Opinion: Page 12
The latest opinion pieces by industry thought leaders
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Office space occupancy may drop post-pandemic — and that’s OK
COVID-19 has forced employers to adjust operations and expectations in a way that eliminates the remote work "stigma." If this is continued post-pandemic, cities could see major benefits.
Adam Segal • April 30, 2020 -
3 ways to make clean water affordable in America’s smallest communities
Editor's note: This article was originally published in American City & County, which has merged with Smart Cities Dive to bring you expanded coverage of city innovation and local government. For the latest in smart city news, explore Smart Cities Dive or sign up for our newsletter.Water migh...
Chris Shaffner • April 29, 2020 -
Cities can leverage program management to drive smart solutions
Independent program management offices (PMOs) have the ability to break down the complexities of public-private partnerships and eliminate burdens on local governments.
Lauren Gore • April 28, 2020 -
Now more than ever, cities need flexibility in the movement of goods
To ensure resiliency amid future disasters or pandemics, municipalities must prioritize the movement of goods the same as the movement of people.
Cynthia Albright and Brandon Orr • April 24, 2020 -
New (im)mobility: Can we avoid the private car revenge?
Mobility operators and public leaders must anticipate a post-pandemic shift to single-occupancy vehicle use, and act before urban transportation locks us down again.
Joël Hazan, Pierre-François Marteau, Benjamin Fassenot • April 22, 2020 -
To keep civil infrastructure projects moving, look to the cloud
The civil engineering and construction industry cannot afford to rest on the laurels of traditional work methods when grappling with the current pandemic.
Orla Pease • April 17, 2020 -
There may be sewage in your city’s drinking water
Far too many water sources are contaminated with sewage from faulty septic systems. But actions taken today can ensure safer water quality tomorrow.
Chris Shaffner • April 14, 2020 -
Post-coronavirus economic recovery requires EV adoption
The next federal stimulus bill should include three objectives to create a healthier economy: more access to EV charging stations, electrification incentives and support of grid-level demand.
Christopher George & Jan Maceczek • April 6, 2020 -
Reimagining the chaotic urban curb
Managing urban spaces and planning for city needs of the future is a long-term undertaking. Cities must consider how to make solutions scalable for opportunities and challenges that will arise in five, 10 or 20 years.
Jon Ziglar • March 31, 2020 -
Counting scooters: The science behind micromobility fleet measurements
Understanding how many scooters are on the road means deciphering a complex and interconnected web of action and information.
David Allison • March 25, 2020 -
How to adapt public transit to COVID-19 contingencies
Cities and transit agencies are currently in a bind: Public transit service is essential, but how can it best acclimate to the circumstances surrounding coronavirus?
Amos Haggiag • March 24, 2020 -
National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases. (2020). "Novel coronavirus SARS-CoV-2" [Microscope image]. Retrieved from https://www.flickr.com/photos/nihgov/49535193876/in/album-72157713108522106/.
Using P3s for coronavirus response
We must do our part to drive cooperation between the public and private sectors, and rethink the definition of resiliency given our newfound understanding for what is at risk.
Ryan Martin • March 20, 2020 -
Cities need a multidimensional approach to 5G
Smart cities must see 5G as more than just a set of new technologies and the role of the city as more than a technology testing ground.
Eric Woods • March 16, 2020 -
davidpheat. Retrieved from https://pixabay.com/photos/cityscape-city-road-crossroad-1186069/.
If a project proposal is too good to be true, it probably is
As the saying goes, there are three kinds of lies: lies, damned lies and statistics. When developing a business case for major smart city projects, this sentiment can be difficult to overcome.
Jon Madrid Mitchell & Kara Truschel • March 12, 2020 -
"The image" by Mobilus In Mobili is licensed under CC BY-SA 2.0
This census is unlike any before — and we have reason to worry
Kenneth Prewitt, former director of the U.S. Census Bureau from 1998 to 2001, warns of fearmongering, political manipulation and mistrust threatening the validity of the 2020 count.
Kenneth Prewitt • March 9, 2020 -
Will solar work for low-income communities?
Solar for low- and moderate-income customers should either provide guaranteed savings or allow customers to easily withdraw from the contract at any time, the author writes.
Warren Leon • March 6, 2020 -
Entrepreneurs must focus on serving frontline populations
The world needs creative entrepreneurs operating at the nexus of community and climate to avoid worsening climate disasters and inequality.
Kevin de León, Sara Chandler • March 3, 2020 -
Municipal leaders should improve property registries to combat property blight
Hundreds of communities across the country have implemented a “vacant property registration ordinance” (VPRO) with intent to proactively receive contact information of the owner or responsible party for vacant and/or abandoned properties in their jurisdiction.
Michael Halpern • Feb. 26, 2020 -
Are smart cities actually safer?
No longer can municipalities operate in silos if they want to achieve safer communities. Now, they must integrate people, places and processes to prepare and respond thoroughly.
Ralph Diment • Feb. 25, 2020 -
In the case of Uber vs. LA, here's why you should bet on LA
Traditionally, Uber has had the tools to win a fight like the one it's facing over its Jump scooters and bikes in Los Angeles. But things have changed.
Bradley Tusk • Updated Feb. 19, 2020 -
Retrieved from Lyft on March 29, 2018
The future of mobility must be more inclusive
Mobility-related innovation seems to cater to young city dwellers with disposable income. New solutions must consider the needs of all Americans, not just a select few.
Jon Sadow • Feb. 13, 2020 -
Dallas should embrace scooters and reject arbitrary regulations
To make Dallas more accessible and clean, city council should increase the number of scooters allowed on the streets and steer clear from unreasonable ordinances.
Chris Marchese • Feb. 10, 2020 -
Responding to ransomware: Questions government business and tech leaders should ask
When confronted with ransomware attacks that hold government data hostage, public leaders are forced to decide between paying the ransom or being without government services until they can be restored or rebuilt.
Feb. 7, 2020 -
The exit of NYC's transit chief is a loss of visionary leadership
In a world where governments let systems crumble under growing financial and political pressures, Andy Byford's people-focused leadership often felt kismet. It shouldn't have.
Micah Kotch • Feb. 6, 2020 -
If we want smart cities, we need to double down on rail transit
A robust, rail-centric network should remain the backbone into which other transportation modes, like autonomous shuttles, ride-sharing and scooters, can feed.
Marc Buncher • Feb. 3, 2020
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