Authors

Elaine Pittman

Former Managing Editor


Elaine Pittman worked for Government Technology from 2008 to 2017.

July 3, 2017

Report: Cryptocurrency Market Has More than Tripled Since 2016

Plus, a robotic falcon patrols Canada's Edmonton Airport to keep live birds safe, and a "traffic light for the workplace" to help increase employee productivity.
June 1, 2017

Google Street View Cars Become Methane Gas Sniffers, Helping Governments Map the Issue

Plus, “Shazam for mosquitoes” could be invaluable in the fight against life-threatening diseases and how one university powered buildings with mayo.
May 25, 2017

Optimizing Government Performance: Tips from the Trenches

Lessons learned on data-driven decision-making and creating a culture of innovation.
May 24, 2017

San Francisco’s RFP Bus Speeds Up, Streamlines IT Procurement

Following lessons from the 2014 Startup in Residence program, the city has reworked the procurement process to be fast for both governments and entrepreneurs.
March 29, 2017

John McCaffrey

CIO, Westchester County, N.Y.
March 6, 2017

Do Autonomous Robots Need a ‘Kill Switch’?

Plus, a high-tech Mayflower is preparing to make the historic journey of its namesake.
January 12, 2017

Spectrum: Beastcam Digitally Preserves Living Organisms

Plus, a new tech tool to help the colorblind see contrast in different colors and an outdoor vacuum aims to clean the air.

December 21, 2016

Spectrum: Crowdsourcing a Smart City

Plus, making lithium-ion battery electrodes from sugar-filled wastewater left after the beer-making process.
December 20, 2016

Tech Transitions in 2016

Take a look back at the major career changes of the year.
December 13, 2016

How Government Can Become More like Amazon

Colorado CIO Suma Nallapati wants to transform IT systems so that people look forward to interacting with government.

December 8, 2016

2016: The Year in Tech / Spotlight on the Gov Tech Scene

In the fourth quarter of 2016, an Accela departure, major merger in the gov tech space and the general election outcome took center stage.
December 7, 2016

2016: The Year in Tech / States and Counties Get Smart, Digital

In the third quarter of 2016, winners of the Digital States and Digital Counties surveys were announced, among many other things.
December 6, 2016

2016: The Year in Tech / Tackling Social Media and Increasing Civic Engagement

In the second quarter of 2016, social media, public-private partnerships, broadband and police data took center stage.
December 5, 2016

2016: The Year in Tech / Breaking Down Barriers to Data, Access

In the first quarter of 2016, innovation, open data, Wi-Fi and the GovTech 100 list took center stage.
December 1, 2016

2016: The Year in Tech

According to our analytics, these are the stories readers most wanted to read in 2016 -- it’s a revealing look into the issues foremost on the minds of public-sector technology decision-makers.

November 23, 2016

User Experience, Data Drive Web Features in Denver

CIO Scott Cardenas relies on analytics to understand what people are using and where they are going on Denver’s website.
November 18, 2016

The Silver Tsunami Is Real. Here’s 2 Ways to Frame Staffing Initiatives

The University of Denver’s JB Holston discusses the phenomenon and what government can do about it.
November 17, 2016

Closing the Gap on Immediate IT Hiring Needs, Career Management

JB Holston of the University of Denver addresses two issues to consider for staffing government IT offices in the 21st century.

November 9, 2016

2016 Digital Cities: Winners Focus on Transparency, Security, Infrastructure

This year’s top digital cities know data demands are only going to grow, and they want to be prepared.
November 3, 2016

Will ‘Government’ Become a Verb?

You Google. You Uber. Are you ready to “gov?” Actor (and tech investor) Ashton Kutcher thinks so and it was a theme at the Reverb conference in Denver.
October 24, 2016

University of Michigan Students Win American Solar Challenge

Plus, a California utility and smart thermostat company partner on energy conservation.
October 14, 2016

How Denver Came Together on Smart City Challenges

Although the city didn’t win the U.S. Department of Transportation’s Smart City Challenge, CIO Scott Cardenas says Denver is committed to moving ahead with its plan.
October 13, 2016

National Cybersecurity Center Aims to Share Intel Worldwide, Act as a Broker

The Colorado-based research, training and education center could make the state a hub for cybersecurity activities.
October 4, 2016

Colorado to Hire a Digital Transformation Officer

The role, which is expected to be filled in the next month, may be the first of its kind in state government.
September 18, 2016

How Digital is Your State?

