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Smart City Expo: think digital, think green, think inclusion

The first day of the online event confirmed that the smart cities sector is well aware of its destination but it’s how it gets there that will be the problem.

SmartCitiesWorld City Profile – Chicago

Chicago is looking to smart city technology to solve issues including poverty, inequality and racial segregation.

Smart Cities News

Chicago airport teams to explore sustainable energy options

Air Travel21 Mar 2024

The NREL will advise the CDA airport authority on environmentally sustainable initiatives for new passenger facilities planned through its O’Hare 21 project.

Chicago climate infrastructure grants boost resilience

Climate action06 Feb 2024

The 22 small businesses and nonprofits receive between $75,000 to $250,000 and focus on areas such as renewable energy electric vehicles and green stormwater.

Chicago awarded $20m for green bus programme

Economic Development09 Jan 2024

Transition to low- and zero-emission vehicles is part of the City’s commitment to the health and wellbeing of children and families and improving air quality.

Chicago launches innovation taskforce for city transformation

Policymaking27 Oct 2023

Chicago Taskforce on Innovation and Technology brings together a coalition of public and private sector organisations to resolve Chicago’s most critical issues.

Chicago considers launch of municipally owned grocery store

Inclusivity15 Sep 2023

The mayor has announced a partnership with the Economic Security Project, a national non-profit dedicated to building economic power for all Americans.

Bezos commits $400m to green spaces in US communities

Parks and green space21 Jul 2023

The Bezos Earth Fund’s Greening America’s Cities initiative aims to enhance underserved urban US communities with more parks, trees and community gardens.

Chicago announces campaign to address its “device gap”

Inclusivity20 Jul 2023

Mayor Brandon Johnson wants the city’s business community and large organisations to donate unwanted computers and laptops to families who need a device.

Climate change investment opportunity in Baltimore

Climate action14 Jun 2023

The 2c2i programme is making hundreds of thousands of dollars available to startups to pursue inventive climate solutions in the Baltimore region and beyond.

Chicago advances commitment to environmental justice for all

Policymaking12 May 2023

The city will build on the groundwork already done to remedy the harms caused by pollution and other burdens for generations of residents and communities.

Village of Justice implements smart poles and lighting

Lighting05 May 2023

As Viper Networks’ second major project in the Greater Chicago area, the first phase will include installation of 10 smart poles and 225 LED smart streetlights.

Chicago awards $54m to revitalise areas and commercial corridors

Economic Development03 May 2023

The grants aim to help the city revitalise commercial corridors, fund climate resilience, build community-wealth and spur transit-oriented development.

Chicago commits $42m to municipal fleet electrification

Electric vehicles26 Apr 2023

The initiative will transition 100 per cent of Chicago’s municipal fleet to zero-emission vehicles by 2035 and also support the city’s climate action plan.

Illinois utilities modernise by sharing metering network

Data management & software08 Mar 2023

The aim is to use the existing Itron advanced metering infrastructure multi-purpose network to support smart tech and streamline natural gas meter reading.

Illinois aims to build smarter multimodal transport systems

Road travel03 Mar 2023

The state DoT has awarded a $1.2m contract to Iteris to provide project management services to support its long-term transport plan and make travel accessible to all.

Chicago’s O’Hare Airport unveils smart window installation

Air Travel07 Feb 2023

View Smart Windows use artificial intelligence to optimise the amount of natural light while minimising heat and glare and reducing energy consumption.

Chicago launches climate fund for nonprofits and small business

Climate action21 Dec 2022

The Climate Infrastructure Fund will provide funding for a range of climate-focused strategies including renewable energy and energy efficiency improvements.

Chicago launches phase one of $10m equitable transit programme

Economic Development25 Nov 2022

Supported by funding from the Chicago Recovery Plan, it will finance community-led, equitable development near stations and high-frequency bus corridors.

Net-zero Smart Neighbourhoods planned for Chicago metro area

Planning and redevelopment28 Oct 2022

Nicor Gas and Southern Company are partnering with Habitat for Humanity to build the smart communities, which will use a combination of renewable, electric and natural gas technologies.

City of Chicago commits to procuring 100% renewable energy

Batteries and renewables09 Aug 2022

Agreement includes a five-year term with electricity supplier Constellation, a solar project which will create hundreds of jobs, and procurement of renewable energy credits to power small to medium-sized buildings and streetlights.

