Smart Cities Connect

The Smart Cities Smart Bases Innovation Challenge is looking for YOU to deliver cutting-edge, dual-use technologies that address the intersecting technical, environmental, and security challenges faced by both smart cities and smart military bases. Municipalities and military installations are increasingly vulnerable to cyberattacks, natural and man-made disasters, and disruptions to energy, food, and water supply chains.

The Rochester-Genesee Regional Transportation Authority (RGRTA) in New York state recently announced a new 132-vehicle, five-year contract with The Routing Company (TRC) for on-demand transit. RGRTA provides public transportation services in an eight-county area in and around Rochester, New York, delivering more than 10 million rides per year.

Chicago Austin Youth Travel Adventures (CAYTA) is currently hosting Austin Farm-to-Table Trolley Tours where people can visit community gardens, learn about health and wellness, and see a cooking demonstration with a professional chef. The Chicago, IL based nonprofit is dedicated to opening the world of inner city youth through local cultural immersions, career development, and skills building.

A two-year pilot project is being launched in London, England – the Town Architects program – to help improve main streets and public spaces across the capital. The program is part of the Mayor Sadiq Khan’s  £1.25m Local Growth Capacity Support Programme which aims to support local growth and the design of public spaces in the city.

Grow Some Good – a nonprofit organization in Hawaii dedicated to strengthening local agriculture and improving access to nutritious, affordable food – has been working with the Maui Family YMCA on a project bringing urban agriculture initiatives to Maui. Called Nā Māla Kaiāulu, the project will address food security, climate resilience, and community well-being.

The city of Doncaster, England has partnered with Duraproducts for a trial project to install recycled plastic curbing units at two sites within the city. The company’s product, called Durakerb, is a recyclable, lightweight curbing solution made from 88% recycled polymer content.

The FireSafe Council, Stanford University, the Department of Homeland Security, and multiple regional fire agencies in the San Francisco Peninsula region have partnered to install 50 sensors that use artificial intelligence to help detect wildland fires. The N-5 sensors have been installed in wildland urban interface areas within San Mateo County, including: Woodside; Portola Valley; Redwood City; Palo Alto; and land owned by Stanford University.

Transport UK London Bus (Tulb) recently introduced a fleet of electric double-decker buses to one of their busiest routes in the capital city. It also developed a depot to incorporate fully electric routes with power infrastructure, maintenance, and charging facilities.

In order to expand the share of residents participating in municipal decision-making, the city of Helsinki in Finland randomly invited 5000 residents to form a climate panel. The panel is discussing ways in which the City can achieve its transport emissions reduction targets. Representatives from the City of Helsinki’s Elderly Citizens, Disabled and Youth Councils were also invited to the panel.

Salt Lake City, UT has partnered with Solar Stewards to fund solar, air quality, and community resilience projects in historically underserved areas of the city.