Smart Cities

The City of Philadelphia Rolls Out its Own Blockchain Initiative Philadelphia is exploring how blockchain and related technologies can be used in their municipal government.

Here’s What World Leaders Agreed To — and What They Didn’t — at the U.N. Climate Summit Agreements include phasing out fossil fuels and updating climate change plans, but many climate commitments may have fallen short of expectations.

15 City Leaders Define a ‘Smart City’Leaders from the largest U.S. metros share their take on what a smart city looks like for their community.

Singapore Named Smartest Global City for Third year: Report Singapore was ranked first among 118 global cities reviewed in the Smart City Index.

Cities to Test Commercial EV Fleets, Smart Traffic, Curbside Management Using Federal Funds – The Los Angeles Cleantech Incubator (LACI) is using a $3.8 million grant to test commercial electric trucks in Los Angeles, Pittsburgh, and Santa Monica.

What’s in the Infrastructure Bill for Smart Cities? – The $1 trillion infrastructure bill includes a $500 million grant for smart city technology projects, including ​​connected vehicles, autonomous transportation, and “smart” traffic sensors.

Car-Sharing Company Completes £3m Pre-Series A Round to Expand UK City Coverage – London-based Karshare enables peer-to-peer on-demand car-sharing, the first of its kind in Europe.

All the Tech That Went Into Turning Columbus, Ohio Into a ‘Smart City’ – Launching from the 2015 USDOT Smart City Challenge, Columbus’ smart city initiatives aim to tackle the city’s most pressing problems using smart technology.

Korean Companies Form Alliance to Develop Smart City Tech for Vietnam – The platform will use AI and machine learning to improve the urban infrastructure of Starlake City.

City of Akron Launches Mobile Parking App – The Flowbird group is launching an app that will enable drivers to find spaces and pay for parking throughout the city.

The Fourth Industrial Revolution – Korea Invests $20 Billion In Its Smart City Ecosystem – Korea’s National Strategic Smart Cities Program aims to support 70 cities by 2030 and the country is investing in smart city technology, hydrogen-powered green energy, and 5G applications.

This $68 Billion Australian City Wants to Become the Next Silicon Valley – One ambitious goal of the planned and privately built city is to produce more energy than it consumes by 2038.

Communications Network Transforms Atlanta Beltline into Smart City Corridor – eX² Technology and Atlanta BeltLine are partnering to create a fiber optic communications networks part of Atlanta’s smart city initiatives.

Mavenir Powers Thailand’s First Smart City Using 5G Open RAN – The technology will allow the city to implement smart city initiatives such as traffic diagnostics and digital signage.

Asian Pacific Teamwork Is Bringing Smart Cities to Life – Initiatives like the Smart Cities Network allow cities in Singapore, Myanmar, Indonesia, and more to collaborate to create smart city technology.

Pandemic Accelerated Rise of Smart Cities – One of the central components of emerging smart cities is investment in cloud technology.

Singapore, Seoul and London Top Smart City Governance Ranking – Eden Strategy Institute named Singapore, Seoul, and London as leading smart cities.

Urban Intelligence Rising: Why Smart Cities Are Better Cities – The connected nature of smart cities will improve city life in a multitude of ways, such as increasing traffic safety.

Santa Monica, CA Aims to Create Zero-Emissions Delivery Zone Playbook – The City of Santa Monica, CA and the Los Angeles Cleantech Incubator (LACI) are launching a zero-emissions delivery zone to tackle climate and congestion issues caused by deliveries.

Austin Approves Release of Funds for Mobility Projects – The $460 million will go towards mobility projects such as a bicycle and pedestrian bridge.

Georgia Smart City Living Lab Unveils 5G Incubator – Part of the T-Mobile Accelerator, the Curiosity Lab will test 5G technology use cases including autonomous vehicles (AVs), drones, and robotics.

Climate Leaders Go ‘All In’ to Halve Emissions by 2030 – Elected officials, companies, and nonprofits teamed up to work with the federal government to combat climate change. The “America Is All In” coalition is co-chaired by former NYC Mayor Michael Bloomberg, WA Gov. Jay Inslee, Charlotte Mayor Vi Lyles, and CommonSpirit Health CEO Lloyd H. Dean.