Results of the 2016 Digital States Survey indicate that the effort states are putting into innovation, collaboration and aligning their investments with citizens' priorities has never been higher.
September 1, 2016

2016 Best of the Web Winners Demonstrate Technological Innovation, Service Delivery Improvements

This year’s best government websites shared in common a simple vision of user-centric content, a desire to iterate and collaborate more quickly than in years past, and to watch the market for the latest trends and standards.
August 23, 2016

Smart Birdhouse Provides Free Wi-Fi to Reward Healthy Actions

The platform also lets local governments review data from the devices to better understand air pollution.
July 26, 2016

Meet EMILY: The Remote-Controlled Buoy that May Serve as Your Next Lifeguard

The Emergency Integrated Lifesaving Lanyard can travel up to 22 mph and is outfitted with two-way communication radios, a live-streaming video camera and lights for use at night.
July 20, 2016

Digital Counties Survey 2016: Winners Make Collaboration, Innovation, Civic Engagement Top Priorities

In this year's survey, the Center for Digital Government recognizes 55 counties that understand technology's value, empower their tech leaders, and implement new ideas to make life better for those who live and work there.
June 10, 2016

Baseball Players Get Hi-Tech, Can Blockchain Transform Voting?

Plus, a look at passive Wi-Fi, and how to bring off-grid sterilization to those in need.
May 24, 2016

Seattle's Civic Tech Advocate Promotes Innovation, Engagement

Candace Faber is working to figure out how to create real space for more innovative thinking about how the city uses technology to solve civic problems.
April 7, 2016

Spectrum: Prepare to Make Purchases with a Selfie, Army Airdrop System Eliminates Enemy GPS-Jamming Concern

Plus, 5 million+ jobs will be replaced by robots by 2020.
March 23, 2016

Barbara Cohn

Chief Data Officer, New York
March 21, 2016

Spectrum: Drone Catcher Traps Rogue UAVs, Simulation Tech for Archaeologists

Plus, a new consumer video camera that automatically edits clips may provide insight into the technology’s future.
February 2, 2016

Spectrum: Driverless Cars Take the Racetrack, MIT Media Lab Turns Foot Movements into Smartphone Commands

Plus, North Carolina State University researchers developed a device that tracks and shares guide dogs' health-related data with their blind owners, and researchers in France have created rechargeable batteries using sodium ions.
January 30, 2016

2016 State of the State Addresses: Does Technology Matter?

Government Technology’s editorial team analyzes this year’s speeches to see which governors are talking tech.
December 17, 2015

Spectrum: London Underground Tests Regenerative Braking Tech, Wayback Machine Gets Searchable in 2017

Plus, NYC teenagers create Live Time Closed Captioning system to help deaf individuals engage in naturally flowing conversations.
December 4, 2015

Year in Review 2015: Smart, Digital Cities Reign Supreme

In the fourth quarter of 2015, San Francisco announced the biggest Internet of Things project in the U.S. to date, the most digital cities in the nation were named and the FAA announced that it will require drone owners to register devices with aviation authorities.

December 3, 2015

Year in Review 2015: Hefty IT Investments; Fighting (and Succumbing to) Cyber Threats

From smart city investments and use of Bitcoin technology in government to the Ashley Madison and U.S. Office of Personnel Management hacks, news during the third quarter of 2015 didn't disappoint.
November 2, 2015

2015 Digital Cities: Winners Experiment with Forward-Thinking Tech Projects

This year’s top digital cities have developed a mature infrastructure that lets city leaders experiment with technology projects that are molded in the image of the average citizen's lifestyle.
August 28, 2015

State CIOs: Meet the Class of 2015

A dozen states appointed new CIOs this year and in late 2014 -- here’s a look who they are and how they’re settling in.
August 25, 2015

Arkansas' Mark Myers: A Nontraditional CIO

Myers is putting his military and government backgrounds to use as the state’s IT leader.
August 21, 2015

Delaware CIO James Collins on Thinking Like a Customer

Coming from the customer side of the state’s IT agency gives Collins a unique view of its role.

August 20, 2015

Pennsylvania's CIO Brings Private-Sector Perspective

John MacMillan's work on both sides of the aisle allows him to harness public- and private-sector experience while leading IT for the state.
July 9, 2015

2015 Survey Honors Most Innovative, Pioneering Digital Counties

In this year's survey, the Center for Digital Government recognizes 54 counties as adaptive IT leaders, collaborators and arbiters of the public trust.
March 24, 2015

Lori Flanery

Secretary, Finance and Administration Cabinet, Kentucky
March 24, 2015

Gary Bateman

CIO, Workforce Development, Iowa
March 24, 2015

Robin Murphy

Director, Center for Robot-Assisted Search and Rescue, Texas A&M University
February 25, 2015

Crisis Tweets Study Identifies What to Expect During Emergencies

A new study examines tweets from various disasters, providing key information for emergency managers and their communications teams.
January 30, 2015

2015 State of the State Addresses: Is Technology on the Agenda?

To find technology in this year’s speeches, you often need to read between the lines.
January 29, 2015

How Robots Are Changing Disaster Response and Recovery

The field of disaster robotics has been studied for the last two decades. Robin Murphy has been there from the start and explains where it’s headed and what you need to know.
December 17, 2014

Year in Review: Making Sense of 2014

2014 may not have been the year, but there are definitive signs that we’re pointed in the right direction.

