Airbnb to roll out hotline for mayors, city officials

The hotline is part of Airbnb's "ongoing commitment to work with cities" and increased communication to ensure safety and privacy standards, the company said. 

By Chris Teale • Dec. 9, 2019

Disruptor of the Year: Sidewalk Labs

Alphabet-owned Sidewalk Labs is disrupting today's urban pain points with innovative, controversial solutions for its proposed futuristic smart city. 

By Cailin Crowe • Dec. 9, 2019

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

The Smart Cities Dive Awards for 2019

From Sidewalk Labs' disruptive, futuristic smart city to the climate strategy in Calgary, Alberta, these are the leading cities, officials and initiatives of the year.

Dec. 9, 2019

Affordable housing shortage highlights the need for construction to enter the tech age

Prefabricated modular housing can address the affordable housing crisis in a revolutionary way. It's time to acknowledge and invest in the promise of factory-built housing once again.

By Nigel Wilson • Dec. 4, 2019

Inside Planet Smart City's global crusade for smart neighborhoods

The real estate tech company is redefining "smart city" with a connected and low-cost community on a 330-hectare plot of land on Brazil's northeastern coast. 

By Kristin Musulin • Dec. 3, 2019

Dubai is now home to world's largest 3D-printed building

The walls of the cement-based building were created on-site in uncontrolled weather conditions, in a process that is expected to be available in the U.S. next year.

By Jennifer Goodman • Dec. 2, 2019

Amazon pledges $20M for affordable housing near HQ2

The funding would be the single largest injection of cash to the county's Affordable Housing Investment Fund, which could support construction of 235 new affordable units. 

By Jason Plautz • Nov. 27, 2019

Raising the living standard in cities requires us to build better

Sustainable buildings go beyond reducing energy and water consumption. They are about finding solutions that help people.

By Mahesh Ramanujam • Nov. 26, 2019

Chandler, AZ designs first AV pick-up, drop-off zone guidelines in US

The city has designated AV spots in front of City Hall, encouraging businesses and developers to use more autonomous transport and reduce traditional parking spaces.

By Jason Plautz • Nov. 25, 2019

Are flying cars close? Leaders say yes, but doubts linger

While uncertainty swirls around issues of infrastructure, safety and regulations, industry leaders say eVTOLs are on track to launch soon.

By Chris Teale • Nov. 25, 2019

Atlanta becomes 100th LEED certified city

The city's resilience plan, with initiatives around clean energy, electric vehicle car-sharing and more, played a role in achieving certification.

By Katie Pyzyk • Nov. 22, 2019

Sidewalk Labs wants out of Google's data-collection shadow

Following the release of its digital innovation appendix, the company's head of urban systems explained the challenges of innovating the real estate sector.

By Kristin Musulin • Nov. 21, 2019

Parsons names 10 Smart Cities Challenge semifinalists

The company will name the Transforming Intersections contest winner in April, helping the finalist get an intersection solution pilot program up and running.

By Chris Teale • Nov. 18, 2019

To get to net zero, cities need to think wider than buildings

Solutions to climate change may lie in some old-fashioned values, like building strong communities, relying on neighbors and believing that design matters. 

By Tom Sieniewicz • Nov. 14, 2019

Frisco, TX mayor shares 'secret ingredient' to being fastest-growing US city

The Dallas suburb ranked No. 1 on a fastest-growing U.S. cities list. This is no surprise to Mayor Jeff Cheney, who says Frisco is adding nearly 1,000 residents a month. 

By Katie Pyzyk • Nov. 12, 2019

5 strategic shifts that are making cities smarter: report

ABI Research identified the many ways cities are becoming more advanced and efficient, ranging from digital twins to smart spaces.

By Katie Pyzyk • Nov. 11, 2019

NTSB recommends mandatory helmet laws, protected bike lanes

The group compiled a bicyclist safety report for the first time in 47 years following pedestrian and traffic deaths that have reached their highest level since 1990.

By Katie Pyzyk • Nov. 6, 2019

Bay Area nonprofit issues RFP for $150M Apple housing fund

The Apple Affordable Housing Fund will support "shovel ready" projects that employ sustainable building methods and are located in areas served by transit.

By Jason Plautz , Kristin Musulin • Updated March 4, 2020

Cincinnati wants to calm traffic with street mural program

The Paint the Streets program will allow residents to create neighborhood street murals, improving pedestrian safety to meet Vision Zero goals.

By Katie Pyzyk • Nov. 4, 2019

Turning everyday street lights into smart city superstars

Cities can leverage existing real estate like lampposts to become the IoT magnet for many city services not offered today.

By Glenn Buck • Nov. 1, 2019

Sidewalk Labs, Waterfront Toronto resolve differences to advance development plan

Local leaders warned the plan is "not a done deal," but allowed it to proceed to the formal evaluation phase after several concerns were addressed.

By Chris Teale • Nov. 1, 2019

U. of Michigan to build $300M Detroit innovation center on defunct jail site

The 14-acre research site is expected to serve 1,000 students focused on tech issues like mobility, AI and cybersecurity. 

By Jason Plautz • Oct. 31, 2019

Bloomberg Philanthropies wants to breathe new life into boring blacktop

The organization launched the Asphalt Art Initiative to equip 10 cities with tools and grants to pursue colorful street art projects.

By Katie Pyzyk • Oct. 29, 2019

Electric revolution: How are cities overcoming EV range anxiety?

Cities need a wide-ranging strategy if they are to help more residents go electric in a way that is accessible and equitable, analysts say.

By Chris Teale • Oct. 17, 2019

St. Louis releases inaugural energy benchmarking report for buildings

More efficient building performance would reduce the city's GHG emissions by at least 11%, saving more than $65 million in annual energy costs. 

By Cailin Crowe • Oct. 16, 2019