AT&T is building a framework to help cities better serve their citizens. The company is using Internet of Things (IoT) innovations to create impactful solutions for cities and forming alliances with technology leaders and industry organisations.
AT&T has formed alliances with Cisco, Deloitte, Ericsson, GE, IBM, Intel, and Qualcomm Technologies, Inc. to help support the new framework, building more connected communities.
The company says that it will bring the smart cities framework to several initial spotlight cities and universities that include Atlanta, the Georgia Institute of Technology, Chicago and Dallas.
“Atlanta is a great city and, thanks to our collaboration with AT&T, it will soon be a smarter city,” said Atlanta Mayor Kasim Reed. “Improving sustainability and increasing public safety are already top priorities for the City of Atlanta. With the integration of AT&T’s Smart City solutions, we will be better positioned to support these initiatives while also enriching the lives of our residents.”
“Atlanta has long demonstrated how private-public relationships enabled the city to serve as an innovator in many areas of technology and society,” said Steve Cross, executive vice president for research at Georgia Tech. “Georgia Tech is excited to bring its research competencies to work with the city, AT&T as well as other companies, NGOs, and education organisations to set the standard for building a smart cities framework.”
“From water system sensors to advanced analytics and energy efficiency efforts, Chicago has already taken steps to become a Smart City,” said Brenna Berman, CIO of the City of Chicago. “We are excited to team with AT&T, a leader in Internet of Things solutions, to help us harness the power of near real-time information to create a safer, cleaner and more efficient city.”
“The Dallas Innovation Alliance is thrilled to work with AT&T on its smart city initiatives for the city of Dallas” said Trey Bowles, cofounder of the Dallas Innovation Alliance. “The DIA was established to gather the expertise and perspectives of public, private and academic institutions. By working closely with the mayor, city manager, CIO, key non-profit and industry leaders, we look forward to building a holistic approach to smart cities beginning in the West End Historic District in Downtown Dallas.”
“We’ve built strong relationships with cities across the U.S. for over 100 years,” said Mike Zeto, general manager of Smart Cities, AT&T IoT Solutions. “We’re continuing to be a leader in smart cities innovation. Our holistic strategy can help cities save money, conserve energy, improve quality of life, and further engage with their citizens.”
IoT Innovations
We already help communities solve problems with solutions that connect utility meters, street lights, and water systems. The new framework adds several new categories:
- Infrastructure – Cities are able to remotely monitor the conditions of roads, bridges, buildings, parks and other venues. Maintenance crews can identify slick roadways during freezing weather or detect bridges that may need repairs.
- Citizen Engagement – Mobile apps give people information to stay better prepared. For example, you can be notified in near real-time if a traffic light isn’t working on your route. You can also remotely view parking meters and reserve spaces ahead of time.
- Transportation – Digital signage lets commuters know in near real-time when the next bus or train will arrive. People can rent electric bikes at stations across the city to reduce traffic.
- Public Safety – Cities can better manage traffic patterns of pedestrians at stadiums, parks, and busy intersections. Gun fire detection technology helps law enforcement know where a shooting occurred. It also helps them determine the number of people involved and rounds fired.
AT&T is also developing a new digital dashboard that gives cities a high-level look at their communities’ conditions. The Smart City Network Operation Center (SC-NOC) offers cities a dashboard view of how assets are performing in near-real time. City officials can keep tabs on power outages, water leaks, traffic issues, and more – all from one location.
We’ve recently joined Envision America, a new smart cities program under Envision Charlotte, helping cities become smarter and driving technologies that tackle energy, water, waste, and air challenges. We continue to lead organisations in this space such as the Dallas Innovation Alliance, the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST), and the Smart Cities Council.
The AT&T Foundry for IoT innovation center in Plano, TX also helps foster collaboration to advance cutting-edge smart city technologies. The company will demo several smart cities solutions at the AT&T Developer Summit Jan. 4-5 in Las Vegas.
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