Bill Gates is building his own smart city in Arizona

The billionaire's investment firm spent $80 million on a 24,800-acre plot of land outside of Phoenix to develop the "forward-thinking community."

By Kristin Musulin • Nov. 13, 2017

Overlooking risk until it's too late is no longer an option

Being proactive in the ways we plan our cities is a battle against inertia. Fixing problems might be too expensive, politically trying or emotionally taxing. 

By Johanna Hoffman • Nov. 13, 2017

Explore the Trendline➔

Top 5 stories from Smart Cities Dive

From worsening climate change to a shifting transportation landscape and the housing affordability crisis, cities have their work cut out for them.

By Smart Cities Dive staff

How 5 local governments just expanded their recycling programs

As a small number of cities cut back amid market uncertainties, others from San Francisco to Chattanooga, TN, are forging ahead.

By Cole Rosengren • Nov. 8, 2017

Nashville, TN uses tech to study dwindling tree numbers

The city's population boom has led to developers cutting down trees to build new structures.

By Katie Pyzyk • Nov. 7, 2017

The disappearance of the modern-day 'gayborhood'

Shifts in economics and mainstream acceptance are prompting LGBT business owners to leave their well-known neighborhoods.

By Katie Pyzyk • Nov. 7, 2017

Federal report: It’s ‘extremely likely’ that humans cause climate change

The report says there is "no convincing alternative explanation" for global warming over the last century.

By Katie Pyzyk • Nov. 6, 2017

Boston-area transit spends $101M in weather resilience investments

The money has been spent on winter preparations for the Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority over a nearly three-year period.

By Katie Pyzyk • Nov. 6, 2017

San Francisco outlines comprehensive flood resilience strategy

The city has proposed $700 million of flood work to be included in the Sewer System Improvement Program over the next 15 years.

By Kristin Musulin • Nov. 3, 2017

Trump dubs November Critical Infrastructure Security and Resilience Month

Despite calling for the need to safeguard national infrastructure, the president still has yet to relay any further details on his $1 trillion plan for public works.

By Kim Slowey • Nov. 3, 2017

3 charts that illustrate the health impact of global climate change

A new report outlines how a response to climate change indicators, such as air pollution and climate-sensitive infectious diseases, can impact public health.

By Kristin Musulin • Nov. 1, 2017

Louisville, KY project will examine links between health and greening cities

Up to 8,000 trees and plants will be added to four neighborhoods, and researchers will track the health of residents in those areas for five years.

By Katie Pyzyk • Oct. 31, 2017

Study: NYC home to most sustainable urban transit in North America

In the global index, New York ranked 23rd, indicating that North American cities are falling behind European and Asian cities due to a car-centric culture.

By Kristin Musulin • Oct. 30, 2017

Saudi Arabia announces $500B plan to build a new megacity

Leaders are talking with global companies like Amazon and Alibaba to develop technologies for the new city.

By Katie Pyzyk • Oct. 30, 2017

Audit: Sending Honolulu's recycling to waste-to-energy could save millions

Under its current contract with Covanta, Honolulu has to pay a fine if it doesn't supply enough waste for combustion — something that it's failed to do multiple times since 2013.

By Cody Boteler • Oct. 30, 2017

NRDC report: Majority of food waste in city households is edible

Produce and leftovers were the most commonly wasted items following intensive research in New York, Denver and Nashville, TN.

By Cole Rosengren • Oct. 26, 2017

Improving city air quality with hyperlocal data from smart sensor networks

Combined with a new generation of low-cost sensors, the hyperlocal data needed to widen the adoption of innovations could soon be a reality.

By Keith Day • Oct. 24, 2017

Atlanta to offer property owners $500M in bonds for clean energy projects

The bonds will be available for projects related to energy efficiency, water conservation and renewable energy.

By Katie Pyzyk • Oct. 24, 2017

12 major cities sign declaration to promote clean transit

By signing the Fossil-Fuel Free Streets Declaration, mayors pledged to transition to zero-emissions buses and extend green city areas.

By Kristin Musulin • Oct. 23, 2017

‘I still worry’: City utility leaders reflect on impact of Flint water crisis

Representatives from five water service providers spoke out on how the crisis, which started making headlines two years ago, affected their cities.

By Katie Pyzyk • Oct. 19, 2017

Oh, rats: Chicago tops list of rodent-infested US cities

The rodents are more prevalent in homes and businesses during the cooler months.

By Katie Pyzyk • Oct. 18, 2017

Volunteers in Pittsburgh's 'Garbage Olympics' collect thousands of pounds of trash

Volunteers from five neighborhoods spent hours collecting and disposing of litter, perhaps signaling increased resident buy-in of the importance of solid waste management.

By Cody Boteler • Oct. 16, 2017

Municipal cans, rats and recycling: Challenges and success stories from Baltimore

Three waste and recycling officials from Baltimore recently gave their takes on what Baltimore is doing well, and what challenges remain for the city.

By Cody Boteler • Oct. 3, 2017

How Bigbelly is leveraging its compactors for smart city solutions

The Boston-based company, known for its solar-powered trash compactors, is now looking at ways to leverage the thousands of units deployed across cities.

By Cody Boteler • Sept. 29, 2017

Top execs: Future of recycling to be driven by franchise contracts and revenue sharing

Executives from Waste Management, Republic Services and Casella discussed their preferences during the Resource Recycling Conference.

By Cole Rosengren • Sept. 1, 2017

The 500-year storm: Quantifying Harvey’s destruction

In the first part of this multi-part series, Smart Cities Dive takes a look at the damage Houston has suffered from Hurricane Harvey — and the remediation efforts that will need to follow.

By Kristin Musulin • Aug. 31, 2017