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IDC announces North American smart city award winners
With 20 municipalities recognised, IDC said it demonstrates the commitment by local government officials and technology suppliers in collaborating to develop smart city initiatives for the betterment of all.
Smart intersections, connected parks and the use of machine learning to deliver food to families in need are among the winning projects in the IDC Government Insights fifth annual Smart Cities North America Awards (SCNAA).
Almost 20 municipalities have been recognised for using emerging technology in smart city initiatives in the awards, which showcase the progress North American municipalities have made in executing smart cities projects. They also provide a forum for sharing best practices to help accelerate Smart City development in the region.
Meeting citizen needs
IDC said the winners 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.
“It is inspiring to recognise nearly 20 municipalities in our annual SCNAA for outstanding and innovative smart city initiatives designed to support improved experiences for the public,” said Ruthbea Yesner, vice president, IDC Government Insights and Smart Cities and Communities Strategies.
She added: “We are thrilled to witness continued advancements in technology, purpose built to support smart city initiatives, an increased interest in these projects from leadership, and an overall commitment by local government officials and technology suppliers in collaborating to develop smart city initiatives for the betterment of all.”
The following municipalities are recognised for “unprecedented progress” in creating and sustaining smart city projects across the following 14 categories:
Administration (for example, back office, digital legislating)
Winner: Community Officials Data Exchange CODE, City of Schenectady, New York
Civic engagement (for example, open data, city portals, 311 apps)
Winner: With You On Life’s Journey – Human Services Agency, City and County of San Francisco, California
Data-driven policing (for example, real-time crime centres, officer wearables, video analytics)
Winner: Violent Crime Evidence Based Reduction Plan, City of Dallas, Texas
Next-gen emergency services (for example, next-gen 911, early warning systems)
Winner: City of Miramar Records Management System, City of Miramar, Florida
Digital equity and accessibility (for example, public wifi, accessibility services, ADA compliance)
Winner: City of Brownsville, City of Brownsville, Texas
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Economic development (for example, connected museums, kiosks, event management)
Winner: OneBurbank Fibre Optic Infrastructure for Economic and Community Development, Burbank Water and Power, City of Burbank, California
Education (for example, smart campus, smart classrooms, virtual offerings, online and remote services)
Winner: Collaboration with Central NM Community College IoT Bootcamp, City of Albuquerque, New Mexico
Public health and social services
Winner: Utilising School Bus Routes and Machine Learning to Deliver Meals to Families in Need, County of Allegheny, Pennsylvania
Smart buildings (for example, capacity planning, return-to-work programmes, sustainability and security systems)
Winner: Mesa City Facilities Automation, City of Mesa, Arizona
Smart water (for example, Covid-19 testing, smart metering, waste reduction efforts)
Winners (tie): Connected Parks Initiative, City of Morrisville, North Carolina and Water System Mobile Field Data Management and Mapping, City of Santa Ana, California
“We are thrilled to witness continued advancements in technology, purpose built to support smart city initiatives”
Sustainable infrastructure (for example, smart water, smart lighting, waste collection, environmental monitoring, resiliency)
Winner: Syracuse Smart Street Lighting, City of Syracuse, New York
Transportation – connected and autonomous vehicles, public transit, ride-hailing/ride-sharing
Winners (tie): Virginia Beach Traffic Data-Sharing Partnership, City of Virginia Beach, Virginia and Ride powered by Via for Wilson, North Carolina, City of Wilson, North Carolina
Transportation infrastructure (for example, parking, transit hubs, traffic management and equipment for connected and/or autonomous vehicles)
Winners (tie): Move PGH – City of Pittsburg, Pennsylvania and Smart Train Avoidance, City of Lima, Ohio
Urban planning and land use (for example, permitting, licensing, inspection and zoning, digital twins, community resiliency)
Winner: Smart Intersection – Vision Zero, St Petersburg, Florida.
IDC Government Insights works with government policy, programme, and IT leaders, as well as technology suppliers, to help them make more effective technology decisions by providing fact-based research and consulting services. For more information on winning entries, go to Smart Cities North America Awards.
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