June 25-28, 2022 | Aurora, Colorado | 101st Annual Conference | Booth #310
We are thrilled to be attending and exhibiting at this year's 101st Colorado Municipal League Annual Conference. Register here!
Transforming Cities Through Intelligent Infrastructure
Streetlights have always been seen as a basic necessity to illuminate roads and sidewalks, but they are much more than that. These lights are increasingly becoming strategic assets for municipalities, serving as multi-functional tools to improve public safety, enhance citizen welfare, boost connectivity, reduce costs, and generate revenue. With the advancement of technology, streetlights have become the delivery mechanism for sensors, cameras, and other smart devices to make them more intelligent. They are an enormous but largely untapped opportunity for municipalities to make their communities smarter, safer, and more connected.
We had the pleasure of co-speaking on a panel with the City of Dallas who recently were crowned winners of the global Smart 50 Awards for their Red Cloud Neighborhood Smart Cities Pilot Project. The program recognizes cities embracing innovative projects through the development of urban infrastructure.
“Each project showcases unique elements in unique communities, and that's what makes it all so fascinating,” said Laura Murphree, Smart Cities Connect Media & Research’s managing editor. “But what they have in common is a commitment to utilize data in meaningful ways that improve quality of life for residents.”
The Red Cloud Neighborhood Smart Cities Pilot Project
The City of Dallas, with a population of approximately 1.2 million, looking to help disadvantaged communities while promoting the use of technology developed the Red Cloud Initiative. The Red Cloud Neighborhood Smart Cities Pilot Project will include community Wi-Fi to almost 190 homes, air quality environmental monitors (AQMs), and AI-enabled situational awareness cameras at select locations by using newly installed LED streetlights integrated with wireless access points (WAPs).
Why does it matter? The sensor network aims to help the area become smarter and more sustainable. The city will be able to gather actionable data to further improve public safety and city services.
“District 5 is honored to have been selected as the City’s first smart community and now to be known globally for our efforts. We look forward to being an example of what is possible not just across Dallas, but in other cities around the globe,” District 5 Council Member Jaime Resendez said.
With positive outcomes of the Red Cloud project, Dallas is considering expanding these services citywide.
Enhancing Community Experiences through Smart City Applications
As cities continue to grow and populations increase, the need for efficient and sustainable infrastructure becomes a top priority. Smart city applications like air quality monitors, cameras, and public Wi-Fi sensors offer a solution to these challenges by integrating technology into existing infrastructure to create more efficient, safer, and sustainable communities.
There are various types of smart city applications that can be implemented based on a city's specific needs and goals. For example, the City of Schenectady was able to monitor and detect high levels of particles in the air due to the recent Canadian wildfires by installing Ubicquia's air quality monitor sensors. Data showed some neighborhoods containing “unhealthy” air quality levels. This timely recording of air quality information was shared with county health officials and helped the City provide the most pertinent guidance to its residents. Additionally, public safety technologies such as video surveillance and emergency response systems can enhance security measures throughout the community.
In order to fully utilize these technologies effectively within a community, it is important for city officials to identify their specific needs and goals before implementing any new systems.
Informational Webinar: Playbook Towards Modernization
So what steps can you take to improve your community and enhance city services? We co-hosted an informational webinar with partners Cox 2M, HR Green, and Ubicquia all about this topic. Using your streetlights as strategic assets can reduce costs, enhance public safety, lower environmental impact, bridge the digital divide, and more. Watch the full webinar here.
Have questions? Visit Us at Booth #310 and Enter Our Prize Giveaway
RealTerm Energy (RTE) can work with you to find strategies to meet your sustainability goals. From EV Charging Stations to Smart City Applications, we are your trusted energy efficiency advisor. To date, we have completed energy efficiency projects with over 350 small- to mid-sized municipalities across North America.
Feel free to reach out to us to learn more about your options and how we can help you meet your climate goals while reducing costs and enhancing your community’s experiences.