Tech & Data: Page 7

  • Side view of a two-door car parked at night with people sitting at tables on the sidewalk.
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    Courtesy of Tesla Motors
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    Tesla promises driverless robotaxi by 2027

    CEO Elon Musk also announced that fully autonomous versions of Tesla's Model 3 and Model Y vehicles would begin driverless tests in California and Texas next year.

    By • Oct. 11, 2024
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    On technology buys, it’s important that agency stakeholders work together throughout the process

    Teamwork is essential when cities and counties plan to buy new systems and equipment, says Gary Mitchell, director of SLED (state, local and education) business development at Iron Mountain Government Solutions, a company that provides secure management of data and assets; it works to protect, connect and activate high-value customer data.

    By Michael Keating • Oct. 8, 2024
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    Trendline

    Smart Cities Technology and Data

    Cities are increasingly looking to technology and data to address real-world issues from traffic safety to law enforcement.

    By Smart Cities Dive staff
  • Two autonomous vehicles with Avride and Uber branding
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    Courtesy of Avride
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    Uber inks deal to bring delivery robots, robotaxis to several cities

    To start, Uber Eats will deliver orders with Avride’s sidewalk robots in Austin, Texas, before expanding to two other cities. 

    By Aneurin Canham-Clyne • Oct. 8, 2024
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    Sponsored by RUBICONSmartCity, now part of Routeware

    How AI is helping cities drive improvements in infrastructure and citizen satisfaction

    Equipping vehicles to look for critical infrastructure and quality-of-life issues that can plague communities helps city partners deliver proactive government and equitable public service across all zip codes.

    Oct. 7, 2024
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    Column

    Modernizing municipal IT infrastructure: A vital defense against cyber threats

    This summer, Flint, Mich., became the latest in a growing list of U.S. municipalities to fall victim to a ransomware attack. This incident, which took city services offline for weeks, is a stark reminder of the vulnerabilities many local governments face in an increasingly hostile cyber landscape.

    By Andy Lin • Oct. 3, 2024
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    Permission granted by Dahlia Katz
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    A hit show on Toronto’s failed smart city project returns to the stage

    The award-winning play, “The Master Plan,” dramatizes the city’s fractured relationship with then-Google subsidiary Sidewalk Labs.

    By David Silverberg • Oct. 3, 2024
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    What’s the value of a city’s nature? San Antonio pilots tool to find out.

    Designed by a Stanford University-based group, the tool shows how land use changes could impact carbon sequestration, urban cooling and residents’ access to nature. More cities may eventually get access.

    By Ysabelle Kempe • Oct. 3, 2024
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    Column

    Advancements in police technology have fundamentally changed how departments operate

    Consider the technology that makes effective policing possible. Where would we be without the ability to conduct DNA testing—or even fingerprint suspects?

    By Dean Cunningham • Oct. 1, 2024
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    2025’s top smart city conferences

    Smart city technology, housing, climate action, transportation, public safety and more take center stage at events in 2025.

    By • Updated June 27, 2025
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    FMCSA Provided

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    Sponsored by FMCSA

    FMCSA’s grant award season: Millions allocated to improve highway safety

    Learn about federal grant opportunities and how your organization can apply.

    Sept. 30, 2024
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    Everyone, including top leaders, need to be on-board when agencies install new technology

    New systems installations need to go smoothly, says Steve Witt, director of public sector at Nintex, a global provider of process and workflow automation software with clients that include public sector entities, including the U.S. Department of Defense, city of Denver, the federal Veterans Administration and the U.S. Air Force. Go to the following link for information on Nintex’s work with governments.

    By Michael Keating • Sept. 27, 2024
  • A driver seen through the windshield of a car. The driver is adjusting a device on the dashboard that reads "lyft."
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    Kelly Sullivan via Getty Images
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    Lyft tackles rideshare drivers’ EV range anxiety

    Smartcar’s technology will ensure electric vehicle drivers only receive ride requests in their current battery range, Lyft says.

    By Benton Graham • Sept. 25, 2024
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    Connected vehicle tech could help nationwide e-tolling, officials say

    Public and industry leaders have long noted obstacles in regional wireless transponder networks and a goal to achieve more seamless travel.