Chicago releases data-driven plan for citywide equity

News15 Jul 2022

“We Will” is a draft 10-year framework, which includes approximately 40 goals and 150 objectives, devised to tackle social inequities and build thriving communities.

City of Chicago announces IT modernisation programme

Inclusivity27 Jun 2022

It aims to deliver more accessible citizen services as well as enable greater transparency through broader access to data and empower citizens with new tools.

Chicago launches $5.3m home and business security programme

Citizen security07 Jun 2022

The City of Chicago will provide select rebates to reimburse the costs of private security devices such as cameras and motion-sensor lighting to protect property and increase public safety.

Chicago appoints council to address digital divide

Inclusivity09 May 2022

The cross-sector, community-driven effort aims to understand and tackle the nuanced barriers to digital equity and close Chicago’s digital divide once and for all.

New urban climate action plans and targets emerge

Editor's Blog29 Apr 2022

With cities on the frontline of climate change, it is vital that we continue to see new initiatives, strategies and policies forming globally to combat pollution and heat, and become more resilient and sustainable over time.

Chicago sets target to reduce emissions by nearly two-thirds

Climate action25 Apr 2022

It is one of the commitments in the city’s 2022 climate action plan for which it sought input from citizens by hosting listening sessions, virtual town halls, and an open comment period.

Chicago unveils citywide vision for connected trails and corridors

Parks and green space04 Apr 2022

The mayor wants to connect a network of trails to transit, housing and parks, creating new outdoor assets and contributing to a range of community-led green infrastructure projects.

Chicago completes $160m streetlight project

News11 Feb 2022

Project is understood to be the largest city-led wireless smart streetlight programme in the US and connects approximately 280,000 streetlight fixtures across Chicago.

Chicago’s buildings notch up 25 per cent reduction in emissions

Commercial buildings04 Feb 2022

Achievement is revealed in the 2020 Chicago Energy Benchmarking Report, which details an analysis of nearly 2,900 properties spanning over 720 million square feet across the city.

Cities recognised for their use of data to inform policy and funding decisions

Policymaking15 Dec 2021

Bloomberg Philanthropies’ certification celebrates US local governments that are leading the nation in the use of data and evidence to improve services, create operational efficiencies, and engage residents.

Chicago awards microgrants to equitable transit pilot projects

News25 Oct 2021

The mayor has recognised 11 community-driven ventures that promote healthy, walkable, and affordable neighbourhoods in the inaugural Etod programme to support project construction near transit stations.

Chicago consortium forges smart city agreement with lighting and pole provider

News16 Aug 2021

The project is commencing in the cities of Palos Hills and Justice, gradually adding infrastructure with a target roll-out of approximately 2,000 smart poles by the second half of 2022.

Chicago street furniture used to launch air quality sensing pilot

News20 Jul 2021

Data from sensors will be accessible to the public on smartphones by scanning a QR code and will also be fed into the Chicago Open Data portal.

Tokyo named most innovative city in annual ranking

News09 Jul 2021

The win was attributed to strong technology application, digital capability and pandemic performance and, for the first time in 14 years, more than half of the top 100 cities were from the US.

Northwestern University strikes deal to deliver energy savings

News08 Jul 2021

The strategic partnership with cleantech integrator Ameresco will help the Evanston-based institution address its energy-related deferred maintenance challenges with no up-front capital required.

Chicago announces first net-zero high-rise for Loop site

News16 Jun 2021

The $102m, 20-story structure, planned by the Community Builders at Van Buren Street and Plymouth Court, was announced winner of Chicago’s C40 Reinventing Cities competition.

Chicago launches violence reduction dashboard

News27 May 2021

New crime data visualisation tool aims to provide city residents and community organisations with unprecedented access to close to real-time violence data.

Chicago mayor announces plans for a green recovery

News27 Apr 2021

Lori Lightfoot is advancing four strategies that aim to help Chicago achieve its 2025 and 2035 clean energy targets as well as maximise local benefits to communities.

New York City taxis integrated into the Transit app

News25 Mar 2021

It follows integration of the transport app with taxi mobility platform Curb which allows riders to get real-time estimated arrival times for the nearest taxis.

US, Brazil, Canada lagging in shift to clean energy, International Renewable Energy Agency warns

News24 Sep 2020

International Renewable Energy Agency partners with World Economic Forum to support sustainable energy’s future

Singapore tops smart city ranking for second year running

News17 Sep 2020

The 2020 Smart City Index measures citizens’ perceptions of the impact that technology has on their lives, surveying them on areas such as governance, health and safety, mobility and opportunities.

