From incubating local startups to rethinking how city departments solve problems, Pittsburgh is taking a bold, integrated approach to building the city of the future. This panel dives into how the PGH Lab fuels the local economy, how internal innovation teams tackle real municipal challenges, and how the city is ensuring equitable broadband access in a rapidly digitizing world. Panelists will also unpack Pittsburgh’s responsible approach to AI, its deep partnerships with universities, and how these efforts come together into a smart cities strategy that helps leaders make smarter, more human-centered decisions for what’s next.

The City of Raleigh’s Office of Strategy and Innovation (OSI) brings a curious, creative mindset to public innovation, working across departments to explore what’s possible when we center residents in the design of city services. Through the Raleigh Impact Lab, we use human-centered design to understand real needs and behaviors, and pilot smart city technologies that improve how people experience government. We will discuss a recent design challenge —How might we reimagine the customer experience center to better serve residents using permitting, water, and stormwater services?— as an example of this approach in action. By testing emerging technologies through low-risk pilots and aligning them with citywide goals, Smart Raleigh helps us learn quickly, build trust, and scale what works.

Microtransit is moving beyond “pilot” status into a core component of local mobility, but the future will be defined by service design decisions and the ability to adjust service on the go as demand, budgets, and community needs change. This panel will examine how agencies and operators can design microtransit systems that are both rider-centered and operationally feasible through smart service design and establishing performance targets to achieve high accessibility. In some systems, demand is growing faster than supply. This panel will explore how cities, agencies, and operators can adapt microtransit systems for the future while facing supply constraints. We will discuss how microtransit programs have evolved over time, shifting service zones and hours, refining eligibility and policies, integrating with fixed-route transit, and adjusting booking and pricing rules to balance access with performance. A central theme is how microtransit fits within (and can transform) the broader demand-responsive ecosystem. Panelists will discuss models for coordinating microtransit with ADA paratransit and other demand-response services. Finally, we’ll explore the next wave of innovation: how AI and advanced analytics can make service smarter, supporting continuous redesign, improving dispatch decisions, anticipating peak loads, and predicting individual travel behavior to improve reliability and user experience.

Great resident engagement starts with great data. Yet many local governments struggle with fragmented information, outdated systems, and unclear data governance - leading to poor service delivery, frustrating resident experiences and failed technology pilots. In this session, “Good Data, Happy Communities,” panelists will explore how high-quality data governance and knowledge management enable better customer service delivery; how this interplay improves community engagement; and how artificial intelligence can make that foundation even stronger. While governments increasingly pilot AI tools to modernize services, many of those pilots fail due to incomplete, inconsistent, or siloed data. Without well-managed data, even the most sophisticated AI cannot deliver accurate, equitable, or trustworthy outcomes. This panel will explore what it means to be “AI-ready”: from establishing clear data pipelines and governance policies, to implementing knowledge management practices that enhance staff efficiency and delivery of government services to residents. Panelists will share real-world perspectives from local government leaders, technology innovators, and civic engagement experts. They will discuss how AI-native platforms are changing the game by embedding strong data architecture, security, and transparency into government communication systems - enabling better resident engagement, smarter insights, and more equitable access to information.

Computer vision is rapidly reshaping city operations—from transportation and public safety to utility management and aviation. This panel brings together leaders who are deploying vision‑based solutions at scale, including insights from Tampa International Airport on how AI‑enabled monitoring and analytics streamline airport operations and enhance the traveler experience. This session highlights practical frameworks for deploying computer vision responsibly, addressing privacy and governance considerations, and preparing cities for the future potential of vision‑enabled infrastructure.

As cities and utilities deploy smart lighting, many programs haven’t learned from past mistakes. They organize programs and RFPs as device-level decisions—lowest node cost, hardware specs, or a single-vendor controls platform. What often gets overlooked is the operational reality that follows: node obsolescence, vendor exits, Day-2 vs. Day-2000 operations, field crew workflows, community engagement, maintenance, and the need to adapt as hardware, vendors, and standards inevitably evolve. The result is too often a stovepipe of “smart” devices supported by “dumb” operations, with islands of manual processes, spreadsheets, disconnected systems, and institutional knowledge locked in people rather than platforms. In this session, Duke Energy and its city partners share how they are taking a Platform First approach to smart lighting—anchoring programs on a unified, operations-centric software platform that sits above the device layer. Rather than letting early hardware decisions dictate long-term outcomes, this approach establishes a system of record and system of action across multi-vendor controls, multiple asset types, workflows, field crews, and analytics. Panelists will discuss how a Platform First strategy enables cities and utilities to reduce vendor lock-in, standardize operations across territories and contractors, preserve institutional knowledge, and scale smart lighting into a broader foundation for smart city and grid-edge initiatives.

