Smart Cities

Smart cities need a new mindset, not just new technology

A smart city is more than just a buzzword these days. It’s a mindset and skill set that employees must have to navigate today’s challenges, one expert says.

  • By Chris Teale

Why Blockchain Is a Key Technology for State and Local Governments

COMMENTARY | Blockchains are a promising solution for securing data in health care, finance, voting and other public applications.

  • By Yu Chen, The Conversation

Engagement, access, equity drive city’s evolution

Waterloo, Iowa, has 12 smart city projects lined up based on four pillars: e-government, sustainability, transportation and public safety.

  • By Stephanie Kanowitz

6G Promises Immersive Communications for Public Safety

The next-generation cellular network is poised to massively upgrade situational awareness for public safety agencies, experts say.

  • By Kaitlyn Levinson

What early adopters get wrong

Long-term smart city success is more likely when leaders take the time to establish data and tech governance frameworks with community input, one expert says.

  • By Kaitlyn Levinson

How One City Transformed Its Approach to Data

COMMENTARY | Carlsbad, California, had siloed data streams and didn’t effectively communicate between departments. It changed that and is using its smart city status to tackle today's biggest problems.

  • By Fabian Sandoval

Smart city lab tests IoT network to protect pedestrians, cyclists

Integrating both cars and pedestrians into an internet-of-things ecosystem ensures vulnerable road users are seen and drivers are alerted to their presence.

  • By Stephanie Kanowitz

A Federal Program Looks to Connect Smart Buildings with Smart Policy

COMMENTARY | Buildings drive a third of the nation’s emissions. Smart buildings can change that with the right policies and programs in place.

  • By Elizabeth Stuart and Bentham Paulos

Protecting the data that makes cities smart

Ensuring the security and privacy of data generated by residents and internet-connected devices will allow cities to reap the benefits of innovation.

  • By Stephanie Kanowitz

Tech disruption powers smart city expansion

Cloud, inexpensive sensors and low-powered wide-area networks are giving smaller cities a way to build real solutions for both staff and residents.

  • By Stephanie Kanowitz

Smart infrastructure bolsters energy conservation

But cities need to provide incentives for all players in the energy management ecosystem.

  • By Stephanie Kanowitz

Challenges quickly test creative solutions to operational snags

Long Beach’s annual smart city challenge focuses on improving customer satisfaction with service delivery.

  • By Kaitlyn Levinson
Featured eBooks
The Digital Transformation of State and Local Government
Generative AI in State and Local Government
The Transformation of Government Services

Future-proofing smart cities with open standards

Open standards can help smart cities prevent tech obsolescence and maximize growth.

  • By Kaitlyn Levinson

Startups get hands-on intro to the smart city space

The Smart Futures Lab in Denver provides a physical and digital community where participants can hone their technology and find government partners.

  • By Susan Miller

800 miles apart, smart city partners share broadband insights

The North Texas Innovation Alliance will share its broadband rollout experience in a new collaboration with Peachtree Corners, which has connected infrastructure know-how NTXIA can use.

  • By Chris Teale

Smart tactics for introducing technology to a skeptical community

Education and engagement can get residents and local leaders on board with new projects, experts suggest.

  • By Kaitlyn Levinson

Feds Prepare to Open New $500M Program for Transportation Tech

States and localities are among those eligible for the grants, which are aimed at funding projects focused on innovations like autonomous vehicles and roadside sensors.

  • By Bill Lucia

How Little Rock is Harnessing Data to Become a Smarter City

“My team and I, we’re focused on getting things done, but with a data-driven approach,” says the mayor of Arkansas’ capital.

  • By Daniel C. Vock

5G’s first applications likely intelligent transportation, public safety

Brandon Branham, assistant city manager and chief technology officer of Peachtree Corners, said 5G opens the door for low-latency use cases.

  • By Chris Teale

$26M Awarded for Hyperlocal Smart Cities Research

Researchers say they will pilot their work in three cities to integrate real-time technologies into streetscapes to build safe, equitable and secure communities.

  • By Kaitlyn Levinson

NSF invests $26M for smart city engineering research

Researchers will integrate real-time, hyperlocal technologies into streetscapes to build safe, equitable and secure communities.

  • By Kaitlyn Levinson