Smart Cities

The troves of data collected by smart city devices can be put to use developing a digital twin of a city or neighborhood for better understanding new developments or other changes to the area.

Twelve companies have been selected to participate in the inaugural Smart Futures Lab at the University of Colorado, Denver. The companies bring a range of smart city and transportation expertise.

When it comes to transportation infrastructure, the street curb is increasingly viewed as a revenue source for cash-strapped public transit as it tries to recover from the lingering effects of pandemic ridership declines.

New surveys from AAA and the Advocates for Highway and Auto Safety point to lukewarm consumer confidence in autonomous vehicles, while new research from the Urbanism Next Center suggest AVs could reduce the need for parking.

Technology officials in the two major cities shared how transportation-related data — from scooters to buses and trains — is helping to inform decisions and the broader transportation planning process.

Synop and Geotab are combining their fleet management expertise into one platform to serve the needs of both internal combustion vehicles and their electric counterparts as government fleets continue to evolve.

Arlington County, Va., has announced a partnership with parking technology maker eleven-x for a pilot project to bring sensor technology to some 4,500 public parking spaces. The pilot lays the foundation for other enhancements.

Iowa City-based Alquist 3D is hoping to address the housing shortage facing Johnson County by creating affordable, sustainable and innovative homes using 3D printing technology. Construction is expected to start this summer.

Drones are playing an integral part in keeping birds away from dangerous power lines by placing robotic bird diverters on the lines. Some 1,500 new bird diverters have been launched to protect Atlantic City Electric infrastructure.

More than 380 loading zones in Oakland will be turned into smart zones, allowing for commercial fleets — like parcel and other deliveries — to seamlessly park and pay by the minute.

The $10 million award to a Buffalo nonprofit is part of the $85 million New York Clean Transportation Prizes challenge. The funding will be used to expand access to e-bikes and an EV car-share program, among other things.

Existing projects include the pilot streetlight program, during which lights were outfitted with sensors to collect weather and ozone data, and equipping trash cans with sensors that can notify staff when they get full.

The county’s public utility district began mapping out a strategy for a future that relies heavily on electric vehicles. The planning session follows on the heels of the Washington Clean Fuels Standard law, which took effect this year.

Chattanooga will see more technology focused on its roadways. Two separate projects in the region will use smart technology and data analytics to hone in on the causes and fixes for traffic and dangerous conditions.

The Chicago Transit Authority this week announced a real-time tracking feature that allows commuters to more accurately plan their trips by showing where trains are and when they will reach the station.

The urban tech accelerator, backed by the automaker MINI, has focused on the U.S. in the past. Now it’s starting up a new program aimed at the international market, with four initial investments.

At least six states in the past few years have started pilot programs to test plastic roads. New federal legislation and programs have added to the momentum because of the government’s commitment to using sustainable materials.

Wing, a drone delivery company owned by Google parent company Alphabet, has opened a remote operations center in Coppell, Texas. The facility is part of a larger, undisclosed expansion plan in the state.