San Francisco, California, USA – Cityzenith, a software company based in Silicon Valley, is signing agreements with Amsterdam’s Economic Board, the Barcelona City Council, and San Francisco’s Department of the Environment to launch a software platform that will transform the collection, visualisation, analysis, and management of municipal data around the globe. This three-city collaboration is the first time cities have joined forces to establish a common platform for using and sharing their data within as well as between cities and their citizens via simple, mobile applications.
Cities already generate big data, but much of it is uncollected, unused, or misunderstood due to the limits of existing systems. For all the promise of smart cities, the lack of a secure, scalable, and open platform has hindered efforts to realise that promise. Cityzenith’s 5D SMART CityTM – developed by one of the principal creators of Google EarthTM – provides that long-awaited platform to connect, collect, and access a diverse cross-section of city data sources through an easy-to-use, single point-of-view.
“We are excited to partner with three of the world’s smartest cities to offer a solution that has never before been offered, but which every city needs,” said Michael Jansen, Cityzenith’s Chairman and CEO. “Cities around the world have been searching for a way to empower their communities to understand and interface with the rich data in their cities, and now they have one. We look forward to welcoming new partner cities from across the globe in the months to come.”
Amsterdam, Barcelona and San Francisco will also work with Cityzenith to develop Smart Apps — 3D applications enabling cities, their corporate partners, and citizens to analyse and create new uses for urban data through the use of their mobile devices. These apps, which sit on the core 5D SMART City™ platform, will enable users to visually access a vast array of up-to-the-second data sources (e.g. reports, buildings’ energy usage, photos, video, RSS feeds, Tweets, etc.). Through the use of the Smart Apps, public officials will be able to streamline operations and borrow best practices from partners around the world, while citizens have the opportunity to improve the public places where they live, work and play however they see fit.
To accelerate the development of Smart Apps and the creation of unique solutions for urban challenges, Cityzenith will help establish app development centres in each of the three cities to support both government agencies and the local developer community. Smart Apps provide an opportunity for government agencies, private companies, and citizens to work together toward common goals.
This initiative – which many other major cities are currently in discussions to adopt – will transform how cities are managed and the increased opportunities for local engagement. The initial phases of the project will further develop the platform’s capabilities to:
- Improve collaboration between city agencies;
- Collect more and better data for greater sustainability and efficiency;
- Encourage the creation of city- and citizen-led applications to enhance engagement with citizens, governments, and business alike;
- Share best practices between partner cities.
Cityzenith (formerly Screampoint) makes complex city data simple, intuitive, and straightforward, while connecting citizens to the world of city data around them. Serving the needs of city governments, corporate partners and citizens worldwide, the company is dedicated to enabling cities and their citizens to develop new, innovative ways of visualising, analysing, and applying data to address urban challenges and improve the quality of life in cities.
