Transforming Communities into Smart Cities

WHAT YOU’LL LEARN

• Broad concepts of big data, open data, and smart city and the multifaceted paths for an overarching strategy to use technology and data to enhance livability in your community
• How to identify the opportunities and challenges that arise when advancing a smart-city strategy for your community.
• How to leverage Smart Cities Challenge funding opportunities to launch your community’s journey of innovation and create synergies to connect your community to the digital way of life

MORE SESSION DETAILS

Communities and governments around the world are recognizing the need to keep up with the digital way of life that is omnipresent in our time and significantly changing the way we live, work, play, learn, heal, shop, and grow. Disruptive technologies are changing our tastes and expectations — everywhere, across income groups, social or religious associations, and political boundaries. The need to adapt is not only to remain competitive but also to avoid being left behind. This session will rely on hands-on experiences to enhance the information and communications technologies (ICTs) that provide critical connections for and within communities in a constantly evolving digital world. Wider funding opportunities are available in North America to kick-start your community’s transformation into a smarter city, leading to a revamped technology-savvy policy framework that provides a reliable, convenient, and safe environment for communities to be informed and engaged. Learn how communities in diverse cultural and political settings like Bhubaneswar (Eastern India), San Pedro Sula (Honduras), or London have confirmed their collective priorities and are now using information and communications technologies to transform their cities into healthier, safer, and more sustainable settings with improved quality of life for all.