Calgary, AB launches Wave Tech Centre to boost innovation across city departments
Calgary has launched a new Wave Tech Centre aimed at fostering innovation within city departments by leveraging technology and collaboration. The center will serve as a hub for developing and implementing digital solutions to improve municipal services and operations. This initiative is part of the city's broader strategy to enhance efficiency and meet the evolving needs of its residents.
Calgary, AB
Canada
Rødovre, DK paves the way for smarter urban development with Autodesk Forma software
Rødovre's high population density led municipal officials toward a data-driven approach to development. Autodesk Forma produces maps, visualizations, and simulations based on historical data and current proposals. Stakeholders test the impacts of development on factors ranging from road noise to green spaces. Months of internal testing were followed by the formal adoption of the cloud-based software for three urban development projects.
Rødovre, DK
Denmark
Calgary, AB trials Rogers Connected for Success access as part of its Fair Entry subsidy program
Calgary's Fair Entry program uses a single application for services to low-income households like transit passes and senior home maintenance. A partnership with Rogers adds the company's Connected for Success initiative to Fair Entry options. Fair Entry recipients won't need to cover monthly costs or fill out additional paperwork for applicable 5G mobile, Internet, and television plans. City officials sought a partner to fulfill its Digital Equity Strategy goals of access for all residents.
Calgary, AB
Canada
Long Beach, CA develops Digital Rights Platform for public understanding of smart city technology
Long Beach partnered with Coding it Forward fellows on a 10-week development process for the platform's prototype. Digital Transparency in the Public Realm (DTPR) signage was placed near smart pedestrian counters and license plate readers. Passersby scanned QR codes on the signs to access easy-to-understand information on data collection and usage methods. Future plans for the first-of-its-type platform include translation into three languages and entries for other technologies in use.
Long Beach, CA
United States
Rio de Janeiro, RJ creates public spaces for digital training with its Nave Satélite initiative
Nave Satélites - or Satellite Ships - convert former CIEP learning centers into accessible spaces for digital training. Local workers prepare for office employment with free courses like Basic Excel and IT certification options. Residents of all ages find computer stations for online tasks and tablets for Internet browsing. City officials anticipate each Nave Satélite will serve up to 450 people per month with three Zona Oeste locations planned by the end of 2023.
Rio de Janeiro, RJ
Brazil
San Antonio, TX introduces Talkin' Broadway chatbot for improved outreach during construction
A one-year contract with Hello Lamp Post resulted in a chatbot specific to the city's Lower Broadway improvements. Visitors text Hello SA 3 to 210-802-2265 or scan QR codes on sidewalk signage to start conversations in English or Spanish. Talkin' Broadway answers questions about planned closures, directs users to affected businesses, and accepts feedback for city review. The chatbot generates anonymized sentiment data helpful in shaping future outreach efforts.
San Antonio, TX
United States
Amsterdam, NH responds to privacy concerns from mobile mapping with Blurring as a Service solution
Mobile mapping projects in Amsterdam result in street footage without anonymization. The city's Computer Vision Team developed its own algorithm for blurring personal information in panoramic images. Blurring as a Service recognizes entire people and vehicles compared to face and license plate identification used by other software. This solution protects personal privacy rights without manual editing or outside software costs.
Amsterdam, NH
Netherlands
Charlotte, NC Learn2Earn pilot increases digital literacy through free courses and equipment
Learn2Earn offered free, factory-sealed computers for participants who completed the required coursework. Eight digital literacy courses at Charlotte Mecklenburg Library built user confidence in computer skills needed for employment and school. The pilot complemented the city's Access Charlotte initiative, which used ARPA funding for free home Internet in 8,000 homes. Charlotte also funded expanded digital navigation services in partnership with the Center for Digital Equity.
Charlotte, NC
United States
Vancouver, BC designs Project Requirement Exploration Tool for laneway house permitting
Homeowners interested in building secondary units on their properties can develop project plans in PRET. The digital tool first asks for the user's address to determine eligibility for laneway house permits. A draft project plan creator walks eligible applicants through required permits in areas like street use, plumbing, and electrical. Vancouver streamlined PRET through testing by those who have built laneway homes.
Vancouver, BC
Canada
Galway County Council, IE turns an extensive digital mapping project into the Graveyard Search App
Drone mapping of burial sites and trained volunteer surveying resulted in accurate records for 40,000 memorials. This information was fed into the Graveyard Search App for easy online access. App users search for memorials by graveyard location, names, or years of death. Each entry includes the memorial type and a complete record of the inscription. County officials are working with the Heritage Council and the Open Data Engagement Fund on expanded memorial mapping.
Galway County Council, IE
Ireland
Contagem, MG Aqui Tem Remédio platform supports timely access to medications at city pharmacies
Municipal officials identified frequent complaints of medication shortages or inconsistent supplies at pharmacies. Aqui Tem Remédio - Here is Medicine - is built on Microsoft Power BI and draws on an inventory control sheet used by all municipal pharmacies. Residents and prescribers toggle listed prescription or over-the-counter medicines to find real-time availability at 16 locations. Medications from Aciclovar to multivitamins are listed with their delivery methods and dosage.
Contagem, MG
Brazil
Odense, DK shapes local agreements on community improvements with the LEAP digital platform
A three-year engagement effort divided Odense neighborhoods into three cohorts for digital engagement on how to use 625 million kroner for neighborhood and school improvement. The LEAP - Leadership, Empowerment, and Advocacy for the People - platform hosted virtual meetings and sent online surveys to residents. Ongoing discussions with community members led to co-designed solutions for social vulnerability, public safety, and improved student outcomes.
Odense, DK
Denmark