28 municipalities recognized for success in leveraging emerging technology and innovation to support Smart City initiatives

IDC Government Insights named finalists this week in the fourth annual Smart Cities North America Awards (SCNAA). The awards were designed to recognize the progress North American municipalities have made in executing Smart Cities projects, as well as providing a forum for sharing best practices to help accelerate Smart City development in the region. Finalists include cities, states, counties and universities.

As the next step in the nomination process, IDC invites the public to vote on the named finalists at https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/SCNAA_2021. Voting will be open through 5:00 pm EDT on Friday, July 2nd. Winners will be honored at Smart Cities Connect, which will be held October 19th–21st at the Gaylord National Hotel & Convention Center in National Harbor, MD. To learn more about the event, please visit https://fall.smartcitiesconnect.org.

Finalists in the SCNAA illustrate best practice examples of how forward-thinking municipalities are effectively leveraging technology and innovation to offer new services and economic opportunities and to meet the needs and expectations of citizens and residents. 28 municipalities are recognized for unprecedented progress in creating and sustaining smart city projects across the following 11 categories:

1. Administration (e.g., Back Office, Digital Legislating)

• ePermits – Harris County Engineering Department, Harris County, TX
• Digital Transformation and Modernization – City of Baton Rouge and Parish of East Baton Rouge, LA

2. Civic Engagement (e.g., Open Data, City Portals, 311 apps)

• myKCMO – City of Kansas City, MO
• Smart City Open Data Challenge – City of Mississauga, ON
• Arizona State University Smart City Innovation Lab – ASU, Scottsdale, AZ

3. Digital Equity and Accessibility (e.g., Public WiFi, Accessibility Services, ADA Compliance)

• Ocala Fiber Network (OFN) – Ocala, FL
• Internet for All Coalition’s Operation Connectivity Initiative – Dallas Independent School District, Dallas, TX

4. Education (e.g., Smart Campus, Smart Classrooms, Virtual Offerings, Online and Remote Services)

• Eugene School District 4J Comprehensive Distance Learning Technology Plan – Eugene School District 4J, Eugene, OR
• Digital Canopy – City of Toronto, ON

5. Public Health and Social Services

• Montgomery County 311 and HHS COVID-19 vaccination chatbots – Montgomery County, MD
• CARES Housing Assistance Program (CHAP) – Clark County, NV
• NYCx Co-Labs: Accessible Mental Health Challenge – NYC Mayor's Office of the Chief Technology Officer, New York, NY

6. Public Safety (e.g., Real-time Crime Centers, Officer Wearables, Video Analytics, NextGen 911, Early Warning Systems)

• Jefferson Parish Sheriff's Office, Digital Forensics Unit – Jefferson Parish, LA
• Impact of Analytic Solutions when Identifying Individuals of Interest - Peel Regional Police Service, Mississauga, ON
• Baton Rouge Real-Time Crime Center – City of Baton Rouge and Parish of East Baton Rouge, LA
• Smart City and Parks – City of Las Vegas, NV

7. Smart Buildings (e.g., Capacity Planning, Return-to-Work Programs, Sustainability and Security Systems)

• NYCx Co-Labs: Housing Rights Challenge – NYC Mayor's Office of the Chief Technology Officer, New York, NY
• EV Innovation Project – Colorado Smart Cities Alliance, City of Boulder, CO

8. Sustainable Infrastructure (e.g., Smart Water, Smart Lighting, Waste Collection, Environmental Monitoring, Resiliency)

• Advanced Water Metering Infrastructure – City of Santa Ana, CA
• Smart Water Meter Infrastructure Project – City of Jacksonville, TX

9. Transportation (e.g., Connected & Autonomous Vehicles, Public Transit, Ride-Hailing/Ride-Sharing)

• Automated Deficiency Reporting on Roads using AI on Municipal Vehicles – City of Markham, ON
• Curiosity Lab at Peachtree Corners – Peachtree Corners, GA

10. Transportation Infrastructure (e.g., Parking, Transit Hubs; Traffic Management and Equipment for Connected and/or Autonomous Vehicles)

• Agency-wide Transportation Management Software – The Port Authority of New York and New Jersey
• Transoft Solutions – City of Bellevue, WA
• Pedestrian Analysis of the MLK Smart Corridor – City of Chattanooga, TN

11. Urban Planning and Land Use (e.g., Permitting, Licensing, Inspection & Zoning; Digital Twins, Community Resiliency)

• Using Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning to Inspect City Roadways – Office of Innovation & Technology, City of Philadelphia, PA
• Unified E-Permitting: State & Local – State of Rhode Island
• Economic Recovery and Revitalization Initiative Digital Engagement and Services – City of Carlsbad, CA

"This year we are especially excited to showcase the municipalities that, despite the challenges of a global pandemic, successfully executed a smart city initiative for the betterment of its citizens," said Ruthbea Yesner, vice president, Smart Cities and Communities Strategies. "Now in its fourth year, SCNAA has become a benchmark for success across cities, states, counties, and universities and serves as a best practice example of how, when applied thoughtfully and strategically, innovative technology can work hand in hand with citizens to bring about radical change."

For additional information about these awards or to speak with Ruthbea Yesner, please contact Sarah Murray at 781-378-2674 or sarah@attunecommunications.com.

About IDC Government Insights

IDC Government Insights assists government policy, program, and IT leaders, as well as the suppliers who serve them, in making more effective technology decisions by providing accurate, timely, and insightful fact-based research and consulting services. Staffed by senior analysts with decades of government and IT industry experience, our global research analyzes and advises on business and technology issues facing the Federal/Central and local/provincial Governments. International Data Corporation (IDC) is the premier global provider of market intelligence, advisory services, and events for the information technology market. IDC is a subsidiary of IDG, the world's leading tech media, data, and marketing services company. For more information, please visit www.idc-gi.com or email info@idc-gi.com.

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IDC Government Insights named finalists this week in the fourth annual Smart Cities North America Awards (SCNAA).