather, rising demand and slow government processes are making the situation worse. Western countries invest less in modern infrastructure than many of their peers, and the gap continues to grow¹.
In the United States, more than a trillion dollars has already been spent, yet roads remain congested and dangerous. Pedestrian deaths have increased 75 percent since 2010². In Canada, more than 33 billion dollars has been committed to long-term upgrades, but the pace of repair still cannot keep up³. Climate change is adding new pressure. Flooding, heat waves and storms are damaging old systems that were never designed for today’s conditions⁴.
If nothing changes, the economic cost is massive. Studies show that the United States alone could lose more than one trillion dollars if infrastructure problems continue⁵. The traditional top-down approach is no longer enough.
Why the traditional model fails
Government-led projects face real limits. Layers of approvals, fragmented funding and slow execution make progress difficult⁶. Many large projects take years to begin. Communities are left waiting, dealing with poor roads, unreliable power and rising safety risks.
We need a model that is fast, flexible, community-driven and supported by real-time data.
A community-led and decentralised model
A growing alternative is decentralised infrastructure, sometimes called DePIN (Decentralized Physical Infrastructure Networks). Instead of waiting for central governments, the community invests directly. They own the systems, provide the data and share the benefits⁷⁸.
This model works because
• Local people invest in the infrastructure they use
• Community data helps predict problems
• Ownership stays local
• Projects grow quickly because they are modular and scalable
• Technology provides transparency and trust⁹
The United Kingdom has already tested this through platforms that let citizens invest in local infrastructure, keeping returns within the community¹⁰. But the real step forward comes from new technology that can collect real-time information from the ground. Sensors, devices and community-owned networks can create coverage that governments cannot scale alone.
This is where HeliumDeploy, 4DSKY, Wingbits and the ROVR Lightcone become meaningful examples.
Community-powered weather information
Weather extremes are becoming more frequent. Local data is essential, yet many areas lack enough ground sensors. Devices like Nubila Marco from HeliumDeploy allow communities to deploy compact units that track moisture, pressure, temperature and storm activity.
Better weather data helps cities prepare for floods, protects crops, supports emergency planning and gives residents more accurate and local alerts.
Improving aviation and airspace awareness
Western countries depend heavily on aviation. Delays, safety issues and congestion all depend on accurate airspace information. 4DSKY sensors and Wingbits units help track aircraft locations, flight paths and sky conditions.
Community networks can improve pilot safety, help drone operators avoid hazards, support airport planning and assist search and rescue teams. Local data increases awareness at every level.
Road mapping and GPS accuracy
Road systems need accurate and current mapping. Roads change often and many maps fall out of date. The ROVR Lightcone collects information about GPS accuracy, road geometry and signal quality. When thousands of these devices are deployed by regular people, they create a living and self-updating map.
This improves navigation, helps delivery services, supports emergency vehicles and highlights early signs of road damage.
How community-owned systems scale
This model scales because every new device strengthens the network. Each weather sensor, airspace device or road-mapping unit adds more information that improves safety and planning.
A simple flow looks like this
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The community identifies a need.
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Members invest small amounts in devices or shares.
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Devices are deployed across the region.
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Data is shared openly and benefits everyone.
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Investors receive rewards or savings.
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The network expands as more people join.
Instead of waiting years for a major government project, communities build the first layer themselves.
Why this model works
• Local ownership encourages better care and faster decisions
• Community-generated data gives governments clearer insights
• Modular devices keep costs low and deployment fast
• Distributed systems are more resilient
• Innovation moves faster when the community can build the foundation
Most importantly, people gain control over the systems that shape daily life.
Conclusion
Western infrastructure is aging and slow to repair. Relying on central governments alone will not solve the problem. A community-driven and decentralized model creates a realistic path forward. With tools like Nubila Marco, 4DSKY, Wingbits and the ROVR Lightcone, communities can gather real-time data that improves weather forecasting, aviation safety, road mapping and planning.
Infrastructure should not only serve communities. It should be built with them.
Citations with Direct Links
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OECD: U.S. invests less in transportation infrastructure compared to peer countries.
https://www.cfr.org/backgrounder/state-us-infrastructure
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U.S. roads still unsafe and congested; pedestrian fatalities up 75 percent since 2010.
https://usa.streetsblog.org/2025/02/27/1-trillion-later-u-s-roads-are-still-crumbling-unsafe-and-congested-does-congress-care
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Canada’s Investing in Canada Infrastructure Program (over 33 billion dollars invested).
https://housing-infrastructure.canada.ca/plan/icp-pic-INFC-eng.html
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EPA: Climate change is stressing infrastructure not built for modern conditions.
https://www.epa.gov/climateimpacts/climate-change-impacts-built-environment
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Brookings: The economic cost of failing U.S. infrastructure.
https://www.brookings.edu/articles/crumbling-infrastructure-has-real-and-enduring-costs
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World Bank: Fragmented funding and oversight lead to inefficiency in public infrastructure.
https://openknowledge.worldbank.org/entities/publication/22a0b630-6e7c-5414-a30a-2a867741131b
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a16z Crypto: Overview of DePIN use cases.
https://a16zcrypto.com/posts/article/6-use-cases-for-depin
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Understanding decentralised infrastructure and community-owned networks.
https://www.transweb.sjsu.edu/newsletter/Feb-2019/blockchain-infrastructure
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Blockchain governance and distributed organisations for urban infrastructure delivery.
https://transweb.sjsu.edu/research/2165-Blockchain-Financial-Ecosystem-Infrastructure
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Abundance Investment: A citizen-funded platform that supports local infrastructure in the UK.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Abundance_Investment