December 17, 2014

Get Ready for Drones

Also, Philadelphia launches the Municipal Innovation Academy and newly-elected Seattle Mayor Ed Murray puts the kibosh on the city's gigabit network plans.
December 17, 2014

Sharing Economy Goes Legit

Plus, Hawaii, the District of Columbia and Oakland County, Mich., best their peers in this year's Best of the Web awards, and the New Orleans iTeam analyzes crime stats to identify high-risk individuals and criminal social networks.
November 13, 2014

2014 Digital Cities: Winners Focus on Innovation, Boosting Transparency and Privacy

In this year's Digital Cities Survey, top cities recognize the value of technology, empower their tech leaders and use new ideas to make life better for everyone who lives there.
September 30, 2014

States Play Catch-Up on Open Data

Complexity has slowed statewide efforts, but CIOs are launching new initiatives.
September 29, 2014

Data Discussion Dominates NASCIO Day One

State CIOs wrestle with big data, open data and overwhelming complexity.
September 12, 2014

Playbook Aims to Speed Up Disaster Recovery

Built on best practices and lessons learned, the Disaster Recovery Playbook puts the St. Bernard Project’s model online for any community to use.
September 3, 2014

How Can Predictive Analytics Improve Disaster Response and Recovery?

Adam Thiel, deputy secretary of public safety and homeland security for Virginia, talks opportunities and challenges.
July 30, 2014

White House Innovation Day Highlights Disaster Response, Recovery

Emergency managers converged with the tech community to discuss tools that can create more resilient communities.
July 21, 2014

Nearly Every State Is at Risk of a Damaging Earthquake, Report Says

The updated National Seismic Hazards Maps from the U.S. Geological Survey show the most current understanding of where future earthquakes will occur.
July 17, 2014

7 Factors for Effectively Adding Social Media Monitoring into Operations

A new DHS report addresses how social media platforms can and are being used for situational awareness.
June 4, 2014

Pennsylvania CISO Erik Avakian is Developing Strategies to Improve Security for All States

As chief information security officer for the state, Avakian is aligning with nationwide security initiatives, putting them in place to build momentum at the state level.
May 9, 2014

How Utah State Government Uses Wearable Tech

Also, transforming procurement and learning from HIX are topics for NASCIO day two.
May 8, 2014

NASCIO Seeks Stronger State-Federal Action on Cybersecurity

Maine internship program copes with the ‘silver tsunami.’

April 17, 2014

The Story Behind #530slide: Social Media During Emergency Response

The recent mudslide in Oso, Wash., showed the power of social media during times of crisis.
March 17, 2014

Open Data Policies in State and Local Government (Interactive Map)

See which state and local governments have made their open data promises official.
February 25, 2014

Nelson Wolff -- 2014 GT Top 25 Winner

County judge, Bexar County, Texas
October 15, 2013

Why FirstNet Needs State CIOs

Day two of NASCIO conference covers public safety communications, BYOD and project funding.
October 14, 2013

Innovation Reigns at NASCIO Conference

State CIOs hear plenty about thinking outside the box.
September 25, 2013

Twitter Launches Alert System for Emergencies

Twitter Alerts aims to get information from vetted, credible organizations to the public during an emergency.
September 16, 2013

Texas’ Bookless Library: BiblioTech Turns the Page on Tradition

The Bexar County BiblioTech digital library utilizes a cloud platform and focuses on bringing cutting-edge technology into the community.
September 5, 2013

CERT Members Amplify and Support Social Media Efforts

Anaheim, Calif., has prepared its Community Emergency Response Team volunteers to respond to questions on social media and use it to aid situational awareness.
August 20, 2013

3 Tips for Posting Emergency Information Online

Google’s Crisis Response product manager provides insight into the best ways to share emergency information online and how search engines can utilize it.
August 5, 2013

The New CIO: Chief Influence Officer

CIOs learn to take on yet another role.
July 25, 2013

Investing in the Future

Nearly everyone is wrestling with some form of HR challenge.
May 31, 2013

Dirty Jobs in Government: Roadkill Prevention

Colorado takes technology traditionally used for perimeter security at prisons and airports, and uses it for detecting wildlife along highways and warning drivers in real time.

