Civic Tech

Local IT leaders in California and Delaware wield innovation and collaboration to reimagine technology, integrating community dialog into modernization to deliver projects that reflect a variety of feedback.

The Sawyer Free Library received the funding in the form of a Digital Equity Initiative Partnership Grant. The money, from the Essex County Community Foundation, will launch its digital learning lab.

The city’s commission has approved the purchase of three drones at a cost of more than $15,000. Police, who have 10 licensed drone pilots, will use them in searches, rescues, and to follow fleeing suspects.

A joint program between the city and the Sacramento Regional Transit District is fielding 100 buses with forward-facing cameras powered by artificial intelligence. The devices spot vehicles blocking bus stops.

The app, funded with $13,860 approved by the Delaware County Council, would offer important information and improved communication with the city. Leaders hope it can be developed and launched by summer.

The city has strengthened its cybersecurity efforts, using artificial intelligence to analyze more than 1 million pieces of incoming communication and protecting employees from impersonation attempts and data theft.

New Mexico’s most populous city went live late last month with a new way to submit planning requests. Users can now make permit and construction project applications, payments and register businesses online.

The Technology Council of Central Pennsylvania serves 150 member entities representing more than 1,700 people. The goal, its president said, is to identify local problems — and offer local answers.

The county’s board of commissioners has approved a service agreement with a new vendor to upgrade software at its building department. The move will facilitate work with cities and conversations with customers.

A new program is teaching a small group of incarcerated men the tools of a new trade — coding and web design — in the hopes that it can help the men succeed when they are released.

Billboards from the San Francisco Municipal Transportation Agency and speed camera warning signs on freeway off-ramps and in bus shelters are intended to caution drivers as more than 50 of the devices arrive in March.

Garbage trucks in Scottsdale, Ariz., were recently equipped with dashcams that offer a comprehensive view of operations inside and out. The results are helping exonerate the municipality from frivolous damage claims.

Missouri is joining other states tackling income verification for the gig economy, investing in new tech backed by basketball legend Shaquille O’Neal to reduce caseworker processing times and get faster assistance to those in need.

San Francisco has launched a re-platformed SF.gov, with new content management for better flexibility and in-house management. A new design system is intended to improve access and visual consistency.

Commissioners approved using the money to buy the meters earlier this month. The devices, which collect near real-time data, will join 7,500 smart meters already in operation as Edison neighborhood lines are replaced.

The proposed complex, which came to light in a filing Thursday, would be worth an estimated $5 billion and would go in to Newton County, about an hour east of Atlanta. If built, it would span nearly 2.6 million square feet.

Officials in the southern Illinois city’s public works and fire departments are collaborating to augment usual inspections with clear aerial views of any damage. Their work could become a disaster response and recovery staple.

The elected representative’s official email account was breached by a bad actor and used to reach other email addresses, in an attempt to steal their personal information. The issue was resolved fairly swiftly.