Calderdale Metropolitan Borough Council, GB designs Local Area Energy Plan with IES digital twin
Local officials selected IES for a year-long project resulting in a Local Area Energy Plan (LAEP) for the borough. Building data from residential and commercial addresses are added to a digital twin. This virtual version of Calderdale supports simulations of whole-home retrofits, rooftop solar installations, and other proposed emission-reducing measures. The regional-first LAEP advances Calderdale's goal of net-zero emissions by 2038 and provides a blueprint for neighboring councils.
Calderdale Metropolitan Borough Council, GB
United Kingdom
Chicago, IL responds to road safety concerns with Smart Streets and Smart Loading Zone pilots
The Smart Streets Pilot Ordinance was approved in the wake of a 50% increase in traffic fatalities over a two-year period. The Smart Streets Pilot will use smart cameras on Chicago Transit Authority vehicles and light posts when issuing citations for parking in bus lanes or unsafe driving. Citations are sent by mail to registered owners after a 30-day warning window. The Smart Loading Zone Pilot supports virtual payments and zone management, thus reducing double-parking incidents.
Chicago, IL
United States
Portsmouth City Council, GB takes aim at childhood obesity rates with Superzone Pilot
City officials surveyed parents and students at Arundel Court Primary Academy ahead of the one-year trial. Survey results shaped how the program's four pillars - healthy food, active places, cleaner air, and community and safety - are implemented. The pilot encourages families to forego cars for bikes and scooters in the Superzone's 400-meter radius. Portsmouth will evaluate the impacts of workshops on healthy lunches, prizes for active travel, and smoke-free pick-up areas on student health.
Portsmouth City Council, GB
United Kingdom
San Francisco, CA conducts Direct Cash Transfer trial for support of homeless young adults
UpTogether manages unconditional cash payments of $1,500 per month to 45 participants. Eligible residents are aged 18 to 24 years old and currently experiencing homelessness. Larkin Street Youth Services connects DCT recipients with education, housing, and case management services. The city's Department of Homelessness and Supportive Housing and Google provided $4.5 million for the two-year pilot in hopes of reducing chronic homelessness among young adults.
San Francisco, CA
United States
Pittsburgh, PA turns food waste into quality soil with SoilMill PGH community composting pilot
SoilMill PGH began with one year of research by the city about food disposal practices. The city's Sustainability & Resilience team will select 300 applicants evenly divided among five regions for five months of home composting. Participants receive bins and filters for their participation in training and regular surveys. Pilots at park shelters, a senior center, and a community center experiment with different techniques including mechanical and hot-box composting.
Pittsburgh, PA
United States
Philadelphia, PA counters high infant mortality with Philly Joy Bank guaranteed income pilot
The city's Department of Public Health and private partners sought a solution to high infant mortality rates. The Philly Job Bank turns millions of dollars in private donations into monthly payments to 250 pregnant residents. Eligibility requirements include household incomes under $100,000 and residency in three neighborhoods - Cobbs Creek, Nicetown-Tioga, and Strawberry Mansion. The pilot planned for 2024 will reduce financial anxiety and bolster infant health.
Philadelphia, PA
United States
New York, NY introduces Charge Safe, Ride Safe plan for improved micro-mobility battery safety
City officials published the plan in response to device fires caused by unregulated lithium-ion batteries. A proposed safe equipment access plan swaps unsafe batteries for new batteries in personal devices through buybacks or rebates. The 2023 DOT Studio Challenge will encourage pilots of charging technologies for food delivery workers and residential use. Charge Safe, Ride Safe also calls for public education on micro-mobility safety and targeted enforcement of fire code violations.
New York, NY
United States
Auburn, ME improves resident access to healthy food with the Neighborhood Corner Store Program
Auburn budgeted $150,000 in federal ARPA funds to encourage corner store development by state-based grocers. Eligible applicants will locate their new or expanded stores more than one-quarter mile from national chains and make more than half of their sales from food purchases. The pilot provides up to $35,000 per store for up to four successful applicants. City officials will evaluate the program's impacts on food equity and local economic growth.
Auburn, ME
United States
Melbourne, VIC prepares for the impacts of extreme heat events with ClimaSens pilot
Melbourne will create a citywide map of heat vulnerability with the ClimaSens platform. ClimaSens uses historical weather data, future forecasts, and satellite images for visualizations of street-by-street risk levels. Heat risk and social vulnerability assessments allow city officials to create targeted responses for prolonged temperature spikes. These insights also support the expansion of cooling efforts including tree plantings and green roof adoption.
Melbourne, VIC
Australia
Rushmoor Borough Council, GB works with other councils on digital licensing system for taxi drivers
The borough's existing process requires considerable personnel time on calls and emails with licensees. Rushmoor received £138,150 from the Local Digital Fund for a shared pilot with Hart District Council, North Tyneside Council, and Basingstoke and Deane Borough Council. Partner councils will identify areas of alignment in licensing as they create a digital system for licensing applications and renewals. This pilot will evaluate improvements to applicant experiences and license enforcement.
Rushmoor Borough Council, GB
United Kingdom
North Tyneside Council, GB
United Kingdom
+2Perth, WA expands its sustainable transit offerings during e-scooter pilot with Bird and Neuron
Perth selected Bird and Neuron as licensed operators for its two-year e-scooter trial. Users aged 16 and older can hire e-scooters through the operators' mobile apps at 80 locations. This pilot differs from other Australian trials by requiring the return of e-scooters to designated parking spots. E-scooters are limited to 25 km/h on roads and 10 km/h on sidewalks. Geofencing technology prevents scooter use in three high-traffic pedestrian areas.
Perth, WA
Australia
Washington, DC collaborates with Amazon on cloud skills training for incarcerated individuals
The 10-week training course prepared participants for the AWS Certified Cloud Practitioner exam. Resources like American Prison Data Systems tablets and expanded computer lab availability supported training on in-demand skills. DC Corrections selected participants with felony records who had not earned university degrees for its pilot cohort. The program trained graduates for careers with sufficient salaries for financial stability and restitution.
Washington, DC
United States