13 Cities Take Home IDC Smart Cities Awards

Source: Smart Cities Connect | Chelsea Collier

Often with smart city technology deployments, implementation and impact can be difficult to demonstrate. This is why industry awards play an important role in telling the stories and recognizing these paradigm-shifting projects.

IDC Government Insights named 13 winners this week in their fourth annual Smart Cities North America Awards (SCNAA). Beyond showcasing the progress of these North American municipalities, these accolades multitask as a method to share best practices.  This progress is especially impressive given the extreme challenges of 2020-21. 

When asked about what makes a winner, Ruthbea Yesner, vice president, IDC Government Insights and Smart Cities and Communities Strategies replied, “…forward-thinking municipalities underpinned by strong leadership, innovative technology, and commitment to the public.” 

Awards are given in 11 categories: administration, civic engagement, digital equity and accessibility, education, public health and social services, public safety, smart buildings, sustainable infrastructure, transportation, transportation infrastructure, and urban planning and land use. 

Administration (e.g. back office, digital legislating)

  • ePermits – Harris County Engineering Department, Harris County, TX

Civic Engagement (e.g. open data, city portals, 311 apps)

  • Arizona State University Smart City Innovation Lab – Arizona State University, Scottsdale, AZ

Digital Equity and Accessibility (e.g. public WiFi, accessibility services, ADA compliance)

  • Ocala Fiber Network (OFN) – Ocala, FL

Education (e.g. smart campus, smart classrooms, virtual offerings, online and remote services)

  • Eugene School District 4J Comprehensive Distance Learning Technology Plan – Eugene School District 4J, Eugene, OR

Public Health and Social Services

  • CARES Housing Assistance Program (CHAP) – Clark County, NV

Public Safety (e.g. real-time crime centers, officer wearables, video analytics, next gen 911, early warning systems)

  • Smart City and Parks – City of Las Vegas, NV

Smart Buildings (e.g. capacity planning, return-to-work programs, sustainability and security systems)

  • NYCx Co-Labs: Housing Rights Challenge – NYC Mayor’s Office of the Chief Technology Officer, New York, NY

  • EV Innovation Project – Colorado Smart Cities Alliance, City of Boulder, CO

Sustainable Infrastructure (e.g. smart water, smart lighting, waste collection, environmental monitoring, resiliency)

  • Advanced Water Metering Infrastructure – City of Santa Ana, CA

Transportation (e.g. connected and autonomous vehicles, public transit, ride hailing/ride sharing)

  • Automated Deficiency Reporting On Roads Using AI On Municipal Vehicles – City of Markham, ON

  • Curiosity Lab at Peachtree Corners – Peachtree Corners, GA

Transportation Infrastructure (e.g. parking, transit hubs, traffic management and equipment for connected and/or autonomous vehicles)

  • Pedestrian Analysis of the MLK Smart Corridor – Center for Urban Informatics and Progress at the University of Tennessee-Chattanooga, Chattanooga, TN

Urban Planning and Land Use (e.g. permitting, licensing, inspection and zoning, digital twins, community resiliency)

  • Using Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning to Inspect City Roadways – Office of Innovation & Technology, City of Philadelphia, PA

Learn more about the leading U.S. cities and congratulate the winners at the Smart Cities Connect Conference & Expo October 19–21 in National Harbor, MD where they will be honored. 

Chelsea McCullough