Tech & Data

  • Two men and two woman seated on a stage in front of a backdrop that reads "NLC - National League of Cities."
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    Dan Zukowski/Smart Cities Dive
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    Nearly 3,000 city leaders gathered in Washington last week. Here’s what they had to say.

    Mayors, council members and nonprofit leaders heard from Vice President JD Vance, EPA Administrator Lee Zeldin and others at the National League of Cities meeting.

    By • March 21, 2025
  • Woman and man seated on a stage in front of a banner that reads "NLC - National Leage of Cities."
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    Dan Zukowski/Smart Cities Dive
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    City leaders name housing, public safety and infrastructure as top issues

    The National League of Cities Congressional City Conference brought together 3,000 city leaders to discuss these issues, with appearances from EPA Administrator Lee Zeldin and Vice President JD Vance.

    By • March 18, 2025
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    NanoStockk/iStock/Getty Images Plus via Getty Images
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    Trendline

    Smart Cities Technology and Data

    Cities are increasingly looking to technology and data to address real-world issues from traffic safety to law enforcement.

    By Smart Cities Dive staff
  • An aerial view of a burned-out neighborhood with mountains in the background.
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    Mario Tama via Getty Images
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    California wildfire air pollution insights coming from air sensor network

    Residents can track localized pollution, including particles from the wildfires that tore across Los Angeles in January, thanks to improvements in air quality sensor tech.

    By Kalena Thomhave • March 10, 2025
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    Lana2011 via Getty Images
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    Sponsored by Routeware

    From waste to snow: How Kansas City, MO, is improving operations across multiple fleets

    Learn how Kansas City, MO, improves the efficiency, safety and agility of its snow operations.

    March 10, 2025
  • Rhode Island Chief Digital Officer Brian Tardiff and Gov. Dan McKee speak at a Dec. 30 press briefing on the cyberattack against the RIBridges social services database. The officials held a Jan. 10 briefing to notify thousands of recipients that breach notification letters were being mailed out.
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    Courtesy of Rhode Island
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    Critical infrastructure at state, local levels at heightened risk of cyberattacks

    State and local governments need additional resources, shared intelligence and coordination, an MS-ISAC report showed.

    By David Jones • March 3, 2025
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    Jason Doiy via Getty Images
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    Which US cities are the most tech-ready? NYU has an answer.

    A city’s habitability and its development of a technology sector are both factored into the Cities Emerging Technologies Index.

    By Benton Graham • Feb. 21, 2025
  • A Serve Robotics robot in front of some buildings in the Miami area.
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    Courtesy of Serve Robotics
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    Serve Robotics is coming to Miami

    Serve will offer delivery through Uber Eats from Shake Shack and a local pizza chain in Brickell and Miami Beach, Florida. 

    By Aneurin Canham-Clyne • Feb. 20, 2025
  • A man looks into a large computer screen displaying an artificial intelligence chatbot application.
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    Laurence Dutton via Getty Images
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    Opinion

    4 ways local governments are harnessing AI to transform operations

    The technology could improve municipal efficiency, accuracy and service delivery — but implementation must address community and public-sector worker concerns.

    By Jeff Green • Feb. 12, 2025
  • Nischal Newar, Shima Mohebbi and Pavithra Sripathanallur Murali made up the three-person team, spearheading the project.
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    Permission granted by George Mason University
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    How Arlington County used AI to improve emergency preparedness

    The Virginia county’s Department of Public Safety Communications and Emergency Management worked with George Mason University researchers to develop AI-enhanced video games for skills-building.

    By Lindsey Wilkinson • Feb. 5, 2025
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    OlegAlbinsky via Getty Images
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    The Smart Cities Outlook for 2025: Change is coming

    From new federal policies to growing technologies like AI and robotaxis, cities will encounter many changes while they continue to tackle housing, homelessness, climate and equity issues.

    By Smart Cities Dive Staff • Jan. 31, 2025
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    Mario Tama via Getty Images
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    Deep Dive

    Tesla, Waymo will add more robotaxis to city streets

    A more favorable federal regulatory and legislative environment may help propel the growth of driverless ride-hailing vehicles in the United States.

    By • Updated Feb. 27, 2025
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    Adobe Stock/TDB

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    Sponsored by OpenGov

    Less grind, better results: AI makes government work better

    Stanford’s Hoover Institution surveyed over 1,000 government employees and uncovered some eye-opening trends. Discover the surprising truth about AI in local government.

