The U.S. Department of Transportation (U.S. DOT) has released a report titled "Putting People First – Smart Cities and Communities."
The report covers the benefits, goals, challenges, and success factors associated with smart cities and communities (SC&C) and gives a glimpse of the path forward.
According to the U.S. DOT Intelligent Transportation Systems Joint Program Office (ITS JPO), SC&Cs use advanced information and communications technologies to find new ways to solve problems like potholes and pollution, traffic and parking, public health and safety, and equity and public engagement.
SC&Cs create an intelligent and integrated information network by applying sensors and wireless communications technologies to infrastructure, vehicles, wearables, and any number of physical devices. They use this network to receive, analyze, and share data in real time to make better decisions and provide more responsive, efficient, and data-driven services.
The Putting People First – Smart Cities and Communities report outlines the three hallmarks for establishing an SC&C:
- Networks: They use networks of sensors to gather and integrate data that can be used for various applications and citizen services.
- Connectivity: They use connectivity to enable city officials to interact directly with the community and to monitor and manage city infrastructure.
- Open Data: They are committed to an open data philosophy and routinely share operations and planning data with the public.
In addition, the report highlights some of the forward-thinking ways that communities are applying SC&C concepts along with how the U.S. DOT is supporting those efforts. It shares results from a survey of more than 50 American cities on their use of SC&C technologies.
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SOURCE: U.S. DOT Intelligent Transportation Systems Joint Program Office
