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Tech company joins smart streetscape initiative
The NEC Corporation will contribute to the Columbia University-led initiative supporting the development of a rich ecosystem of streetscape applications.
Tech company NEC Corporation is joining the Columbia University-led initiative supporting the development of a rich ecosystem of streetscape applications.
The National Science Foundation Engineering Research Centre for Smart Streetscapes (CS3) was founded as part of a $26m, five-year grant from the US National Science Foundation (NSF) awarded to a team led by Columbia University, together with Florida Atlantic University, Rutgers University, University of Central Florida and Lehman College.
Streetscape data
It is estimated that more than half of the world’s population now lives in urban areas, which are composed of streetscapes that include neighbourhood streets, sidewalks and public spaces. These high-density areas are transforming how people live, work, travel, and manage urban infrastructure, which has given rise to challenges that threaten liveability, safety and inclusion. However, the effective collection and analysis of streetscape data promises to make important contributions to the public good.
CS3 is supporting the development of a rich ecosystem of streetscape applications that are built upon real-time, hyper-local sensing and can help to resolve the challenges being faced by urban communities.
“Cities throughout the world are sharing many of the same challenges, such as the impact from climate change, the coordination of traffic and the maintenance of important infrastructure”
“We are very excited to partner with NEC, a leading technology innovator whose commitment to developing smart cities while prioritising privacy, security, and fairness aligns with our values,” said Andrew Smyth, director and PI, NSF ERC for Smart Streetscapes and Carleton professor of civil engineering and engineering mechanics, Columbia University.
“NEC will be vital in shaping CS3’s research strategy, mentoring a globally competitive smart streetscape workforce, and facilitating partnerships with diverse stakeholders to address community-identified urban streetscape challenges.”
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NEC has a global presence in the smart city space, including the EU, India and the US, and collaborates with more than 60 municipalities in Japan while promoting infrastructure-collaborative mobility solutions with private 5G connectivity and connected and vehicle-to-everything technologies and portable private 5G solutions that can be built rapidly and temporarily. It also promotes the concept of adaptation financing for disaster prevention and mitigation in the face of climate change.
NEC has joined CS3’s Industry Advisory Board and will regularly advise the centre’s leadership on research proposals and industry engagement, participate in activities with the CS3 community and government stakeholders, and help evaluate external testbed pilot proposals. NEC will also participate as a mentor in CS3’s Startup Accelerator programme, which promotes customer discovery and validation of technologies in direct communication with local communities.
“Cities throughout the world are sharing many of the same challenges, such as the impact from climate change, the coordination of traffic and the maintenance of important infrastructure,” said Yutaka Ukegawa, corporate executive vice president and president of the Cross-Industry Business Unit, NEC Corporation.
“We are confident that this cooperation will promote solutions for social issues around the world through the synergistic effects of CS3 activities and NEC’s experience and technologies.”
NEC and CS3 will continue to address smart streetscape challenges through collaboration with diverse organisations, contributing to the future of research and innovation.
Why not try these links to see what our SmartCitiesWorld AI can tell you.
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How will NEC's private 5G solutions enhance urban mobility and connectivity?What role does real-time streetscape data play in improving public safety?How can smart streetscape applications address climate change impacts effectively?In what ways will NEC mentor startups within the CS3 Accelerator program?How does collaboration between universities and industry accelerate smart city innovation?
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