Ignite Cities supports vulnerable families with Covid-19 wi-fi programme

News11 Sep 2020

The project, which has launched in Chicago, Columbia, Miami and New Orleans, provides wi-fi access locations and relief for families struggling through the pandemic.

City of Chicago issues $200m RFP for renewable energy supplier

News04 Sep 2020

It has committed to ensuring that all City-owned buildings will be powered by 100 per cent renewable energy by 2025 and also wants to stimulate the local green economy.

US cities pledge to play their part in supporting global trillion trees movement

News27 Aug 2020

The cities of Boise, Dallas, Detroit and Tucson are among those committing to help combat extreme heat and wildfires, as well as other adverse effects of climate change, by protecting and planting more trees.

Which US states are on the Covid-19 Watch List?

News17 Aug 2020

Urban Footprint has combined datasets to help governments and frontline organisations better understand where spikes may happen next and plan ahead to deliver relief and essential resources.

My kinda town

Editor's Blog02 Aug 2020

Like many US cities, Chicago is facing some tough challenges but it can look to its favourite adopted son as an example of how a single-minded focus can change fortunes for the better.

SmartCitiesWorld City Profile – Chicago

Smart Cities Reports01 Aug 2020

Chicago is looking to smart city technology to solve issues including poverty, inequality and racial segregation.

Chicago introduces further reforms to cut air pollution and boost growth

News28 Jul 2020

City authorities will use data – measured over time – to determine where and how it can ensure an appropriate balance of industrial economic growth, environmental quality, and good jobs.

Rockefeller Foundation pledges $10m to promote inclusive growth in 10 US cities

News16 Jun 2020

A new collective will take a “place-based approach” to creating economic equity for low-wage workers through structural and systemic change in 10 locations across the US.

Chicago develops app to communicate directly with those who may be Covid-19 positive

News30 Apr 2020

As well as provide important information and guidance, the Chi Covid Coach could also help with the city’s forward-looking strategy to develop a registry for a future vaccine.

Chicago strengthens EV charging measures for new buildings

News29 Apr 2020

The Electric Vehicle Supply Equipment-Ready ordinance updates the city’s municipal code to increase the number of private parking spaces equipped with EV-charging capacity.

Bogota ranked as 2019's most congested city

News09 Mar 2020

Drivers in the Colombian capital lose 191 hours a year to congestion, according to the 2019 Inrix Global Traffic Scorecard, which identifies and analyses trends in more than 900 cities.

Sidewalk Labs unveils digital twin and 'Lego' vision for 35-storey timber building

News10 Feb 2020

Sidewalk Labs claims 35 storeys would be the highest mass timber building so far. The team modelled how it would perform compared to a traditional concrete building of the same size.

Chicago reduces emissions by 15 per cent between 2005-2017

News10 Feb 2020

To further its environmental efforts, the city has also purchased 95,000 renewable energy credits to reduce its reliance on electricity and natural gas.

Report ranks world’s most innovation-friendly cities

News29 Nov 2019

The Big Apple leapfrogged last year’s leaders, Tokyo, London and San Francisco.

Citi commits $2 million to expand financial inclusion support for citizens with disabilities

News12 Nov 2019

The participating cities are New York, Boston, Chicago, Los Angeles and San Francisco.

Smart cities must be accessible by design

Special Reports01 Nov 2019

While technology can help improve life in cities for people with disabilities, there’s a risk that without adequate oversight and appropriate input, it could widen inequality. Three city leaders share their ideas!

Accenture expands its innovation footprint in Chicago

News21 Oct 2019

The global consulting firm is launching a new Industry X.0 Studio to help accelerate the development of smart connected products and services “from months to weeks”.

Chicago Mayor proposes merging tech and fleet departments to save $1 million

News16 Oct 2019

Mayor Lightfoot says the move will save money and drive efficiencies. Chicago’s former CDO called it a “terrible decision".

Pioneering cities demonstrate fundamentals for PPP success

Opinions10 Oct 2019

Shobhit Jain, Director of Product Innovation at HERE Technologies, shares his insights on how to succeed with public-private partnerships.

30 cities say their greenhouse gas emissions have peaked

News08 Oct 2019

Austin, Athens, Lisbon and Venice are the latest major cities to have ‘peaked’ their greenhouse gas emissions, meaning they won’t rise any further and are now falling.

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