Smart Cities
- 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
- 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
- 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.