A ‘tech hub’ in your city? Commerce Department launches application process for $500M in grants

The program will focus on key technology areas such as artificial intelligence and batteries. Its first phase will designate at least 20 “tech hubs” with the potential to be globally competitive innovation centers in the next decade. 

By Ysabelle Kempe • May 15, 2023

How Bird, Lime, Spin and Superpedestrian want cities to regulate shared e-bikes and scooters

The companies’ recommendations come as many shared micromobility pilots end, and local governments make them permanent. 

By Michael Brady • May 15, 2023

Explore the Trendline➔

Smart Cities Technology and Data

Local governments are increasingly turning to predictive analytics and other technologies to solve real-world problems like homelessness and preparing for an AI-driven future.

By Smart Cities Dive staff

How Rubicon and Esri helped Columbus optimize waste collection

Rubicon and Esri teamed up to optimize waste collection and cut wait times by two-thirds in Columbus.

May 15, 2023

Chicago environmental justice order signed as mayor’s term ends

The order requires the completion of a citywide environmental justice data project, creates a new environmental justice coordinator role and calls for community engagement standards.

By Ysabelle Kempe • May 12, 2023

Portland, Oregon, to pilot zero-emission delivery zone

The project could help the city reduce climate pollution and improve public health, the Portland Bureau of Transportation said. Portland received nearly $2 million from the U.S. Department of Transportation for the project.

By Max Garland • May 9, 2023

Dallas restores core emergency dispatch systems after ransomware attack

“At this point, we do not have evidence or indication that there has been data removed during this attack,” Dallas CIO Bill Zielinski told city officials Monday.

By Matt Kapko • May 9, 2023

Uber and Lyft ridership accelerates in Q1

“After lagging other regions in the recovery through 2021 and 2022, the ride-share category in the US & Canada is now growing faster in 2023,” Uber CEO Dara Khosrowshahi said.

By Michael Brady • May 5, 2023

Dallas ransomware attack causes critical service outages

Websites for the city and Dallas Police Department, which serves a population of nearly 1.3 million people, currently show error pages.

By Matt Kapko • May 4, 2023

How governments are updating ‘operational technologies,’ including AI, and the challenges that remain: survey

Over half of the survey respondents reported their agency plans to upgrade systems by 2025, a Center for Digital Government and Samsara survey found. Operational efficiency and cost savings are a big reason why.

By Michael Brady • May 4, 2023

California spent $1.3B in cap-and-trade funds on climate, equity projects in 2022

The California Climate Investments funding addressed affordable housing, transportation, energy costs, extreme heat, fire, access to clean drinking water and more, a California Air Resources Board official said.

By Kalena Thomhave • May 2, 2023

Mobility could be transformed by 2035, with US car sales dropping 30%: report

As cities and consumers move toward new mobility options, “the mobility ecosystem will most likely undergo a transformation not seen since the early days of the automobile,” a McKinsey report says.

By Michael Brady • May 2, 2023

Delivery robot expansion hampered by ‘regulatory nightmare’

While no states outright ban delivery bots, tech developers have decided to take a cautious approach to expansion rather than flood the market with robots and risk backlash.

By Max Garland • April 28, 2023

Uber, Lyft more responsive to ride demand than taxis are during emergencies: study

“In light of our findings, service providers and city planners should reevaluate and improve their mobility platform, particularly under emergencies, disasters and hazards,” one researcher said.

By Michael Brady • April 28, 2023

Cybersecurity best practices for smart cities issued by CISA

Smart city technologies are at risk “of exploitation for espionage and for financial or political gain by malicious threat actors,” according to the U.S. Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency.

By Michael Brady • April 21, 2023

FedEx and Amazon still haven’t figured out sidewalk delivery robots. Will mass adoption ever come?

Delivery giants' tests of autonomous bots fizzled out. But many logistics experts still believe that the technology can catch on, creating potential challenges for cities.

By Max Garland • April 13, 2023

Google’s free tree canopy tool now covers hundreds more cities. Here’s how early adopters are using it.

In Austin and Chicago, the tool has helped empower and engage community members, leaders said. The tech giant plans to expand it to thousands more cities this year. 

By Ysabelle Kempe • April 13, 2023

NYC launches online portal for city services, benefits

Mayor Eric Adams said the online portal, dubbed MyCity, would make it easier for residents to apply for benefits by reducing bureaucracy and red tape.

By Michael Brady • March 31, 2023

Drone companies gearing up to meet lofty delivery goals

Zipline and Alphabet's Wing aim to scale up and reach more customers, which could soon lead to millions of deliveries each year, according to the companies.

By Max Garland • March 31, 2023

Chicago tests new parking enforcement tech, smart loading zones

Mayor Lightfoot asked the city council to consider the pilot projects to increase road safety in January, after the parents of a young girl killed in a traffic collision filed a lawsuit alleging the city allowed unsafe road conditions.

By Michael Brady • March 16, 2023

Can tech startups make delivery less of a headache for cities?

The proliferation of delivery services was a boon during the pandemic, but traffic, parking and labor concerns have followed. Tech and startup leaders spoke recently about how to reduce those impacts.

By Maylin Tu • March 13, 2023

How scale and automation can enhance employee and constituent lives—really

Government technology leaders are helping address staffing shortages and improve employee and constituent experiences, while also driving organizational and IT benefits and increasing their agencies’ agility.

March 13, 2023

Driving change: How cities can use AI to revolutionize road repair

What if there was a way to detect the problems of deteriorating roads before they become major issues?

March 13, 2023

EPA unveils cybersecurity oversight for public drinking water systems

“Cyberattacks that are targeting water systems pose a real and significant threat to our security,” said Radhika Fox, assistant administrator for the EPA Office of Water, during a teleconference with reporters.

By David Jones • March 6, 2023

White House releases national cyber strategy, shifting security burden

“We ask individuals, small businesses and local governments to shoulder a significant burden for defending us all. This isn’t just unfair, it’s ineffective,” said Kemba Walden, acting national cyber director, during a call with reporters.

By David Jones • March 3, 2023

Virginia county launches smart parking pilot

Arlington County, Virginia, has partnered with eleven-x to install approximately 5,000 sensors in on-street parking spaces, allowing drivers to use signs and an app to get real-time information about parking availability.

By Michael Brady • Feb. 17, 2023