Civic Tech

The Regional Transportation Commission of Southern Nevada is deploying more AI-powered gun detection technology at its transit centers, following the addition of more armed officers and a panic button pilot project.

Jeffrey Weiner has taken the helm of the town’s IT department, overseeing GIS, media and strategic IT initiatives. He arrives from Wakefield Public Schools, where he served as its technology director.

The new solution is for select residential projects, including reroofing, window replacement and minor alterations. It’s intended to quicken third-party plan review and issue permits faster.

A “command center” on homelessness will open in January at new city offices. The facility will use AI to review homeless provider apps for data on how services are actually meeting the needs of the homeless.

From AI dashboards to predictive models, the state Department of Transportation is creating a pathway toward tech-driven management of its bridges, with the help of a familiar private-sector partner.

The Bloomberg Philanthropies What Works Cities Certification’s assessment process has been streamlined, in an effort to reduce the barrier to entry for local governments to measure and validate their data practices.

A new report from the National Association of State Chief Information Officers, with Accenture, finds considerable optimism about the public sector’s generative artificial intelligence work — but relatively few use cases.

The device racked up $154,800 in traffic fines since June at an intersection with one of the borough’s most dangerous boulevards. It was the area’s fifth most active speed camera location for that period.

The city’s new IT Innovation Hub gives tech companies a platform to pitch solutions that support civic priorities. Submissions could advance to become pilot projects or stimulate requests for proposals.

Starting next week, the city police department will dispatch drones on some service calls to see if response times and situational understanding improve. Their use will depend on call type, priority and distance.

The Urban Land Institute is partnering with cities and a university in California and Nevada in a one-year program to develop policies and programs around extreme heat mitigation and planning.

The organization’s new solutions and service blueprints provide states with step-by-step guidance to identify challenges, simplify reporting and improve residents’ access to SNAP and Medicaid benefits.

A new purchasing portal serving state and local public-sector agencies is designed to make complicated and highly technical purchases easier, by offering connections to vetted vendors and expert knowledge.

In an effort to address delays in releasing people from jail, the Sheriff’s Office is looking to update its Adult Information Systems to be more integrated with an existing case management system.

In the search for good ideas, Miami-Dade will award $100,000 each to three startups that are developing technology to divert waste from landfills and improve public sustainability engagement.

In a new pilot, officials will use a city vehicle with two cameras and software with AI to photograph properties. Inspectors will follow up on addresses with visible problems like graffiti or tall grass.

Case studies in the Multi-State Information Sharing and Analysis Center’s latest report show how states are extending cyber protections across government bodies. They highlight best practices including statewide coordination.

Local governments are investing in digital equity, which can serve as the foundation to advance the implementation of other emerging technologies including AI. Good data is the foundation for both.