Making a City Smarter Through Digital Transformation: The Smart City Event

The IoT Evolution Expo is coming up fast, and we interviewed several of our speakers to get a bit of a preview of what to expect from their sessions.

Here, we spoke to Mayor Eugene W. Grant, Mayor of City of Seat Pleasant, MD, who will be speaking at the Smart City Event about his city’s digital transformation. The technology used in Seat Pleasant's Digital Transformation includes an operational data platform (i.e. command and control platform, smart city platform) that allows Cities to aggregate data from disparate sources and visualize that data in a single view. This allows the City to share data across departments, and the solution also allows for the development of KPIs for measuring productivity and SOPs for improving the efficiency of processes. The solution was developed by IBM and is called the Intelligent Operations Center. There is a Public Safety/Emergency Management Module/Add-on to the IBM Intelligent Operations Center that was developed by Priority 5. This component allows our public safety individuals monitor crime activity across jurisdictions, plan for emergencies by understanding the interdependencies of critical infrastructure and respond effectively to emergencies by improving communication and coordination.

He will be speaking in the “Connected Governments as the Future of Innovation and Cultivators of Authentic Smart Cities” session, part of The Smart City Event at the IoT Evolution Expo, which is taking place January 29 to February 1, 2019, in Ft. Lauderdale, Florida.

To hear his talk, click here to register.

Here is a little preview of his thoughts:

What will be some key points you plan to hit in your session?
Seat Pleasant’s Smart City Transformation: our Philosophy on Smart Cities, Our methodology for achieving change, and our progress to date. Also, the presentation will include details about our overarching vision for the city, including what we plan to do next.

What new insights can attendees expect to take home from your session?
First, our presentation will educate attendees on what a Smart City is, but also, how to start a transformation, and the best practices for doing so. It will also include pitfalls to be on the lookout for and strategies to avoid them.

Can you identify a few important trends influencing your sector of the IoT which will shape the path of the industry? Why these?
We are in the government sector as we are a municipality. With that being said, the digitization of services is a big trend right now. For example, how can we deliver services in a more efficient and effective manner and how can we “push” government to where the residents are (i.e. Mobile channels)? Another major trend in our sector is related to Privacy and how to make sure that government is a good steward of citizen data.

What are the biggest challenges facing the IoT? What are some important tools needed to overcome them?
Privacy is the number one challenge, and that can be addressed by taking a process oriented approach to how data is collected, treated, and shared. And for the most success, citizens and the public should be engaged in the process. Another major challenge for municipalities is how to secure funding for IoT and Smart City projects. One way to do so is to leverage grant opportunities that are available from Federal, State and Private Institutions. Another way is to create win-win public private partnerships.