A quiet evolution is underway inside local government in San Antonio and other leading Texas cities. The movement, with the backing of mayors and city managers, is being driven by tech-savvy young professionals who believe citizens can be better served through the use of smart data and a newfound commitment to greater transparency and collaboration.
This cohort of talented leaders also believes that smart, proactive use of technology is essential to protecting government infrastructure and services that remain highly vulnerable. Winter Storm Uri showed local leaders the vulnerability of the city’s energy infrastructure. What if state-sanctioned hackers, rather than nature, targeted strategic assets here?
Read more: US: Texas: San Antonio: Harnessing data to build better local government
Hearings regarding allegations of bid rigging and a formal City Council investigation into the city’s “smart city” program began on Wednesday. The initiative would have installed “city-directed” broadband and infrastructure.
The "smart city" program has become a political headache for New Orleans Mayor LaToya Cantrell and her administration, with allegations of bid rigging and now a formal City Council investigation — with hearings starting Wednesday — that will probe whether City Hall officials acted improperly in setting up the now-aborted deal.
Read more: US: Louisiana: Here’s What to Know About New Orleans’ Smart City Controversy
The "smart city" program has become a political headache for Mayor LaToya Cantrell and her administration, with allegations of bid rigging and now a formal City Council investigation — with hearings starting Wednesday — that will probe whether City Hall officials acted improperly in setting up the now-aborted deal.
The initiative, according to officials in Cantrell's administration, would have created a city-controlled broadband network and low-cost wireless internet service. Last year, City Hall asked private companies to propose a plan and Smart+Connected NOLA was chosen as the winning bidder. But they pulled out of contract negotiations this week after reports that a city official, Jonathan Rhodes, had advised one of the consortium's members on a similar deal in Los Angeles through his private company.
After losing its top bidder, New Orleans wants to reissue a new RFP for a smart city plan that would address the city's digital divide, but Cox Business believes it should automatically get the contract.
Hours after New Orleans said it would be issuing a new solicitation for a multi-million dollar "smart city" project in light of the top bidder's decision to pull out of the project, the second-place bidder said not so fast.
Read more: US: Louisiana: NOLA in Dispute With Cox Business Over Smart City Contract
IoT systems with ever-changing attack surfaces are susceptible to various cyber threats. This article explores the security risks inherent with IoT technologies and describes the measures Hayden AI is taking to safeguard its AI-powered mobility solutions.
Cybersecurity remains a major concern as governments around the world turn toward smart city solutions to address the pressing challenges stemming from rapid urbanization — the increasing traffic congestion, rising levels of inequality, and the growing strain on public resources.