Think Tank: City life on Mars? Creating Human-Centred Communities in Space and Beyond – An interesting look at questions we may want to ask as we continue to explore space and consider space communities.

Microcities to Drive Adoption of Urban Tech – There are more than 13,000 microcities worldwide that can promote urban tech adoption through testing new innovative tech on a smaller scale.

The Future of Public Safety: Why Smart Cities Need to Look to the Cloud – Mexico City uses a networked cloud-based surveillance system to combat crime and increase safety in the city.

San Bernardino Municipalities to Benefit from Smart Traffic Technology – San Bernardino County Transportation Authority (SBCTA) will use Iteris tech to improve traffic flow and safety.

In South Bend, Pete Buttigieg Challenged a Decades-Old Assumption that Streets Are For Cars Above All Else – “The 15-year-old movement for ‘complete streets’ seeks to balance the needs of pedestrians and cyclists with those of drivers.”

How Smart Cities can Mitigate the Impact of Health Crises – “‘Terabytes of data can be daily provided from different sources, such as lamp posts, buses, climatic stations,…and any other ‘element’ that can be connected to a digital city’s macrocosm.'”

When It Rains, Rotterdam’s Bikers Get To Go Through Lights Faster – “Now, when it starts to shower, the traffic lights prioritize cyclists so they don’t wait so long to cross.”

The Smart City News That Shaped 2020

The Path to Post-Pandemic Smart Cities

Think Tank: What is Infrastructure For?

The Road to Smart City Infrastructure Starts with Research

Investing In Innovation: The Rise Of The Smart City

Solving the Mobility Challenge in Megacities

Shanghai Crowned Smart City of the Year at Smart City Live 2020

How Covid-19 Has Made Smart Cities Smarter Than Ever

Internet of Things Help Cities Clean Up Their Act

Smart Dublin Chooses IoT solution to Curb Ring Buoy Theft

Breaking Down Regulatory Barriers is Key to Achieve Smarter Cities

Powering Up Smart Cities Around The World

Enel X to Support US Cities in Electrifying Public Transport Bus Fleets

The Secret to Building a Smart City That’s Antiracist

Smart Cities Predicted to Create Growth Opportunities Worth $2.46 Trillion by 2025

Smart Cities Need Smarter Governance

New Resource Aims to Help Cities Improve Data Sharing Across Boundaries

6 Smart City Services People would Pay for and Use

 

Mobility and Innovation

Biden Signs $1 Trillion Bipartisan Infrastructure Bill into Law $550 billion will go towards transportation, broadband, and utilities.

Billions of Dollars in Infrastructure bill for charging could supercharge electric vehicle adoption$7.5 billion was set aside for EV-related projects.

Mobilize: Rural Communities Adopting Shared Electric Mobility Solutions Rural communities such as France’s Luitré-Dompierre are exploring car sharing to ensure every community member has access to transportation when they need it.

Electrifying 97% of the Federal Fleet by 2030 Could Save Billions: Report – Government agencies could reduce total cost of ownership by switching all government vehicles to electric vehicles. The USPS could save $2.9 billion by 2025 if they made the switch to EVs.

Michigan and Ontario Form Smart-Mobility Pact – Michigan and Ontario will work together to test automated and connected vehicle technologies to improve trade across their shared border.

Bird is the Latest Operator to Integrate its E-Scooters and E-Bikes with Google Maps – Along with micromobility apps Lime and Spin, Bird will show up as a mobility option under the bike toggle in Google Maps, showing riders estimated travel time, cost and environmental impact.

Three Ways Technology is Helping Public Transportation Become More Sustainable – To recover from up to a 90% decline in ridership, many transit agencies are looking towards IoT, air purification, and bus electrification to make public transit more desirable and sustainable.

Infrastructure Deal is Back on Track After Biden’s Assurances – The deal would allocate $312 billion for transportation projects.

Autonomous Shuttles Still Face Tech, Regulatory Barriers to Permanent Adoption – One major barrier to autonomous vehicle development and adoption is national regulations.

Amazon Partners with Three Transit Agencies to Invest $300M in Affordable Housing – Amazon’s Equitable Housing Fund in partnership with transit agencies from Washington, Virginia, and Tennessee will build affordable housing with accessible public transportation.