May 29, 2013

Dirty Jobs in Government: Road Maintenance

Is automation the future of road maintenance?

April 30, 2013

Will Pelgrin Named NASCIO’s 2013 Technology Champion

Pelgrin, CEO of the Center for Internet Security and founder of the Multi-State Information Sharing and Analysis Center, is recognized for his contributions promoting government performance excellence.
April 18, 2013

Why the Internet of Things Needs IPv6

As the proliferation of Internet-connected devices continues, Vint Cerf says the “Internet of Things is upon us,” making the transition to IPv6 necessary.
March 13, 2013

Living in an Era of True Mobility

Microsoft CTO Stuart McKee predicts that mobile devices — despite presenting unique challenges — will enable new levels of productivity.
February 27, 2013

Kristin Russell -- 2013 GT Top 25 Winner

CIO, Colorado
December 10, 2012

2012 Year in Review: Social Media

A look at the trends that shaped how we work and live.
June 28, 2012

David All Shares Ideas on Emerging Trends for Campaigns and Elections

Founder of online communications and branding firm discusses online technology and strategies for politicians.
April 24, 2012

Social Media Directors are Finding a Place in Government

Governments try out new media directors to handle social networking on their behalf.
March 15, 2012

Smart Snowplows Keep the Highway to Valdez, Alaska, Clear

GPS and heads-up display technology keep Alaska snowplow drivers on the road, even if they can’t see it.
March 13, 2012

The Long Road Ahead for the Nationwide Public Safety Network

Tom Ridge, the first DHS secretary, applauds the reallocation of the D Block but warns that the buildout of the network will be a long journey.
March 2, 2012

4 Microsoft Technologies That Could Impact Government

Microsoft heads toward a touch-based operating system and is incorporating video game Kinect technology into government operations.
February 29, 2012

CrisisCommons Co-Founders

Heather Blanchard Co-Founder, CrisisCommons; Noel Dickover Co-Founder, CrisisCommons; Andrew Turner Co-Founder, CrisisCommons
February 1, 2012

Roseville, Calif., Police Department’s Crime Lab Separates Fact From Fiction (PHOTOS/VIDEO)

Local law enforcement technology advances, but still suffers from the ‘CSI effect.’
November 28, 2011

What Big-Box Retailers Can Teach Government About Disaster Recovery

Companies have become masters of disaster as they’ve endured every type of emergency and learned lessons along the way.
August 31, 2011

Little Progress on National Public Safety Network 10 Years After 9/11

A decade after the 9/11 attacks, strides have been made in regional public safety interoperability, but a nationwide system is still lacking.
August 23, 2011

Virginia Earthquake Sets Off Wave of Emergency Tweets

Widespread use of social media in earthquake’s aftermath is the latest example of how Web 2.0 technology has changed emergency communication.
August 1, 2011

Traffic Safety for First Responders Gets High-Tech Makeover

Transportation systems use technology to improve the safety of first responders and the public.
July 19, 2011

National Level Exercise 2011: Lessons Learned and a Look Behind the Scenes

National Level Exercise 2011 tested states’ abilities to respond to a catastrophic earthquake while creating links between all levels of government and beyond.
July 15, 2011

Why Emergency Managers Should Use Social Media

Many emergency managersare avoiding using social media for all the wrong reasons.
July 5, 2011

Shoe Print Databases Catch Up to CSI Fiction

Software replaces a Florida police department’s time-consuming process for classifying shoe prints found at crime scenes.

May 24, 2011

Las Vegas Fusion Center Is a Model for Public-Private Collaboration

What happens in Las Vegas is filtered through unique layers of security and vetted by the fusion center.
May 12, 2011

White House’s Cyber-Security Bill Seeks to Provide a Framework for Industry, Government

The White House will unveil new proposed cyber-security legislation that will focus on protecting the nation’s citizens, its critical infrastructure and federal systems.

April 27, 2011

County Jails Deploy Whole-Body Scanners to Detect Hidden Weapons or Contraband

Collier County, Fla., Sheriff’s Office among law enforcement using full-body scans to catch smuggled items on offenders.
March 31, 2011

Iris Scanners Gain Traction in New York and Texas

Law enforcement agencies use iris scans to guard against mistaken release of arrestees.

