Phoenix, AX launches $60 million shade plan
Phoenix has launched a comprehensive $60 million Shade Phoenix Plan to mitigate the effects of extreme heat by increasing tree canopy and shade structures. The plan includes planting over 27,000 new trees and constructing 550 new shade structures, focusing on areas with the greatest need for heat mitigation. More than half of the investment will target low-to-moderate-income communities, aiming to provide equitable access to shade and cooler environments.
Phoenix, AZ
United States
Wagga Wagga, NSW trials plastic mesh reinforcement technology during road rehabilitation process
The Wagga Wagga City Council has approved the use of Geogrid reinforcement technology in the rehabilitation of several roads as part of its program of major civil works currently underway. The Council has been looking for innovative construction options to improve the road rehabilitation process, and the goal of the Geogrid is to minimize cracking in the wearing course due to environmental factors such as seasonal temperature fluctuations and the stabilization of the gravel in the pavement.
Wagga Wagga, NSW
Australia
Wollongong, NSW works toward its long-term emissions goals with a pilot of kerbside EV chargers
Wollongong's Climate Change Mitigation Plan 2023-2030 calls for net-zero emissions by 2050. A one-year pilot with Endeavour Energy and EVX Australia tests the impacts of kerbside vehicle charging on carbon emissions. Five locations throughout the council were selected based on grid and local attraction proximity. Each location features a pole-mounted charger and two dedicated parking spots. EV owners can recharge their batteries for AU$0.50 per kilowatt hour.
Wollongong, NSW
Australia
Peachtree Corners, GA and Pipedream develop the country's first underground robot delivery route
The subterranean route covers 0.7 miles between the city-owned Curiosity Lab and a nearby shopping center. Curiosity Lab teams place orders Monday through Friday for meals and essential items with delivery in as little as five minutes. The delivery robot travels up to 15 miles per hour with order collections and deliveries placed in secured drawers. This innovation responds to concerns about tailpipe emissions and traffic congestion created by delivery services.
Peachtree Corners, GA
United States
Detroit, MI introduces the first wireless EV charging roadway in the United States
Detroit worked with the Michigan Department of Transportation and Electreon on installing innovative road technology. Inductive coils underneath 14th Street wirelessly transfer electricity to passing electric vehicles with Electreon receivers. This installation runs through the Michigan Central Innovation District with a Ford E-Transit van used for the first test drive. Once completed, a one-mile stretch of wireless charging road will be used to test the technology's effectiveness.
Detroit, MI
United States
New York, NY Street Deliveristas Hubs help growing ranks of app-based delivery workers
Local officials will use a $1 million federal grant on infrastructure for the city's 65,000 delivery workers. Street Deliveristas Hubs turn disused newsstands, outdoor dining spaces, and transit stops into shelter from the elements. Workers can rest, charge their e-bikes or phones, and check their apps without obstructing sidewalks or streets. This first-in-the-U.S. pilot uses feedback from delivery workers during site selection and hub design.
New York, NY
United States
Staffordshire County Council, GB implements Vaisala RoadAI technology for road assessments
The county's highways team previously used manual inspections and ReportIt submissions for assessments. Highway inspectors now use the Vaisala RoadAI tool on their mobile devices for ongoing evaluations of road conditions. Vaisala RoadAI turns video footage into maps of local roads highlighting defects ranging from potholes to pavement settling. Consistent data on road conditions can be used for faster road repairs and more accurate planning for future projects.
Staffordshire County Council, GB
United Kingdom
Penrith, NSW completes a first-in-Australia recycled road project using single-use coffee cups
City officials worked with State Asphalts NSW on incorporating locally gathered cups for two roadway projects. The company's PAK- PAVE process combined 136,000 cups gathered by the Simply Cups initiative with 1.2 million glass bottles and other materials. Repaving projects on Jamison Road and Swallow Drive covered 740 meters with more than 50% of the new surface made from recycled materials. This initiative reduced carbon emissions from construction while improving road durability.
Penrith, NSW
Australia
Southampton City Council, GB monitors roadwork in real time with Operational Control Hubs
Balfour Beatty worked with city officials on digital hubs for road project management. Each Operational Control Hub features eight large screens for live tracking of maintenance team locations. Hub teams can assign workers for emergency repair work and maintain accurate timetables for project completion. Local leaders will use hub analytics in shaping highway improvement projects and traffic innovations. This partnership monitored 150 projects with five hubs by June 2023.
Southampton City Council, GB
United Kingdom
Henry County, GA charts path on freight infrastructure with Smart Resilience Decision Support Tool
County officials seek sustainable solutions to freight vehicle traffic and warehouse site selection. The digital tool models the impacts of potential infrastructure projects on factors like transport accessibility, social vulnerability, and land-use suitability. County planners and community stakeholders adjust factor importance in search of optimal infrastructure solutions. Henry County received a $92,800 grant from the Georgia Smart Communities Challenge for the tool's development.
Henry County, GA
United States
Royal Borough of Kingston upon Thames, GB partners with Boldyn Networks on smart column pilot
Kingston received £250,000 from the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology's Smart Infrastructure Pilots initiative for the two-year trial. Boldyn Networks will install 10.4 kilometers of fiber-optic line in support of 20 smart columns throughout the borough. Each column enables Wi-Fi connectivity and high-quality CCTV images. Air quality and footfall sensors are among the customization options available with this technology.
Royal Borough of Kingston upon Thames, GB
United Kingdom
Melton, VIC visualizes transport planning initiatives with its Moving Melton Transport Prospectus
Local officials sought an interactive method for promoting transport improvements in Australia's fastest-growing municipality. The Moving Melton website turns traffic congestion data into a map of projects in four categories: Public Transport, Roads, Active Transport, and Level Crossing Removals. Visualizations of where and how the community travels provide the necessary background to readers. Moving Melton also highlights job growth, benefit-cost ratios, and other impacts of planned projects.
Melton, VIC
Australia