The last three years have been a rapid-fire series of challenges for local government leaders, from a devastating pandemic targeting the population’s most vulnerable to widespread economic downturn. After navigating this volatility, leaders are seeking out new and innovative strategies to future-ready their communities and reach their goals.
One such strategy is the development of a smart community. These digitally transformed environments are unlocking the future of secure, connected and resilient living, and in 2023, we can expect them to be a top priority for municipal leaders. Not convinced? Here are four reasons why smart cities will become the gold standard in the new year, and why local governments can’t afford to be left behind.
Read more: US: Four reasons why smart communities will take 2023 by storm
Attack vectors in critical infrastructure are always changing, and agencies must move beyond just preventing cyber attacks and toward resiliency. Digital twin modeling can help governments prepare to work through any scenario.
Deploying systems fully designed to sustain operations during and after a cyber attack is quickly becoming the most realistic method for keeping critical infrastructure online.
Read more: US: Digital Twins Key to Cyber Resilient Infrastructure
During lockdowns, states made tech investments that still pay dividends.
State governments made many investments during the pandemic lockdown that are still paying dividends, fueling continued digital transformation efforts. The National Association of State Technology Directors highlights many of these successful efforts in a report recapping 2021 investments made by state IT agencies.
Central IT agencies strengthened virtual private network connections, accelerated the availability of online collaborative tools, purchased laptops for remote workers, increased their already vigilant security efforts, boosted call center support and made network adjustments to accommodate the sudden shift to a remote workforce, among other investments. Many government organizations more widely adopted communications tools such as videoconferencing, webinars and online communities.
Read more: US: States Embraced Digital Transformation During Pandemic Response
The city of Olathe, Kan., began its digital transformation journey roughly six years ago by consolidating the information on its website — but modernization involves continuous change and re-evaluation, say those leading the charge.
Digital transformation and optimal service delivery has been a long and intentional journey for the city of Olathe, Kan.; and it’s a journey that officials say has no real endpoint.
Read more: US: Kansas: Olathe Overhauled: The Journey to Customer-Centric Government
Berkeley officials are rolling out their plans for where 22 new touch-screen information and advertising kiosks could go.
Some residents have vocally opposed the devices, a product of an Ohio advertising firm, because they display ads when people aren’t using them. Critics say that makes the kiosks, nine of which have been installed around Berkeley so far, effectively pedestrian-scale electronic billboards that don’t belong on public sidewalks.
Read more: US: California: Here's where the next round of 'smart kiosks' could go in Berkeley