The tech worker shortage is hitting local governments hard. Here’s what some are doing about it.

Cities are updating job descriptions, offering workers more flexibility, investing in workforce development and partnering with universities to overcome their tech talent shortage, according to local officials.

By Adina Solomon • Nov. 18, 2022

Why local governments struggle to hire tech workers in 5 charts

A sense of social purpose, job security and generous retirement benefits are what many local officials hope will attract skilled tech workers when they can’t offer higher salaries, but that might not be enough, one consultant said.

By Michael Brady • Nov. 17, 2022

Explore the Trendline➔

Smart Cities Technology and Data

Cities are increasingly looking to technology and data to address real-world issues from traffic safety to law enforcement.

By Smart Cities Dive staff

5 ways to cut waste in cloud spending: McKinsey

Companies will probably increase cloud computing budgets by more than 20% next year even as they waste as much as 32% of their spending, according to surveys and analysts’ estimates.

By Jim Tyson • Nov. 17, 2022

The 10 most future-ready cities in North America: report

Cities must invest more in digital and physical infrastructure to address today’s challenges but face several barriers, including a lack of public trust, a new report finds.

By Michael Brady • Nov. 15, 2022

Autonomous vehicle highway to open in Virginia

The project features a new vehicle-to-infrastructure system to support self-driving vehicles and congestion pricing for its express lanes.

By Michael Brady • Nov. 11, 2022

Can a computer drive better than humans? Perhaps soon, tech execs and researchers say

Coming breakthroughs could make self-driving cars safer. Tech firms set out to make that happen. 

By Dan Zukowski • Nov. 8, 2022

How micromobility operators can protect consumer data

Many cities require bike-sharing and e-scooter companies to use an open data standard, but it’s unclear how many comply with the standard’s dynamic vehicle ID requirement.

By Michael Brady • Nov. 7, 2022

E-scooter accidents surge as the micromobility devices’ popularity grows

The number of scooter-related emergency room visits grew nearly 450% in the U.S. between 2017 and 2021, according to the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission.

By Charles Pekow • Nov. 1, 2022

Can predictive analytics help prevent homelessness?

Better modeling could help cities target interventions that allow individuals to keep their homes and limit the strain on public services.

By Karen Kroll • Oct. 31, 2022

AV developer Argo AI to shut down as Ford, Volkswagen halt investments

Autonomous vehicles are “not ready for prime time,” said one safety expert, and Ford agrees. Argo AI operated AVs in Miami and Austin, Texas.

By Dan Zukowski • Oct. 27, 2022

What’s next with Orlando’s digital twin

Users can experience the 800-square-mile digital twin in downtown Orlando or via virtual reality as the Orlando Economic Partnership seeks to market its potential to inform decisions around infrastructure and business development.

By Maria Rachal • Oct. 21, 2022

DC mobility innovation district aims to increase transit access, model solutions

Launching Thursday, the multiyear project will experiment with innovative transportation services such as on-demand shuttles and electrification hubs while also seeking to spur economic development and job creation.

By Kalena Thomhave • Oct. 20, 2022

Philadelphia piloting smart loading zones with Sidewalk Labs tech

In digitizing curb assets and regulation, the city is trying to shore up safety and efficiency issues related to deliveries and parking enforcement, explained Smart Cities Director Akshay Malik.

By Maria Rachal • Oct. 18, 2022

Amazon Web Services’ smart city program aims to ease buying decisions

Real-time traffic management and data analytics are among the services offered under AWS' certification program, which currently has nine vendor participants.

By Michael Brady • Oct. 12, 2022

Cybersecurity needs a statewide approach, state chief information officers, Deloitte say in new report

Cities often hesitate to work with states on cybersecurity to protect their autonomy, but that could change as local governments vie for new cybersecurity grants, the report authors suggest.

By Michael Brady • Oct. 10, 2022

Quenching cities’ thirst for data

Data has always played an important role for city planners and transportation departments but recently the thirst for data has increased exponentially.

Oct. 10, 2022

AV industry still needs to prove safety to cities and states, mobility leaders say

Consider public acceptance of autonomous vehicles now and when taxpayers may have to pay for the technology that enables connected roads, MOVE America conference speakers said. 

By Dan Zukowski • Oct. 7, 2022

MobilityData takes over micromobility open-data standard

Nearly 9 in 10 cities in North America require micromobility service providers to use the General Bikeshare Feed Specification, which provides real-time information about a shared mobility system.

By Michael Brady • Oct. 7, 2022

Security to take an outsized role in IT spending in 2023

Modernization has taught organizations that cyber spend is a smart investment.

By Matt Ashare • Oct. 4, 2022

State and local governments report spike in ransomware attacks

The public sector is hit less often than other industries, but it contends with more post-attack damage, according to Sophos.

By Matt Kapko • Oct. 3, 2022

Food delivery robots to roam Chicago in pilot program

Robot operators will partner with restaurants and grocery stores to test the app-based robot deliveries. City leaders will look at device boundaries, vandalism, and other potential issues.

By Katie Pyzyk • Oct. 3, 2022

3 takeaways from the Smart Cities Connect fall conference

Public- and private-sector professionals shared ideas on how to get support for procurement, make progress on open-source and interoperable technologies and more.

By Maria Rachal • Sept. 30, 2022

How to move pilot projects to permanent programs

Officials from Frisco and San Antonio, Texas, and the New York Public Library system, shared at the Smart Cities Connect conference their challenges when transitioning trials to full programs and their strategies to overcome them.

By Danielle McLean • Sept. 30, 2022

Report: 9 in 10 companies will require return to office by 2023

Notably, nearly three-quarters of companies surveyed said they still intend to hire remote workers in the future.

By Kathryn Moody • Sept. 30, 2022

Don’t let flying taxis be the next scooters, city planners warn

Private companies could begin operating air taxi services by 2024, experts said during the ITS World Congress in Los Angeles. Cities need to plan their regulatory approach now.

By Michael Brady • Sept. 27, 2022