    By David Taube • Sept. 25, 2024
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    18 startups tested innovative tech in New York’s transportation systems. Here are the results.

    Better curb management, transit resiliency and transit user experience were among the goals of the Transit Tech Lab experiments.

    By • Sept. 24, 2024
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    Column

    Smarter, safer streets: How data and technology can save lives on U.S. roads

    In the years after the COVID-19 pandemic upended daily life, a disturbing trend emerged on America’s roads: driving became significantly more dangerous.

    By Lew Miller • Sept. 23, 2024
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    Brandon Bell via Getty Images
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    NOAA, Climate Mayors ink agreement to bring more science, data tools to communities

    The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration will ensure the mayors can access the latest climate information, while Climate Mayors will contribute to NOAA case studies on resilience. 

    By Ysabelle Kempe • Sept. 23, 2024
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    Chicago’s transit authority looks to AI-powered gun detection to help curb violent crime

    As part of a continuing effort to curb violent crime and enhance security for riders, the Chicago Transit Authority announced Aug. 29 it would begin utilizing an artificial intelligence (AI)-powered gun detection technology in some of its existing digital security cameras.

    By • Sept. 20, 2024
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    Governments need to plan for the entire product lifecycle when they purchase technology today

    When they buy technology, cities and counties will often face multiple issues, says Dean Cunningham, segment development manager, Public Safety at Axis Communications, a company that produces network cameras, access control systems, network audio devices and other IP networking solutions for physical security and video surveillance applications. The firm offers solutions for cities, other governments and corrections.

    By Michael Keating • Sept. 18, 2024
  • A person in a button down shirt and jacket stands in front of a bridge and city skyline.
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    Permission granted by Steve Zylius of University of California, Irvine
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    In a sea of flood-risk data, how can cities know which information to use?

    A Los Angeles County debate spotlights the uncertainty of climate-risk models. Experts weigh in on best practices for local leaders.

    By Ysabelle Kempe • Sept. 17, 2024
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    Nevada has a large backlog of unemployment benefits appeals. It’s banking on AI to help.

    Nevada has been buried in a backlog of unemployment benefits appeals that began flowing into the state’s Department of Employment, Training, and Rehabilitation (DETR) during the pandemic. The state thinks artificial intelligence (AI) may be the answer to digging itself out.

    By • Sept. 16, 2024
  • View from inside a driverless vehicle approaching a crosswalk with people on bicycles.
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    Mario Tama via Getty Images
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    Uber and Waymo to bring robotaxis to Atlanta and Austin, Texas

    The announcement is part of Uber's larger effort to partner with autonomous vehicle and technology companies.

    By • Sept. 16, 2024
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    Opinion

    How to build awareness of flood risk and gain buy-in for flood control measures

    Floods are one of the most devastating events to strike a community—costly in terms of lives lost, damaged or destroyed homes, economic disruption, and damage to critical infrastructure. However, improvements in technology are helping local governments provide accurate assessments of flood risk, so steps can be taken to provide early and accurate warning of flood events, minimize potential losses, and improve outcomes and overall resilience after a flood occurs.

    By Katherine Osborne • Sept. 13, 2024
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    Governments should look under the hood to make sure their IT systems are safe from cyber criminals

    Cities and counties should take a close look at their entire IT setup to ensure security against cyber threats, says Josh Koenig, co-founder & chief strategy officer at Pantheon, a website operations platform that offers tools that enable building Drupal and WordPress cloud-based sites with streamlined workflows, scalable infrastructure, and a fast, efficient content delivery network. The company provides web-hosting solutions to governments.

    By Michael Keating • Sept. 12, 2024
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    Column

    Securing cloud applications in government’s multi-cloud world

    Local and state governments have increasingly embraced a multi-cloud strategy, providing them with greater resiliency than ever before and helping avoid vendor lock-in.

    By Brian McHenry • Sept. 10, 2024
  • A diverse group of people stand around a table where a person in a blue pantsuit signs papers.
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    Courtesy of Retail, Wholesale and Department Store Union
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    New York enacts panic-button law to counter crime in stores

    The bill signed by Gov. Kathy Hochul, which requires a host of safety measures to address store-based crime, was opposed by key retail trade groups.

    By Daphne Howland • Sept. 9, 2024