This Key Region is the Focus of New Electric-Vehicle Battery Production Among Global Auto Giants – Renault and Nissan are developing EV battery facilities in Europe to position themselves as a leader in the region, currently only behind Volkswagen.

Where We Are on the Road to Electric Vehicles – This article will answer your main questions about where we stand on the production and adoption of EVs.

More Electric Car Charging Stations Needed to Juice EV Sales: Is Biden’s 500,000 Proposal on Target? – Companies such as Mercedez-Benz say that increased stations will allow companies to more quickly become emissions-free since the average consumer will be more motivated to buy an EV.

Ford’s Electric F-150 Pickup Aims to Be the Model T of E.V.s – MOBI member Ford just launched the all-electric version of their iconic F-150 truck.

Electric Scooter Rentals to Launch in London Next Month – Lime, Tier, and Dott will run 12-week trials to test their e-scooters in London.

All Those Electric Vehicles Pose a Problem for Building Roads – Charging drivers for their road usage is a potential solution once we can’t rely on the gas tax anymore.

Lime Introduces Its First E-Moped Fleet in Washington, DC – Lime plans to distribute 600 e-mopeds across the city.

Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg Backs Biden’s Infrastructure Bill, Says ‘We’re Still Coasting on Infrastructure Choices’ From the 1950s – the plan would fund several projects including road and bridge repairs, Amtrak improvements, lead pipe repairs, port and airport funding, and public school improvements.

Biden’s Plan to Rev up the Electric Car Market is Complicated by Battery Supplies – Companies like Ford and Volkswagen are relying on Biden to help resolve a dispute between two South Korean battery manufacturers.

Vehicle Deaths Reached 13-year High in 2020: National Safety Council – Some leaders are calling for vehicle to everything (V2X) communication technology which may help prevent 80% of crashes.

Paris to Launch Universal Charging Pilot for Micro-Mobility – Micromobility company Duct will install 150 charging docks to improve last-mile infrastructure in Paris.

The Single Biggest Threat To The Electric Vehicle Revolution – A growing chip shortage may slow production of EVs.

Google Maps Will Now Let You Pay for Parking and Transit Without Leaving the App – Google Maps users can now pay for transportation expenses such as parking in the Google Maps app by connecting Maps to users’ Google Pay wallets.

Why 2021 is Shaping Up To Be a Pivotal Year for Electric Vehicles – Predictions include an EV sales increase and more affordable EV options, but automakers will have to address range anxiety and focus on why EVs are the better choice.

MaaS and Micro-Mobility Companies Team for First-and-Last-Mile Options – MaaS and micro-mobility companies Moovit and Beryl will connect users to e-scooters and bikes across 5 UK cities.

Smart Traffic Tech to Save Cities $277bn by 2025 – Smart intersections are key to reduce emissions and traffic congestion.

Transit Agencies Must Play Lead role in MaaS Growth: Report – The public sector can benefit from interoperable MaaS systems to reduce congestion and achieve other transportation goals.

Dear Secretary Pete: 9 Transportation Projects You Should Consider Right Away – Projects such as expanding the EV charging network and approving congestion pricing could go a long way in improving and innovating U.S. transportation infrastructure.

How Lime Is Supporting Sustainable, Smart Mobility That Will Continue To Transform Our Lives In 2021 And Beyond – Lime e-scooters are a great micro-mobility tool to make cities greener and more sustainable while simultaneously making transportation more affordable and accessible.

Paris is Turning its Iconic Street into Pedestrian Gardens – “New trees would add shade for pedestrians and help clean the air. (The city also plans to ban non-electric vehicles by 2030, so the cars that are left won’t be polluting.)”

Fleet Electrification Can have ‘Outsized Influence’ on EV Adoption: RMI – “Fleets make up about 3% of all vehicles registered in the United States but can ‘have outsized influence on the successful electrification of the entire transportation sector,’ according to RMI’s report.”

London Hits Electric Vehicles Charging Milestone – “London now has more than 500 rapid charge points and over 5,500 residential charge points, with some points dedicated exclusively for almost 4,000 electric taxis operating in the capital.”

