Global smart city challenge launched in the US

The US National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) has launched a year-long challenge aimed at helping communities create ‘smart cities’.

The institute, part of the Department of Commerce, has commenced the Global City Teams Challenge.

During the challenge, participants will focus on issues including air-quality, traffic management, emergency service coordination and other areas where networked technologies can help improve quality of life.

As part of the event, there will be a two-day workshop starting on 29 September that will bring together city planners and representatives from technology companies, academic institutions and non-profits from around the world.

“Many established cities have similar goals of improving air quality or delivering better health care - and emerging regions want to be smart from the start. But those projects often address only one city or region at a time,” commented Chris Greer, director of NIST’s Smart Grid and Cyber-Physical Systems Program Office.

“The Global City Teams Challenge will help communities around the world work together on shared challenges.”

NIST has teamed up with non-profit US Ignite for the challenge. US Ignite will host the website that will allow participants to create teams focused on particular smart city goals. Other partners for the project include Intel, IBM, Juniper Networks and ARM Holdings.

Image courtesy of Bob Whitehead under CC