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Skip Descant

Senior Writer

Skip Descant writes about smart cities, the Internet of Things, transportation and other areas. He spent more than 12 years reporting for daily newspapers in Mississippi, Arkansas, Louisiana and California. He lives in downtown Yreka, Calif.

Transportation

E-Scooter Operator Turns to AI to Ensure Parking Compliance

Veo, a shared, electric scooter and bicycle provider in numerous cities around the nation, is using technology from Captur to ensure its devices are parked properly. The process is customized according to local regulations.

November 08, 2024
· Skip Descant
Transportation

Transit Turns to Camera Enforcement to Keep Bus Lanes Clear

Transit pilot projects in Los Angeles and Chicago are deploying camera technology to identify vehicles blocking bus lanes and issue citations. The programs are designed to make the services more efficient.

November 06, 2024
· Skip Descant
Broadband and Network

Connectivity Comes Through Streetlights for Small Maine Town

Streetlamps in Rumford, Maine, shine with 5G wireless connectivity, strengthening the community’s communications system. A public-private partnership has enabled officials to use the lights as wireless communication nodes.

October 30, 2024
· Skip Descant
Infrastructure

Power-Hungry Data Centers Pose a Challenge to Government

Artificial intelligence is poised to become the next big energy hog and data centers stand to challenge sustainability goals. Some processing demands, however, can be shifted to periods when demand is low.

October 29, 2024
· Skip Descant
Transportation

GPS and AI Technology Help Buses Power Through Traffic

Traffic signal priority tech along with dedicated bus lanes is speeding up travel times, making them competitive with personal cars. It’s not a silver bullet, a transit priority director said, but “is a critical component of our program.”

October 28, 2024
· Skip Descant
Broadband and Network

Equity Is a Key Focus for Oakland, Calif., Broadband Work

The Bay Area city is making high-speed Internet more accessible with projects focused on affordability and service delivery and aimed at closing the digital divide. A California Public Utilities Commission grant is among the funding sources.

October 14, 2024
· Skip Descant
Transportation

Heavy-Duty Vehicle Charging Headed to Major SoCal Truck Route

Greenlane Infrastructure is developing the facility, a charging plaza in Colton, Calif., at the intersection of two heavily traveled truck corridors. The aim is to advance the transition to zero-emission trucking and fleets.

October 10, 2024
· Skip Descant
Transportation

Cities Look to Digitize Curbs, but Find They Need More Data

A Populus survey of city transportation officials about curb and parking oversight shows their desire for better data analytics. Munis are confronting other challenges too, including managing deliveries and maintaining data sets.

October 09, 2024
· Skip Descant
Transportation

Rural Transit Systems Explore, Benefit from Data Sharing

Transit providers in rural areas are experimenting with data-sharing technology to improve services, by introducing modern features like trip planning to form more coordinated, regionwide systems. One system is already seeing results.

October 07, 2024
· Skip Descant
Transportation

As Vehicle Charging Evolves, EVgo Plans Five-Year Expansion

The electric vehicle charging network is close to securing a federal Department of Energy loan and plans to stand up 7,500 high-speed chargers in five years. It and other companies are working to make charging simpler and more pleasant.

October 04, 2024
· Skip Descant