Urban Mobility Will Center on MaaS, Driverless Delivery: Report

Mando Corporation introduced the new vision of “Freedom in Mobility” at CES 2021

Apple and Hyundai are Reportedly Planning to Team Up and Build a ‘Beta’ Version of an Electric Car by 2022

Smart AI-Based Cameras to Transform Traffic Management by 2025

More than 155,000 smart artificial intelligence-based (AI-based) cameras will be in use by 2025 for traffic management, up from 33,000 in 2020, according to latest research

Why Dockless Bikes are the Symbol of our Future Cities

City-dwellers worldwide are shifting lifestyles as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, especially in terms of transport. As cities re-open, urban planners and designers are rethinking urban and transport infrastructure to adapt to a post-pandemic world.

Mobility’s Future: An Investment Reality Check

Intelligent Traffic System to be Deployed on Austrian Highways

Asfinag (German acronym for “autobahn and highway financing stock corporation”) claims it is first infrastructure provider in Europe to install a network connecting vehicles and the road

California Regulator Approves Fare-Based AV Services

The California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC) approved last week two new autonomous vehicle (AV) programs — one for “drivered” companies and the other for driverless — that will allow companies to accept compensation on fare-based shared AV trips for the public.

Jaguar Land Rover Develops Smart City Hub to Test Self-Driving Vehicle Technology

Jaguar Land Rover is partnering with global software, mobility and telecoms companies to create a smart city hub that will allow real-world testing of connected technology where self-driving vehicles share the streets with cars, pedestrians and cyclists.

VW Aims to Transform Greek Island into Green Mobility Hub

Volkswagen Group will launch a pilot project for climate-neutral mobility on the Greek island of Astypalea, in the eastern Aegean sea, as part of the German automaker’s efforts to roll out electric vehicles and curb emissions

Why IKEA is Investing in Sustainable Mobility

Its sustainable transportation focus is part of its long-term sustainability plan. Specifically, Hultberg said that the company is worried about being able to align with the climate goals of the communities where it does business.

Flexible Long-term Solutions: Europcar Mobility Group’s Response to Help 

Instead of being committed to a fixed-term lease or an outright purchase for a vehicle, Europcar’s packages offer companies the opportunity to pick-up vehicles when they need, for how long they want and in a fully flexible manner.

California Plans to Ban Sales of New Gas-Powered Cars in 15 Years

Governor Newsom directed California’s regulators to develop a plan that would require automakers to sell steadily more zero-emissions passenger vehicles in the state, such as battery-powered or hydrogen-powered cars and pickup trucks, until they make up 100 percent of new auto sales in just 15 years

European Commission Names Leuven as Capital of Innovation

It aims to become one of Europe’s Labs of the Future through an operating model that facilitates collaborative innovation. Different groups of stakeholders come together, with the common purpose of innovating around complex challenges from climate change and the shift to a circular economy to ensuring high-quality education and care.

The Best Mobility Design of 2020

See all the honorees of Fast Company’s 2020 Innovation by Design Awards in the Mobility category.

How Are Apple, Amazon, Facebook, Google Monopolies? House Report Counts The Ways

These four corporations increasingly serve as gatekeepers of commerce and communications in the digital age.

USDOT Awards $14M in Grants to Transit Projects

Grant recipients will use new technologies and services, including microtransit, vehicle automation, integrating ride-hailing services with transit and contactless fare payments. Of the projects, 20 are located in or benefit rural areas, the department said.

UL Joins Automotive Safety Council to Help Advance Auto Safety and Mobility

To maintain its third-party impartiality, UL has joined the Automotive Safety Council as a sponsoring member, a membership category reserved for companies or organizations associated with the advancement of automotive safety but does not directly provide automotive safety products, materials or equipment.

 

Blockchain, DLT, and Related Technologies

Supply Chain Latest: Blockchain to Cut Logjams as Logistics Ditch PaperCovid-19-related delays and shortages are accelerating the adoption of digital supply chain solutions.

What Is Blockchain? How the Technology Transforms Daily LifeBlockchain is innovating many aspects of daily life including banking and healthcare.

IoT Value Set to Accelerate Through 2030: Where and How to Capture It McKinsey estimates $5.5 trillion to $12.6 trillion in IoT economic value by 2030.

