When it comes to smart cities, many leaders struggle with where to start. The options can be overwhelming, with political, financial and technical challenges too often curbing progress. But, as the World Economic Forum pointed out, a bundle of small projects that ladder up to a larger aggregate system can be an accessible approach to modernizing smart city infrastructure.
One technology already likely installed that can pave the way for cities transitioning core services to smart models -- and it may come as a surprise -- is license plate and vehicle recognition technology.
Weiterlesen: US: Pave the way to a smart city with vehicle recognition technology
The Columbia, Tenn., city finance department is now seeking $65,000 in funding to upgrade its finance and accounting software with vendor E-Government Solutions, which comes after a year’s worth of work.
Columbia, Tenn., City Council now has a new board and new agenda to begin its 2021 round of meetings, beginning with the swearing in of three new members.
On Tuesday, each council member was sworn in as part of a special-called meeting.
Weiterlesen: US: Columbia: Tennessee City Works to Plan Upgrade of Online Systems
The City of Philadelphia has issued a request for proposal (RFP) to rapidly quantify the number of households that are without internet connectivity or relying on unstable, low-bandwidth options.
The RFP, issued with non-profit the Mayor’s Fund for Philadelphia, seeks to enable the city to benchmark its progress on closing the digital divide and inform the next phase of policy, programme and budget decisions.
Weiterlesen: US: Philadelphia issues RFP to measure its digital divide
With the recent successes of Elon Musk's company SpaceX, satellite Internet has become a "sexy" new technology. Experts, though, advise against thinking that it is the sole solution to besting the digital divide.
Although satellite Internet technology has advanced far beyond its initial capabilities, some experts have advised that the emerging broadband solution still has limitations that local and state stakeholders should consider.
Weiterlesen: US: Experts: Closing the Digital Divide Will Take More than Satellites
The pandemic has pressured corporate top lines — and as a result, leaves less money to go around to fund innovation, especially for tech-focused firms. So-called “smart-city” initiatives might be a casualty, especially if it’s perceived that people are leaving urban areas for the ‘burbs. In other words, to mangle a line from “Field of Dreams”: “Why build it if they won’t come?”
Anecdotally, there are some indications that at least some companies are pulling in at least some of their ambitions to create the “cities of the future” marked by connected devices, green infrastructure and of course, seamless payments. But some evidence doesn’t herald a wholesale shift.
Weiterlesen: US: Are Smart Cities Still A Smart Bet Amid ‘Urban Flight’ And The Pandemic?