A downtown innovation hub to improve worksite management
Montréal is rolling out its downtown innovation hub to test new solutions aiming to improve worksite management, mobility and user experience in this core area of the city.
The city is rolling out its new “Laboratoire centre‑ville” hub, an initiative aiming to explore new approaches for improved worksite planning and coordination. This pilot project aims to mitigate the impact of construction work on citizens and on mobility safety.
Affected perimeter
The perimeter covered by the hub is bounded by Boulevard Saint‑Laurent, Rue de la Commune, Rue Guy and Rue Sherbrooke.
Selected projects
Between June and September 2026, Montreal-based companies will test innovative solutions to address one or more of the following challenges:
- Deploy signage systems that facilitate travel while enhancing the aesthetic quality of public spaces;
- Quickly identify completed or inactive construction projects where signage is still in place by cross-referencing data collected from construction sites with data on permits issued by the city;
- Improve delivery logistics for restaurants affected by major disruptions;
- Identify behavioural trends near construction sites to improve travel safety in these areas.
Pilot project: Use of drones near construction sites
Drones will be used to collect data in order to identify completed or unauthorized construction projects (“ghost” construction sites) for purposes of removing superfluous obstructions and mitigating repercussions for residents. Drone flights will take place within the Laboratoire centre-ville perimeter:
- Monday to Friday (Saturday and Sunday as needed)
- Between 7 a.m. and 7 p.m.
- July to September
These actions may be postponed or extended in response to unforeseen circumstances or poor weather conditions.
To ensure safety and respect the privacy of residents, the company mandated to carry out this pilot project, Munera Intelligence, will comply with the following requirements:
- Certificate of registration issued by Transport Canada
- Operation of drones by people who hold a drone pilot certificate issued by Transport Canada
- Photos taken of construction sites only
- Anonymization of personal data (faces, licence plates, etc.)
- Data housed on servers located in Québec
- Data retention only for the duration of the pilot project
If you have any questions or concerns related to the use of drones, please contact 311.
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