    Jan. 27, 2025
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    Permission granted by Smart Futures Lab
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    Sponsored by Smart Futures Lab

    Free incubator and accelerator empowers smart city growth

    Smart Futures Lab empowers tech startups: $4.5M raised, 6 patents, 22 jobs—join the next cohort today!

    Jan. 13, 2025
  • A highway with cars on it in front of a city skyline. Two large cranes line the highway next to new construction.
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    JasonDoiy via Getty Images
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    6 smart cities trends to watch in 2025

    Transportation systems, housing policy and decarbonization approaches will evolve this year as the Trump administration assumes power and technology continues to advance.

    By Ysabelle Kempe , • Jan. 9, 2025
  • People walk across a city street at a crosswalk. Tall buildings and streetlights line the road,
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    tunart via Getty Images
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    9 predictions about what 2025 may hold for US cities

    “Playground” cities will thrive, innovative housing programs will proliferate and technology will transform transit and municipal services, these sources say.

    By Smart Cities Dive staff • Jan. 2, 2025
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    Courtesy of Archer Aviation
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    Archer Aviation completes Georgia air taxi factory

    Production is set to begin in the new year at a small scale, but by 2030, the company plans to manufacture 650 air taxis each year. 

    By • Dec. 19, 2024
  • A fleet of Cruise ride-hailing vehicles parked in a row outdoors on a sunny day with buildings and greenery in the background.
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    Courtesy of Cruise LLC
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    GM shuts troubled Cruise robotaxi unit

    General Motors will halt further development of robotaxis, with its CEO citing high capital costs and billions invested in a non-core business.

    By • Dec. 11, 2024
  • A white and red garbage truck labeled "Concord" parked in a residential neighborhood.
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    Permission granted by City of Concord
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    Sponsored by Routeware

    How technology empowered Concord, NC, to take its waste and recycling operations in house

    Learn how Concord, NC, implemented new technology and saved $320k annually from fleet optimization and reducing go backs.

    Dec. 9, 2024
  • A white vehicles with rooftop and other external sensors, lettered Waymo, drives along a street.
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    Justin Sullivan via Getty Images
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    Waymo to begin robotaxi service in Miami next year

    The company also plans to add autonomous ride-hailing operations in Atlanta and Austin, Texas, building upon current services in San Francisco and Los Angeles.

    By • Dec. 6, 2024
  • Shot looking up at the ornate facade of a building. Letters on the window read "City hall."
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    Edward Chaidez via Getty Images
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    Atlanta creates AI commission to explore tech’s potential in city government

    The 13-member commission will begin meeting in early 2025 and produce a final report by February 2026. 

    By Ysabelle Kempe • Dec. 4, 2024
  • A person in a suit and tie stands behind a partially transparent podium with a microphone attached to it.
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    Ysabelle Kempe/Smart Cities Dive
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    AI could help cities tackle climate change, but only if it solves ‘real problems’: NYC climate chief

    “We don’t need AI or big data to tell us with much greater detail how screwed we are as a city or as a planet,” Rohit Aggarwala said at Cornell Tech’s Urban Tech Summit last week.

    By Ysabelle Kempe • Nov. 26, 2024
  • A white car labeled "Waymo" drives among palm trees and people.
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    Mario Tama via Getty Images
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    Uber, Lyft plan robotaxi fleet expansions

    With Tesla planning to produce robotaxis and compete with existing ride-hail companies as soon as 2025, Uber and Lyft are adding partnerships to enter new cities with driverless vehicles.

    By • Nov. 21, 2024
  • Cybertruck running software on screen and driver is interacting with it.
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    Permission granted by Oracle
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    Sponsored by Oracle

    Technologies transforming public safety

    Learn how modern public safety technology solutions are helping police and law enforcement serve, protect, and engage communities.

    By Shane Ruiz • Nov. 18, 2024
  • A man looks into a large computer screen displaying an artificial intelligence chatbot application.
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    Laurence Dutton via Getty Images
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    Google, NLC issue AI guide for city leaders

    The digital divide that has plagued cities could turn into an “AI divide” as some local governments experiment with the technologies while others lack access, said a Google executive.

    By Ysabelle Kempe • Nov. 14, 2024
  • Looking down at a traffic jam on a six-lane highway in the evening with headlights on.
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    Scott Olson via Getty Images
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    How ‘floating car data’ can help cities tackle traffic

    Smart city technology can save transportation agencies money and inform conversations with the public, says a white paper by consulting firm Frost & Sullivan.

    By • Nov. 7, 2024