Municipalities including Boulder, Ocala, and New York City recognized for success in leveraging emerging technology and innovation to support Smart City initiatives

IDC Government Insights named winners 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 and universities such as Arizona State University, Las Vegas, and Philadelphia. Winners will be honored at Smart Cities Connect, to 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.

Winners 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. The following 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

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

• Arizona State University Smart City Innovation Lab – Arizona State University, Scottsdale, AZ

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

• Ocala Fiber Network (OFN) – Ocala, FL

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

5. Public Health and Social Services

• CARES Housing Assistance Program (CHAP) – Clark County, NV

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

• Smart City and Parks – City of Las Vegas, NV

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

• 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

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

• 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)

• Pedestrian Analysis of the MLK Smart Corridor – Center for Urban Informatics and Progress at the University of Tennessee-Chattanooga, 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

"We are thrilled to shine a spotlight on the winners of our fourth annual SCNAA; forward-thinking municipalities underpinned by strong leadership, innovative technology, and commitment to the public that executed and sustained successful smart city initiatives amid challenging times," said Ruthbea Yesner, vice president, IDC Government Insights and Smart Cities and Communities Strategies. "We look forward to continuing our dedicated award program to encourage continued innovation among smart city initiatives and usher in the next generation of thought leaders and change makers across North America."

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 winners this week in the fourth annual Smart Cities North America Awards (SCNAA).