Projects
West Midlands Combined Authority, GB uses AI to improve road safety
The West Midlands Combined Authority has launched an AI-driven initiative that uses advanced vision sensors to detect near misses between vehicles and vulnerable road users like pedestrians and cyclists at 40 high-risk locations. The technology analyzes speed and path data to identify potential collision hotspots, enabling proactive safety measures such as the planned pedestrian refuge on Grange Road in Coventry.
West Midlands Combined Authority, GB
United Kingdom
Madison, WI expands energy benchmarking program for commercial buildings
The City of Madison has launched a new phase of its benchmarking program aimed at enhancing energy efficiency in large commercial buildings, requiring owners of properties over 50,000 square feet to report annual energy and water usage starting in 2025. The initiative, supported by the Wisconsin Realtors Association and the City, seeks to provide building owners with data to improve operational efficiency, reduce costs, and lower greenhouse gas emissions.
Madison, WI
United States
New York, NY launches AI track maintenance pilot with Google Public Sector
New York City's Metropolitan Transportation Authority has partnered with Google Public Sector to launch the TrackInspect pilot program, which uses AI and sensor technology to enhance subway track maintenance by detecting defects before they cause disruptions. Google Pixel smartphones, mounted on R46 subway cars along the A line, capture vibrations and sound patterns, transmitting data to cloud-based systems where machine learning algorithms generate predictive maintenance alerts.
New York, NY
United States
Miami-Dade County, FL launches innovation challenge to optimize waste diversion
Miami-Dade County is facing a growing waste management crisis, with the county currently managing rising costs and logistical challenges like shipping trash north by train. To address this, the county has partnered with the Miami-Dade Innovation Authority to launch its fifth Public Innovation Challenge, offering at least $300,000 to startups that can propose innovative solutions to improve waste diversion and reduce recycling contamination.
Miami-Dade County, FL
United States
Birmingham City Council, GB deploys small cells through Open Access Agreement
Birmingham City Council has partnered with Virgin Media O2 and Ontix to deploy five new 4G small cells in the Soho Road and Handsworth areas, aiming to enhance mobile capacity and alleviate network congestion during peak times. This initiative leverages an Open Access Agreement from 2022, allowing telecom providers to use council-owned street assets like lamp posts to install small cells, streamlining deployment and reducing costs.
Birmingham City Council, GB
United Kingdom
Sydney, NSW trials first on-street parking bay for share bikes
New South Wales has introduced its first on-street parking bay for share bikes. This initiative aims to reduce clutter and safety hazards caused by improperly parked share bikes, benefiting pedestrians while supporting an eco-friendly transport option near public transport and local attractions. The City of Sydney plans to expand this trial utilizing spaces previously marked as No Stopping zones to avoid impacting vehicle parking.
Sydney, NSW
Australia
Westminster City Council, GB trials single sign-on service for public wifi
Westminster City Council is trialing a single sign-on service for public Wi-Fi to enhance connectivity across 50 key locations in the city, including markets and libraries. The program, named Connected London WiFi, aims to tackle digital inequality by providing seamless internet access without the need for repeated logins. The initiative is supported by Guglielmo and the Wireless Broadband Alliance, focusing on improving user experience rather than adding new access points.
Westminster City Council, GB
United Kingdom
Marion County, WV deploys Vision AI tech to enhance public safety
Marion County, WV is utilizing Colorado-based company ROC's Vision AI technology as part of a smart city initiative to enhance public safety and emergency response. The deployment integrates ROC's multimodal recognition capabilities, including facial recognition and gun detection, with existing security systems like license plate readers and body cameras, to provide real-time security monitoring, situational awareness, and actionable intelligence to law enforcement and first responders.
Marion County, WV
United States
Phoenix, AZ to combat extreme heat with sustainable shade program
Phoenix is launching a sustainable shade program to combat extreme heat, led by Arizona State University, which includes creating neighborhood shade plans and training a workforce for green infrastructure maintenance. The initiative focuses on equitable distribution of shade, targeting heat-vulnerable communities like south Phoenix, where there are higher rates of people of color and poverty.
Phoenix, AZ
United States
Norwich City Council, GB to combat flooding with 'spongy city' initiative
Norwich City Council has decided to transform the city into a 'spongy city' to combat future floods. This initiative involves designing urban areas to absorb rainwater more effectively through measures like green roofs, permeable pavements, and increased greenery. The project aims to reduce the impact of future floods by allowing water to naturally seep into the ground rather than overwhelming drainage systems.
