Curbcut, a user-friendly, publicly accessible housing data platform co-founded by McGill professors David Wachsmuth and Kevin Manaugh is receiving federal funding to expand nationwide.
The platform offers Canadians unprecedented access to data on such urban sustainability indicators as land surface temperatures, which indicate heat islands; bike path accessibility; and “green alleys,” urban spaces transformed by local residents into green, pedestrian-friendly areas.
It integrates this with other datasets – such as Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation (CMHC) vacancy rates and census results – to produce an accessible, interactive map. In so doing, the platform makes crucial urban sustainability insights available to the public, municipal governments, urban planners, researchers and community organizations. Since its launch in 2022, Curbcut has expanded to eight cities across Canada.
A national initiative
Next, thanks to almost $500,000 in federal funding, the Curbcut team will expand the project nation-wide. Launching in 2026 and to be called the Canadian Housing Observatory (CHO), the national initiative is expected to improve access to housing data across the country. Unlike traditional repositories, CHO will feature user-friendly visualizations, dynamic mapping tools and educational resources, making complex data easy to interpret and apply. and educational resources, making complex data easy to interpret and apply.
“The CHO tackles a core challenge in housing data: making fragmented, complex datasets accessible and actionable,” said Manaugh, Associate Professor in the Department of Geography and the Bieler School of Environment. “Whether it’s identifying affordability gaps or uncovering patterns in housing dynamics, the platform will provide a new resource for understanding and improving Canada’s housing landscape.”
Manaugh co-led, with Wachsmuth, Associate Professor in the School of Urban Planning and Canada Research Chair in Urban Governance, an through the McGill Sustainability Systems Initiative. Curbcut was born from that project.
“CHO is not only a repository, but a platform for engagement and knowledge building,” said Maxime Bélanger De Blois, Head of Technology and Data of Curbcut and M.Sc. (Urban Planning)’21. “By prioritizing accessibility, inclusivity, and performance, the CHO challenges the notion that data is only for experts.”
Curbcut’s development has been supported by collaborations with Statistics Canada, CMHC and the Federation of Canadian Municipalities.
“Ultimately, the CHO isn’t just about better data, it’s about fostering collaboration, sparking dialogue and building a shared understanding of housing challenges,” said Wachsmuth.
About the MSSI
The McGill Sustainability Systems Initiative supports transdisciplinary sustainability research at McGill through funding projects and building community. To learn more about opportunities for McGill students and faculty members, visit www.mcgill.ca.mssi.