Infrastructure

Incompatibility between new software and old meters led to higher water and sewer bills for residents of Akron, Ohio. The city had planned to install new smart meters, but the U.S. chip shortage has stalled progress.

New York State Electric & Gas has teamed up with researchers at two universities to develop an artificial intelligence system that can predict which areas will lose power based on various factors.

Karina Ricks had led the Pittsburgh Department of Mobility and Infrastructure since 2017. She is now working for the Federal Transit Administration as associate administrator for research, innovation and demonstration.

Thanks to a $6 million grant from the U.S. Department of Defense, Springfield, Ohio, will see the construction of a National Advanced Air Mobility Center of Excellence at its municipal airport.

Government buildings in Clark County, Ohio, will gain improved connectivity through a $2.2 million fiber-optic project that was approved by county commissioners yesterday. The funds are American Rescue Plan Act dollars.

From May 2016 to March 2020, Maryland has overcharged drivers in the thousands via its cashless tolling system, according to a legislative audit. The state now exclusively uses cashless tolling.

The Cuyahoga County Council has approved the creation of a county-run utility, which will be a first in Ohio. The council sees this move as the first step in establishing a microgrid system.

An interim rule from the U.S. Treasury Department may prevent cities from using federal coronavirus relief funds on broadband expansion efforts. A final rule could be determined in the fall.

Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker has said he will quickly sign a bill that calls for green economy expansion and the closure of all coal-fired power plants in the state by 2045. Critics say the bill would cut too many jobs.

Branch Technologies, a company based in Chattanooga, Tenn., is trying to change the way building structures are created with its 3D printing process. The company recently received a $300,000 state grant.

The city of Brownsville, Texas, gets many complaints from frustrated drivers about how out of sync its red light system is. Now the city is collecting data from traffic detectors so that traffic flow can be improved.

A new U.S. House of Representatives bill would allow the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency to require infrastructure companies to report a cyber attack within 72 hours of a breach.

An automated license plate reader system from Flock Safety, a company based in Atlanta, Ga., has made its way to two communities in Summit County, Ohio. The system utilizes cloud technology.

A two-year study concluded that deep-water drilling rigs are not prepared in general to protect themselves against cyber attacks. Rigs need more than firewalls and antivirus software to be secure, the study found.

A new product could make it easier for municipalities to plan capital projects and budgeting. The product launch comes as an infrastructure bill makes its way through the federal government.

If the country's infrastructure is to continue supporting its people — and if new federal funding is to be used well — then government officials must digitize, argues the CEO of Aurigo Software Technologies.

Last week, the Illinois State Police started installing license plate readers on highways near Chicago. More than 200 cameras will be installed. Speed limits will not be enforced by this system.

No matter their political views, rural Pennsylvanians see the federal infrastructure bill as a potentially great development for their communities. Otherwise, the business case for their Internet may never develop.