Green Blockchain Should Work Smarter, Not Harder – Now that blockchain is becoming mainstream, developers and the public want to know how to make it as energy-efficient as possible.

Australia and Singapore Conclude Digital Verification Blockchain Pilot – Part of the Australia–Singapore Digital Economy Agreement, the pilot found that digitizing certificates of origin (COO) “showed promise” to improve trade efficiency through a trusted trade ecosystem that can ensure the provenance of goods.

Israel Pilots Project to Connect Smart Traffic Cameras Over 5G – Traffic cameras will use RAD’s SecFlow IIot Gateway to enable live video feeds over a 5G network.

Tesla Is Developing Blockchain Platform To Ensure Users Can Fully Track Cobalt ‘From Mine To Battery’”  – Tesla is working with DRC consortium Re|Source to ensure sustainability and track provenance of cobalt, an ingredient used in the production of lithium ion batteries that are used in electric vehicles.

Developer Behind Surging Cardano Token Talks Crypto, Blockchain – Cardano is working on a universal credentialing system with Ethiopia’s Ministry of Education to provide education credentialing for 5 million students.

Fed Governor Lays Out the Case for a US-Backed Digital Dollar – A central bank-backed digital currency could allow more Americans to access financial services. The central bank will also be releasing a paper exploring the possibility of a US digital dollar.

What is Blockchain and What Can it Do? – This article explains how blockchain is much more than money or bitcoin.

Blockchain-Based Smart Contracts; Considerations For Implementation – Unlike traditional contracts, coding language and executable clauses make up a smart contract.

Boston Symphony Orchestra Partners with True Tickets for Blockchain Ticketing – True Tickets is helping organizations like the Boston Symphony safely reopen by offering contactless ticketing.

Moderna to Explore Blockchain Vaccine Traceability with IBM – The pilot aims help government and healthcare providers track the vaccine supply chain.

NFTs Explained: What’s Driving Prices for LeBron James and Kings of Leon Digital Collectibles – The tokens are used to verify the authenticity of various digital items such as artwork or sports memorabilia.

Where Is Blockchain Now? Current Trends Affecting The Industry’s Enterprises – Blockchain application projects have a few things in common such as dapps and interconnectivity.

Thousands of Microsoft Customers May Have Been Victims of Hack Tied to China – An estimated 30,000 Microsoft customers were affected in the attack.

Mark Cuban: If I Were to Start a Business Right Now, This Is What I Would Do – Business mogul Mark Cuban explained that he would use blockchain, smart contracts, and NFTs if he were starting a company today.

In Nevada Desert, Blockchains LLC Aims To Be Its Own Municipal Government – Jeffrey Berns, CEO of Nevada-based Blockchains LLC, wants to create a smart city where all online activity is stored on blockchain by pushing for legislation that would allow companies to govern their own smart cities as “innovation zones.”

GameStop Hearings Make A Strong Case For Blockchain-Based Trading – Blockchain could allow for real-time trade settlement which would improve the current T+2 process where a trade takes two days to settle. Robinhood CEO Vlad Tenev said the current T+2 process was partially to blame for blocking the purchase of shares during the GameStop market volatility.

Forbes Blockchain 50 – Blockchain is becoming increasingly mainstream. Forbes lists corporate leaders in distributed ledger technology (DLT).

How Blockchain Could Make Fashion Greener – TextileGenesis is using blockchain to create a more sustainable and transparent supply chain for the fashion industry.

China’s National Blockchain Network Embraces Global Developers – China aims to become a global leader in blockchain by supporting government-backed networks such as the Blockchain-Based Service Network (BSN).

IoT and 5G Predicted to Advance the Electronic Test and Measurement Industry – “As 5G networks allow for increased IoT connectivity, cities will become smarter, integrating more connected infrastructure.”

It’s Time to Put the Dukes Down and Work Together for Blockchain’s Future – “It is true that a house divided against itself cannot stand, and the case could not be more evident in the world of blockchain.”

4 Ways Blockchain Could Catapult into Mainstream – “We need to update the blockchain narrative to something more easily palpable for the average consumer and get on a path of attracting the millions of users.”

