Reassessing the smart cities movement

Smart Cities Dive asked 25 of the largest U.S. cities how they define a "smart city" and how that definition has evolved, the challenges they've faced in rolling out equitable policies and technologies, and their outlook for what's next.

By the Smart Cities Dive Team • Nov. 9, 2021

Transportation leaders react to passage of infrastructure bill with funds for transit, EVs, rail

Industry advocates and private sector players praised the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act as a landmark first step while looking ahead to the Build Back Better Act.

By Dan Zukowski • Nov. 8, 2021

Explore the Trendline➔

Top 5 stories from Smart Cities Dive

From worsening climate change to a shifting transportation landscape and the housing affordability crisis, cities have their work cut out for them.

By Smart Cities Dive staff

EV adoption poised to surge if Congress OKs $100B in purchase incentives, experts say

U.S. electric vehicle sales could finish 2021 at 5% of new purchases, according to industry observers. That's a milestone, but experts say adoption could really take off depending on federal government investments.

By Robert Walton • Nov. 5, 2021

Are digital twins the future of urban planning?

Digital 3D models can help city leaders plan for the future, but their value will depend on the data.

By Adina Solomon • Nov. 1, 2021

Flexibility, flight to suburbs emerge as pandemic real estate trends: report

Working from home has become a way of life that many people expect to continue. Experts are looking at what that will mean for downtown business districts.

By Jason Plautz • Oct. 25, 2021

How one of the hottest US cities is finally restructuring its heat response

The Phoenix City Council opted to fund an Office of Heat Response & Mitigation. Residents have demanded cities do "more, better, and faster for extreme heat for a long time," said inaugural Director David Hondula.

By Maria Rachal • Oct. 19, 2021

We have a once-in-a-generation opportunity to meet cities' pressing needs. Let's get it done.

Passing the Biden infrastructure bill will have ripple effects across the U.S., writes Phoenix Mayor Kate Gallego, driving investments in areas including electric vehicles, energy efficiency and recycling infrastructure. 

By Kate Gallego • Oct. 18, 2021

City strategies evolve on American Rescue Plan spending

Local governments are working through the historic influx of federal funds, including newly available competitive grants, while infrastructure bill dollars remain at bay.

By Maria Rachal • Oct. 14, 2021

5 ways New York City can overhaul its streets to be more resilient: report

A Regional Plan Association report calls for expanding bike lanes and busways, gradually phasing out free parking, adding green infrastructure to gather stormwater and more.

By Cailin Crowe • Oct. 13, 2021

Climate adaptation plans from US agencies envision transit resilience, modern building codes

The Biden administration's whole-of-government approach to climate resilience planning has environmental, transportation and housing regulators, among others, mapping out more equitable preparedness in communities.

By Maria Rachal • Oct. 12, 2021

Boston enacts building decarbonization ordinance

Acting Mayor Kim Janey signed an ordinance Tuesday requiring buildings 20,000 square feet or larger to achieve net-zero carbon emissions by 2050, as a wave of cities pursue regulations to reduce building-sector emissions.

By Scott Pruden • Updated Oct. 6, 2021

9 creative asphalt art projects across the US: photos

Bloomberg Philanthropies recently awarded 26 cities with up to $25,000 each to install art projects that improve street safety. Smart Cities Dive rounded up eye-catching asphalt art projects from last year's winners. 

By Cailin Crowe • Oct. 5, 2021

Digital twin tech challenge calls for sensor, geometry innovations

With the global market for the simulation technology estimated to reach $16 billion by 2023, a construction tech coalition is seeking new ideas to enhance how well the tools can inform decisions and potentially reduce costs.

By Sebastian Obando • Sept. 30, 2021

Denver creates new role to advance building decarbonization incentives

As buildings and homes account for 64% of the city's GHG emissions, the city created what's believed to be a first-of-its-kind role to support new strategies after voters greenlit a $40 million Climate Protection Fund last year.

By Maria Rachal • Sept. 28, 2021

City leaders urge Congress to pass bipartisan infrastructure bill

As federal infrastructure funding moves through Congress, Bloomberg Philanthropies and the U.S. Conference of Mayors released an e311 program to help city leaders navigate the billions available for COVID-19 recovery.

By Cailin Crowe • Sept. 27, 2021

Cool pavements research builds as temperatures rise

Arizona State University and MIT Concrete Sustainability Hub researchers recently shared their respective studied benefits and lingering questions about how lighter pavements could impact urban heat island effects.

By Maria Rachal • Sept. 24, 2021

Portland, Maine, to bulk-purchase clean energy equipment in electrification push

The “Electrify Everything” campaign focuses on voluntary measures. “If someone wants to decarbonize 100%, that’s great. But we know most people want help just taking the first step," said the city's sustainability coordinator.

By Jason Plautz • Sept. 23, 2021

Buildings are infrastructure, so Congress should treat them that way

Creating a 21st-century transportation network while letting our nation’s buildings crumble is no way to responsibly address an infrastructure crisis, let alone build back better, writes a former congressman and association exec.

By Russ Carnahan and Vincent R. Sandusky • Sept. 16, 2021

When there's a will, there's a way: Building the foundation for municipal EV infrastructure

Electric vehicles (EV) are no longer a novelty. Local leaders can begin to expand their EV infrastructure by first building the local will and political capital, while also investing in workforce development. 

By Celeste Frye • Sept. 1, 2021

The Boring Co. wants to build an underground transit loop in flood-prone Fort Lauderdale. Can it be done?

Transportation experts say the project is possible, but building a tunnel under South Florida is expensive. "You can engineer yourself out of any problem," said one expert, but it comes at a cost.

By Katie Pyzyk • Updated Sept. 1, 2021

New lobbying group to advocate for cities amid potential windfall of federal infrastructure dollars

The Coalition for Urban Innovation, including Sidewalk Labs, Replica and the Smart Cities Council, wants federal policies and spending to prioritize cities.

By Cailin Crowe • Aug. 25, 2021

Equity concerns drive changes to federal community hazard mitigation program

After lower-resourced areas and Midwest, Mountain West and Gulf states lost out in the Building Resilient Infrastructure and Communities program's first year, FEMA aims to boost disadvantaged rural communities' access to grants.

By Maria Rachal • Aug. 20, 2021

Infrastructure deal's 'no strings attached' funding prioritizes new highways, experts warn

As federal and local officials decry a controversial Houston-area highway widening proposal, the U.S. infrastructure deal could make it easier for states to fund similar projects, transportation advocates say.

By Cailin Crowe • Aug. 18, 2021

3D-printed concrete to help build $147B UK high-speed rail system

The new technology that prints structures on-site will reduce the amount of concrete used, thereby nearly cutting carbon emissions in half.

By Matthew Thibault • Aug. 17, 2021

As heat island effects worsen due to climate change, cities try to adapt

Cities are adding cooling measures like trees and lighter pavement to reduce urban heat island effects as record temperatures sweep the nation.

By Katie Pyzyk • Aug. 17, 2021