February 23, 2011

Altamonte Springs, Fla., Turns Empty Water Tank into Primary Data Center

A Florida city’s data center finds a permanent home in a decommissioned water tank.
February 17, 2011

Beth Niblock

CIO, Louisville (Ky.) Metro Government
January 7, 2011

Government, Industry Converge to Discuss Information Sharing Issues

The IJIS Institute Winter Industry Briefing combines the public and private sectors to stress information sharing and increase the country’s security.
January 3, 2011

Houston Website Solicits Anonymous Tips About Gangs

StopHoustonGangs.org also improves data exchange among public safety agencies.
December 20, 2010

Michigan Expands Video Conferencing in Prisons

Video conferencing allows Michigan prisoners to attend hearings remotely. State court system to come onboard next.
November 23, 2010

Preparedness Video Game Seeks to Combine Fun, Learning for Illinois Students

Video game fills educational gap and adds another layer to Illinois’ efforts to teach the state’s youth about disaster preparedness.

November 17, 2010

Los Angeles County Prepares for a Nuclear Explosion

County officials respond to the mock detonation of a nuclear device and test a system that monitors for hazardous materials.
October 4, 2010

Los Angeles Police Department Hydra System Promotes Simulation Training for Command-Level Officers

LAPD opens sophisticated training suite that simulates critical incidents.
September 10, 2010

Simulation-Based Training Provides Cost-Effectiveness, Flexibility

A virtual replica of New York City provides its Office of Emergency Management with a unique way to test its command element.
August 26, 2010

NamUs Database Provides National Information Clearinghouse for Missing Persons' Cases and Unidentified Decedents

National database seeks to link missing persons cases to unidentified decedents - solving cold cases and providing closure to loved ones.
August 25, 2010

Local Governments Promote 'Power IT Down Day' to Encourage Energy Efficiency

On Friday, Aug. 27, thousands will turn off their computers at the end of the workday, saving kilowatt hours and promoting an energy-efficient mindset.
July 30, 2010

L.A. Nuclear Drill Tests Countywide HAZMAT System

Operation Golden Phoenix promotes collaboration and uses the ICBRNE program that monitors and reports critical information.
July 25, 2010

Pennsylvania Police Departments Connect Wirelessly to School District Camera Feeds to Aid Incident Response

Pennsylvania school districts give police direct access to their video camera feeds to aid situational awareness in case of emergency.
July 23, 2010

Los Angeles to Test Simulation Model That Predicts Criminals' Reactions to Increased Policing

Math-based computer simulation model analyzes how different crime hot spots respond to increased policing.
July 9, 2010

Ankle Bracelet Tracks Sobriety 24/7, Monitoring Offenders of Alcohol-Related Crimes

Alcohol-monitoring ankle bracelet helps free up prison beds by remotely monitoring offenders.
June 7, 2010

911 Technology Problems Plague First Line of Response

The move to implement next-generation 911 and other emergency call-related technologies forces some to ask the question: Should there be a nationwide standard for 911?
April 29, 2010

Real-Life Police Technology Catches up With Science Fiction

Gadgets include patrol car-mounted launchers that shoot GPS-equipped darts onto fleeing vehicles, and ear-mounted video cameras for cops.
April 25, 2010

Washington, D.C., Tracks Fire Hydrants with Analytics and Asset-Management Software

Washington, D.C., tracks water assets to streamline inspections and aid firefighters in emergencies.
March 24, 2010

Early Earthquake Warnings May Help Californians in Disaster Preparation

Seismologists create an early warning system to alert Californians before an earthquake occurs.
March 1, 2010

Gov. Bill Ritter and CIO Mike Locatis, Colorado

Gov. Bill Ritter and CIO Mike Locatis, Colorado
January 22, 2010

Los Angeles County Uses DNA Tracking Database to Solve Cold Cases

DNA tracking database monitors the collection of arrestees' genetic material to identify who must provide DNA samples.
December 21, 2009

Federal Transportation ID Program Lacks IT Continuity Plan, Report Says

A power outage at a Transportation Worker Identification Credential processing facility may require up to 410,000 cards to be replaced.
December 18, 2009

LEDs Save Energy, but Have Winter-Weather Drawback

Cities nationwide have been using light-emitting diode bulbs in traffic lights to save money, but their low-heat output means snow and ice can stick to the lights.
December 3, 2009

New York Testing Emergency Alerts Over Xbox, PlayStation, Wii Online Networks

The state's free, subscription-based emergency alert system hopes to expand to online gamers in 2010.
December 2, 2009

Technology Impeding H1N1 Vaccine Development, Distribution

Lack of H1N1 vaccines causes some localities to postpone mass vaccination clinics.
November 17, 2009

Hackers Unite in the Name of Disaster Preparedness

Random Hacks of Kindness attracts disaster relief experts and software engineers to innovate technology solutions.