Smart Cities Week is currently underway in Washington, D.C. and will continue through Thursday. The first event of its kind in North America, the event highlights best practices for breaking down barriers to progress and instilling a culture of collaboration that public officials can use to improve livability, workability and sustainability in their communities. Showcase demonstrations will offer a glimpse of the next wave of innovative, integrated technologies that are helping cities save money, build more robust economies and enhance citizens’ lives.
Smart Cities Week is intended to provide knowledge, insights and ideas to improve our cities and make them safer and more productive. The event will explore solutions as we face the urgent global need for more livable, workable and sustainable cities.
Government leaders and the world’s foremost smart cities practitioners have come together for a unique, immersive event that ultimately answers the question: How can my city become a smart city? Developed by the Smart Cities Council, this unique event provides an opportunity to see, hear and experience exciting showcase demonstrations of the next wave of innovative, integrated technologies that are already helping cities around the world save money, build more robust economies and enhance citizens’ lives.
All over the world, forward-thinking cities are reporting remarkable results from smart city strategies and best practices to include:
- Reduction in traffic congestion/li>
- Cutting power outages in half/li>
- Significant reductions in energy
The new initiative is part of continuing efforts to expand and improve the country’s broadband infrastructure to help communities create jobs, provide educational opportunities for citizens, and simply connect individuals to the Internet.
Kicking-off Smart Cities Week, the Obama administration announced on Monday that it will invest more than $160 million in a new “Smart Cities” Initiative to build apps aimed at helping improve the quality of life in local communities. Among the goals are helping local communities tackle key challenge such as fighting crime, fostering economic growth, managing the effects of a changing climate, and improving the delivery of city services. The initiative is meant to help cities work with entrepreneurs, local leaders and others to create applications that can improve the communities.
