Local governments are leveraging digital twin technology to build smarter, more resilient communities. By creating real-time simulations of infrastructure, traffic, zoning, and emergency response systems, cities are transforming how they plan, manage, and invest in public services — all while maximizing the value of shrinking public funds.
State and local governments face many challenges and opportunities. Here are some ways they’re meeting them now.
We’ve identified three mega trends that anyone interested in the future of cities should care about: data as a fuel for progress, intelligent experiences, and autonomous entities. Let’s explore each.
It is important for cities to understand and adopt intelligent automation to advance their smart cities strategy, or risk falling behind.
Cities everywhere are coping with increased urbanization, and are struggling to provide mobility choices to their citizens. MaaS aims to help cities provide choice for their citizens, while facilitating smart city initiatives with cost savings and improved efficiencies.
Geographic information system (GIS) software can help create smart communities by capturing, storing, managing and presenting geographic data.
Public sector leaders need all the help that they can get in defining their Smart Cities strategy. With programs like the Smart Cities Innovation Accelerator by Harvard, it’s clear that academia is leading the way in offering this guidance.
To navigate and succeed in this digital environment will require consciously acquiring new skills, and updating existing ones. Digital Literacy is the new mantra and needed call to action for all of us.
What makes a community intelligent? How is it different from a smart city?
Local governments are recognizing that in order to innovate, they need to act upon new ideas, as well as focus on new ways of delivering services.