All signs point to a 'growing appetite' for digital twins: report

Implementation is expected to increase 36% over the next five years, according to a Capgemini Research Institute report. But one smart city expert cautions city leaders against falling for the technology's "hype.”

By Cailin Crowe • June 8, 2022

Los Angeles pilots digital twin project to aid building decarbonization

Digital twin platform Cityzenith is teaming up with Los Angeles to help construct a virtual replica of a section of the city to help make its buildings more sustainable and reduce carbon emissions.

By Melissa Goldin • June 3, 2022

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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

7 community-led initiatives to address gun violence in cities: report

The Center for American Progress released a report last week providing steps Texas city and county leaders can take to address gun violence, actions that could potentially be replicated nationwide.

By Cailin Crowe • June 2, 2022

Aerospace accelerator CEO forecasts a 'wave of disruptions' in urban air mobility

VTOL and other advanced air mobility technologies will change urban transportation, but the transformation will be slower than many expect, says Starburst CEO François Chopard. 

By Dan Zukowski • May 27, 2022

Pittsburgh targets bike, pedestrian infrastructure spending using traffic and crash data analysis

Adding StreetLight Data’s trip information to the city’s crash data, the project found that areas with less bike and pedestrian traffic experienced the most severe crashes.

By Charles Pekow • May 26, 2022

Micromobility companies use Google augmented reality technology to target scooter litter

Disability rights advocates say it’s too soon to know whether the technology will reduce the hazards caused by improperly parked scooters, but increasing awareness is an important first step.

By Melissa Goldin • May 20, 2022

To track urban heat, NOAA initiative offers funding for 2024

Jan. 31 is the deadline for communities to apply for the urban heat island mapping program for tracking neighborhood-level heat disparities.

By Maria Rachal • Updated Jan. 4, 2024

Chicago launches digital equity council to address racial barriers to internet access

The city's new council comes as President Biden announced a discounted internet service earlier this week that could potentially provide free internet for millions of U.S. households. 

By Cailin Crowe • May 12, 2022

These 3 technologies could make self-driving cars safer

With autonomous vehicles already operating in several cities, technology companies are working on high-definition maps, better artificial intelligence models and remote control for fleets when needed. 

By Dan Zukowski • May 11, 2022

NIST working group to tackle smart cities' ethical quandaries

The National Institute of Standards and Technology’s Global City Teams Challenge launched a working group on diversity, equity, integrity and technology, researching best practices in areas like community engagement. 

By Cailin Crowe • May 10, 2022

Smart city tech standards essential for cities to realize the tools' potential: report

The promise of interoperability and connected sensors has been hard to achieve, in part due to "vendor lock-in" and incompatible devices. Standards across the sector can help overcome those obstacles, ABI Research finds.

By Cailin Crowe • May 6, 2022

GM and INRIX collaborate to provide safety data, insights to transportation officials

Combining data from GM's connected vehicles and INRIX's analytics platform with public data, the application aims to help communities prioritize road safety needs, evaluate plans and make a case for federal funding.

By Dan Zukowski • May 4, 2022

Leading Cities, QBE invite startups to apply to AcceliCITY resilience competition

The resilience challenge – accepting applications through April – also awards regional prizes and virtual incubator memberships. Another part of the competition seeks an urban food pilot for Gainesville, Florida.

By Cailin Crowe • April 27, 2022

Pittsburgh 'smart loading zones' aim to reduce curbside delivery woes

The city is partnering with curb management company Automotus for the next year to decrease idling, congestion and other safety and efficiency issues, especially in the central business district.

By Austyn Gaffney • April 26, 2022

Comcast, city of Philadelphia are making streets safer

Comcast Smart Solutions and the City of Philadelphia came together through US Ignite to make the City smarter, one block at a time. The pilot program uses smart streetlights as part of a cutting-edge solution.

April 25, 2022

Robotic balloons could provide high-res images for numerous urban applications

Flying at 60,000 feet, they can help cities monitor vegetation, power lines, roadways and more and could potentially aid navigation for advanced urban transportation tech like AVs and VTOLs, says the CEO of Near Space Labs.

By Dan Zukowski • April 14, 2022

New York City civic engagement survey gathers over 62,000 community voices

The effort aimed to collect a diverse and representative sample of the city’s population for the start of a three-part effort to build consensus around city priorities.

By Austyn Gaffney • April 14, 2022

Transit data providers join forces as Optibus acquires Trillium

The move will provide transit agency clients with access to transit planning data and real-time operational information, the companies say, to help them address the pandemic's impact on labor and ridership.

By Dan Zukowski • April 12, 2022

City leaders share ideas on how to maximize federal dollars

At the Smart Cities Connect conference last week, local leaders called for a rethink of how cities seek to allocate federal dollars, including through community engagement, data-led decisions and regional collaborations. 

By Cailin Crowe • April 12, 2022

5 smart city leaders weigh in on the industry's biggest challenges

At last week's Smart Cities Connect conference in Columbus, Ohio, attendees shared what they think is preventing cities from achieving their smart city goals.

By Cailin Crowe • April 11, 2022

Comcast creates new smart cities dedicated business unit

While the company has previously worked with local governments on smart cities projects, the development shared at the Smart Cities Connect conference in Columbus, Ohio, on Wednesday signals its ongoing interest in the sector.

By Cailin Crowe • April 7, 2022

What big cities can learn from the rural US about public transit

Grappling with bare-bones transportation networks, rural communities are implementing new transit innovations, a trend that federal infrastructure dollars could accelerate. 

By Scott James Matheson and Sam Couvillon • April 6, 2022

How to foster a more innovative culture at city hall: report

The Bloomberg Harvard City Leadership Initiative has a new guide for mayors, city managers and other local leaders to help them understand their organizational culture and assess whether it's inhibiting real change.

By Cailin Crowe • April 4, 2022

IDC names 17 winners for its 2022 North America Smart City Awards

From Schenectady, New York, to Santa Ana, California, the group recognized smart city accomplishments across 14 categories for its fifth annual awards.

By Cailin Crowe • March 30, 2022

Jacobs, StreetLight Data bank on big data as transit agencies confront infrastructure challenges

Inflation, climate change adaptations and other factors add complexity to urban infrastructure projects. As Jacobs' acquisition of the data analytics provider indicates, they see big data as key to these projects' success.

By Dan Zukowski • March 30, 2022