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Cities start with streetlights and add sensors
Kansas City, Missouri has has long been a leader among Smart City, a public-private partnership launched in 2016 to bring smart city innovations to urban areas. It has built a “living laboratory” on a high-speed fiber optic network, providing abundant Wi-Fi on tram lines.
The city then continued building, adding a network of sensors to collect data on the movement of people and vehicles downtown, in partnership with Sprint, Cisco and others. It has demonstrated success by building Wi-Fi access points, smart lighting video nodes and smart kiosks.
MORE FROM STATETECH: Raleigh’s smart city plan addresses traffic management.
Montgomery, Alabama followed a similar path to bring smart city technology to its downtown entertainment district.
The city launched a project Smart Street LightWi-Fi, parking management apps and more, stretching from the Montgomery Riverside Stadium to the downtown entertainment and convention district.
As GovTech reports, “the region will be underpinned by fiber optic infrastructure to support free Wi-Fi access, the expansion of the city’s open data portal, smart parking, and more.” According to utility officials, Alabama Power Upgrading streetlights to LEDs ended up applying the technology to about 22,000 streetlights across the city and saving about $650,000 over five years.”
Federal grant program increases funding for public safety districts
In the past year, Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA) created the Safe Streets and Roads for All initiative, which provides $5 billion in funding for self-directed programs over five years. In 2022, the program’s first year, regional and local governments will be able to apply for $1 billion in funding. SS4A grants aim to “To prevent road deaths and serious injuries.”
This U.S. Department of Transportation Several potential smart city applications were identified for the SS4A grant, including retrofitting hazardous roadways with safety improvements to control speed and improve visibility, and enhancing pedestrian safety through sidewalk and signal improvements, moving pedestrian signals, and other changes.
DOT also recommends deploying “advanced transportation technologies,” such as vehicle-to-infrastructure advisory speed-limiting systems.
National Urban League emphasizes Additional opportunities offered under Enhancing Mobility and Innovating Transportation Grants Program, also created by IIJA. From FY 2022 to FY 2026, SMART is dedicating $100 million in federal grants to support smart community projects.
explore: How Mission Critical Operations Centers Improve Public Safety.
SMART “will build on USDOT’s legacy Smart City Challenge And allow communities to collaborate with technology and community partners to bring new smart city solutions to their challenges,” the National Alliance of Cities noted.
again, DOT outlines several examples How smart city initiatives work in public safety and innovation districts through the use of advanced technology. Here are some of the more interesting scenarios it envisions:
- Facilitate on-demand transitions for pedestrians and cyclists through adaptive, smart infrastructure.
- Improve operations and maintenance by using sensors to monitor real-time conditions of pavement quality, signs and crosswalks.
- Use advanced tools such as artificial intelligence and digital twins to address non-recurring congestion, prioritize investments in pedestrians and cyclists, and explore other complex issues.
Pedestrian safety is the local government’s top priority in establishing a public safety and innovation district’s busy entertainment district.Projects funded through the IIJA grant program will certainly promote Public Safety and Innovation Districtbuilding on the city’s initial success with such projects.
IIJA grant applications will close in 2022, but funding opportunities under the program will reopen sometime next year.
This article is part of Cathay Pacificof CITizen Blog Series. Join the discussion on Twitter using #StateLocalIT Hashtag.
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