The smart cities trend has gained traction in recent years and isn’t going away anytime soon. In fact, findings by the U.S. Conference of Mayors (USCM) states that 459 U.S. cities started planning smart cities projects in 2017, with 97 of them being implemented in 2018. Also, according to BCC Research, $77.4 billion is expected to be invested in smart cities by 2021, more than double the total in 2016.
So, what exactly are cities investing in? One answer is technology. State and local governments are investing in the Internet of Things and smart data management to improve decision-making and provide better services to citizens.
However, technology isn’t the only factor that makes a city smart. Another major contributor is a city’s ability to collaborate.
The 4th annual Smart Cities Week Conference and Exhibition returns to Washington, D.C. on October 2-4 and will focus on collaboration as the cornerstone of a smart city.
“Collaboration is a key to success in so many sectors today – and cities, counties and other jurisdictions are increasingly realizing the benefits too. They are partnering with their local utilities, universities, the private sector and each other,” noted Smart Cities Week Council Chairman Jesse Berst. “Our goal at this fall’s conference is to showcase collaboration as a way for jurisdictions to more efficiently and affordably fast-track smart city transformations.”
The conference will bring together hundreds of inspiring thinkers, civic leaders, and technologists to discuss urgent urban challenges and how cities around the world are solving things. Speakers from the state and local levels of government include:
- Jeff Marootian, Director, District Department of Transportation, D.C.
- Bob Bennet, Chief Innovation Officer, Kansas City, Missouri
- Carlos Rivero, Chief Data Officer, Commonwealth of Virginia
- Lindsay Wines, Chief of Staff, Baltimore City Office of Information and Technology
- Patrick Wojahn, Mayor, City of College Park, Maryland
- Tracy McKee, Chief Data Officer, City of Baltimore
Stimulating keynote addresses, workshops, panel sessions and intimate roundtable discussions will align with five conference tracks:
- Re-imaging Transportation
- Enlighted Financing
- The Smart Workforce
- Data for Civic good
- Smart Infrastructure
All five tracks include sessions highlighting collaborations, including city-city, city-state, city-federal, and public-private.
Smart Cities Week D.C. is hosted by the Smart Cities Council and will be held at the Walter E. Washington Convention Center on Oct. 2-4, 2018. To register or learn more, visit www.smartcitiesweek.com/2018-washington/