How IBM is Using Blockchain to Transform the Potential of Enterprise Data

Iota Blockchain Used to Track COVID-19 Test Results at Frankfurt Airport

Moore On Pricing: Blockchain and Freight Payment

Ride-Sharing Giant Cabify to Track and Offset Carbon Emissions Using Blockchain Platform

The Latin American ride-sharing business has tapped Valencia, Spain-based blockchain fintech firm ClimateTrade to digitize and track its carbon emissions.

LayerX Will Develop Blockchain-Based Voting System Using Digital ID Verification in Japan

Japanese firm Layer X will be partnering with a digital identity application called xID to build a blockchain-based voting system in the Japanese city of Kaga.

Singapore’s Government Launches Blockchain Innovation Program with $8.9 Million in Funding

Called the Singapore Blockchain Innovation Programme (SBIP), the project is a collaboration between Enterprise Singapore, Infocomm Media Development Authority and the National Research Foundation Singapore. It has support from the Monetary Authority of Singapore, the country’s central bank and financial regulator.

Election Dilemma: Putting Data on Blockchain Doesn’t Mean It’s Correct

Although the use of blockchain can technologically make elections transparent and reliable for voters, the problem of trust in authorities and the media, psychologically, may remain the same

Using Blockchain to Monitor the COVID-19 Vaccine Supply Chain

One of the biggest challenges is still ahead – how to distribute this vaccine to every living person around the globe. In this global first, blockchain could play an essential role.

Why the Remote Revolution Needs Distributed Ledger Technology

The workplace now has a new set of demands that requires a potentially disruptive technological leap. Distributed Ledger Technology (DLT) has the potential to be the technological backbone for the remote work scenario and in particular its financial system

The Changing Role of the IoT in the Covid-19 World

Fever screening, social distancing and occupancy control, remote health monitoring, air quality and pollution control, smart parking detection and water quality solutions are among those seeing increased demand around the world.

AP News Publishes US Presidential Election Results on Blockchain

Using blockchain-based technologies provides a secure and unhackable record of the state-by-state results as they come in.

EY Releases Enterprise Procurement Solution on Ethereum Blockchain

The product is designed to support enterprise networks, allowing buyers and sellers to operate as networks, while automatically tracking volumes and spend, and utilizing agreed terms and pricing.

What Makes a Blockchain Project Successful?

Plenty of smart people start blockchain projects that reached massive brick walls when they launched, not because they didn’t do a good job but because the industry they were entering was never going to be receptive to them. Find an industry like healthcare, and dive right in.

Australian Government’s Digital Business Plan Includes $5M for Blockchain

Australia’s Prime Minister has announced the Federal Government’s biggest investment in blockchain to-date, with two pilots set to receive almost $5 million.

IBM Says Blockchain Becoming a Useful ‘Real Business Tool’

Blockchain turns out to be a fast way to integrate business data, while using smart contracts for automation of workflows. It creates the capability for collaboration and trust when organizations are dealing with multiple parties.

Meet Torus, the 1-Click Blockchain Wallet Trying to Make Web3 as Easy as Chrome

The Singapore-based startup has released a one-click Chrome browser extension for its Torus wallet and added a new product called tKey, a custom version of two-factor authentication (2FA).

Chainlink’s New Aquisition from Cornell University Could Transform Blockchain for Good

Chainlink, the most widely used decentralized financial data source has acquired DECO from Cornell University. DECO, is an improvement on how to utilize HTTPS/TLS, for data transmission across the internet, developed by Dr. Ari Juels, the former Chief Scientist of RSA, one of the world’s largest security companies.

Industry 4.0, the fourth industrial revolution, is remaking the auto industry with disruptive technologies such as blockchain, AI, and more

Industry 4.0 is an integration of the physical, biological and digital worlds, built on a base of emerging technological breakthroughs including autonomous capabilities, artificial intelligence, the Internet of Things (IoT), next-generation wireless technologies, nanotechnology, big data, blockchain and cloud computing.

South Korean Highways will have Blockchain-Powered Toll Payments

KEB Hana Bank, one of the biggest commercial banks in South Korea, reached an agreement with the state-backed highway operator, the Korea Expressway Corporation, to bring blockchain-based toll payments system across the nation’s highways.