Norwich City Council, GB
United Kingdom
Ann Arbor, MI to create state's first sustainable energy utility
Ann Arbor, Michigan, voters have approved the creation of a sustainable energy utility, making it the first municipality in the state to adopt such a model. This utility will focus on providing renewable energy at lower costs and is expected to start operations in 2026, with initial projects including solar installations and energy efficiency upgrades. The utility will be funded without new taxes, through on-bill financing where savings from energy upgrades offset costs.
Ann Arbor, MI
United States
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
Chicago, IL launches recycling assistance app for residents
Chicago has introduced the Recycle Coach app to help residents manage waste and recycling more effectively. The app, available on Apple and Google Play stores, provides hyper-local waste management information, including schedules and a database on what can and cannot be recycled. This initiative is part of a broader partnership with the Illinois EPA and aims to reduce contamination at recycling facilities, increase landfill diversion, and lower greenhouse gas emissions.
Chicago, IL
United States
Tampa, FL expands connected vehicle program
Tampa has implemented a pioneering connected vehicle pilot project, involving over 1,000 vehicles communicating with traffic signals and roadside units to improve traffic flow and safety. The 18-month project includes equipping personal cars, buses, and streetcars with technology that interacts with infrastructure like traffic signals at strategic points across downtown Tampa and the Lee Roy Selmon Expressway.
Tampa, FL
United States
Milton Keynes City Council, GB uses drone mapping to create digital twin
Milton Keynes City Council, in collaboration with Cranfield University and Satellite Applications Catapult Westcott DronePort, is trialing the use of drones to create a digital twin of the city center. This initiative aims to improve how essential and emergency services are delivered by mapping the area in detail for highway surveys and accident response. Drone flights will gather data to support services like smart traffic monitoring, secure parcel deliveries, and emergency responses.
Milton Keynes Council, GB
United Kingdom
Spokane County, WA launches high-tech crime center
The Spokane County Sheriff's Office has launched a new Real Time Crime Center to enhance public safety through advanced technology. The center allows deputies to access real-time data from various sources like surveillance cameras and social media to respond to incidents more effectively. This center is the first of its kind in Washington, aiming to prevent and solve crimes more efficiently.
Spokane County, WA
United States
Sacramento, CA employs AI-aided bus cameras to bust bike/bus lane violators
Sacramento is set to install parking enforcement cameras on 180 Regional Transit buses to address illegal parking in bus stops and bike lanes. The AI-powered cameras will detect violations, capture video evidence, and after manual review by enforcement officers, tickets will be mailed to vehicle owners. This initiative follows a pilot program where over 300 violations were detected in just two months, highlighting the need for such enforcement.
Sacramento, CA
United States
Hickman County, TN uses AI dashcams to enhance policing
In Hickman County, TN, a rural area with limited law enforcement resources, new AI-powered dashcams from Motive are being deployed to enhance policing. These dashcams not only record criminal activities but also monitor officer driving behavior to improve safety for both the public and police. This technology represents a broader trend of AI integration in government services, potentially transforming small-town policing by providing more accountability and safety.
Hickman County, TN
United States
Leduc, AB taps AI to keep plastic out of organics carts
Leduc has introduced smart technology to detect contaminants in waste, aiming to improve recycling and waste management processes. The system uses sensors and AI to identify non-recyclable items in waste streams, helping to reduce contamination rates. This initiative is part of the city's broader commitment to sustainability and enhancing the effectiveness of its waste diversion programs.
Leduc, AB
Canada
East Lansing, MI turns to AI to reduce household recycling errors
A 24-week pilot program with the city, Canada-based Prairie Robotics, The Recycling Partnership, and the Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes and Energy used cameras on the mid-Michigan city’s recycling collection trucks paired with computers powered by artificial intelligence to collect household-by-household data on what people placed in their curbside recycling bins or carts. The program analyzes residents' recycling behaviors and provides customized feedback.
East Lansing, MI
United States
Dubuque, IA to launch an AI-driven traffic system
Dubuque City is utilizing AI technology to improve traffic management by analyzing real-time data from traffic signals and road conditions. This system (called the Smart Traffic Routing with Efficient and Effective Traffic System) aims to optimize traffic flow, reduce congestion, and enhance safety for drivers and pedestrians. The initiative is part of the city's broader efforts to integrate smart technology into urban planning and transportation systems.
Dubuque, IA
United States