Cities across the world are reimagining how transportation technology can make intersections safer, smarter, and more efficient. This panel brings together two leading cities and their technology partners to share lessons learned from deploying innovative, AI-driven traffic solutions that address unique urban challenges. By leveraging artificial intelligence, advanced sensors, and connected infrastructure, these cities are transforming traditional traffic management into adaptive systems that enhance safety, improve traffic flow, and optimize emergency responses. Panelists will explore how AI at the intersection provides powerful insights into real-time conditions, enabling data-driven decision-making and proactive safety interventions. The discussion will also dispel common myths surrounding AI in transportation, offering a balanced look at its true capabilities and limitations. Equally important, the session will highlight the value of strong partnerships between public agencies and private technology providers. Successful deployments require collaboration, shared goals, and mutual trust to ensure solutions deliver measurable public benefit. Attendees will gain practical guidance on building and sustaining these relationships, along with actionable takeaways for implementing innovative technologies. Together, these lessons reveal how technology and partnerships can reshape the future of intersection management and urban mobility.

Public agencies are drowning in data—but constrained by limited staff, time, and budgets. This session introduces how Sourcewell Ventures will help governments cut through complexity by connecting them to proven digital infrastructure solutions and innovation-forward pilots. Learn how cooperative contracts, real-world testing, and a nationwide network of 50,000+ public agencies are accelerating smarter, more efficient government—and how the Civic Solutions Challenge is surfacing the next generation of tools ready to scale.

Sponsored by CivicReach

Opening remarks from the City of Raleigh, NC

Cities are generating more infrastructure data than ever before—but data alone doesn’t make cities smarter. The real shift is happening as artificial intelligence and machine learning move from experimental tools to practical engines for day-to-day operations. Ubicquia explores how AI-driven analytics are transforming critical city infrastructure—from streetlighting and power quality to public safety, vegetation management, and storm response. Drawing on real-world deployments with utilities and municipalities, the session will show how machine learning turns existing infrastructure into an always-on sensing platform that helps predict failures, prioritizes maintenance, and delivers measurable operational savings. Attendees will learn why the next phase of smart cities is not about adding more devices, but about extracting more intelligence from what’s already deployed. The keynote will also address common misconceptions around AI, the importance of data quality and scale, and what city leaders should be asking today to prepare for an AI-enabled infrastructure future. This session is designed for city, utility, and technology leaders looking for practical, proven ways to move beyond pilots and unlock the full value of smarter infrastructure.

Over the past few years, the City of Raleigh has been conducting internal R&D as well as small-scale pilots to evaluate the effectiveness and value of applying broad computer vision capabilities to our camera network. Recent collaboration with NVidia, Microsoft, and ESRI have led to new insights and opportunities. The goal is to better understand what is happening across the city, analyze camera-derived data more effectively, measure impacts, and ultimately develop the capability to predict citywide activity. We are also exploring opportunities to automate certain operational tasks using these technologies. A presentation of how the City has developed, tested, and current state of our Video Analytics "Smart Intersections" project. Learn about our "journey" and the work still to be done.

Local governments are rethinking how they deliver services, engage residents, and modernize operations in an increasingly digital world. This City Spotlight will showcase leaders who are driving digital transformation in their communities—making government more accessible, responsive, and efficient. From new platforms that simplify resident services to data strategies that improve decision-making, these cities are putting innovation into practice. Attendees will hear candid stories of what’s worked, what’s been challenging, and what’s next, leaving with ideas and inspiration to advance digital transformation in their own communities.

Modern cities are equipped with more sensors, cameras, and data streams than ever before but without real-time orchestration, these systems remain fragmented and reactive. In this session, public safety and technology leaders will explore how a fully integrated smart city solution is transforming emergency response and urban awareness in real time. The panel features a live walkthrough of real-world scenarios including loitering detection, fire identification, Amber Alert license plate matching, and automated dispatch to police or fire, all evaluated and acted upon within seconds. This powerful joint solution is built on four layers: Supermicro’s rugged edge servers process video at the intersection; NVIDIA’s accelerated compute powers deep learning at the edge; Vaidio delivers AI analytics to detect incidents and classify threats; and Vantiq serves as the real-time orchestration engine that interprets data, determines urgency, and coordinates the right response. More than just analytics or infrastructure, this system demonstrates what it means to operationalize real-time intelligence across an entire city. Learn how to deploy AI-powered safety and situational awareness systems that are scalable, fast, and built for action, not just analysis.

This panel explores how local cities in NC and across the United States are accelerating digital transformation to enhance mobility, public safety, and sustainable infrastructure. Panelists will examine how modern transportation agencies are leveraging data platforms, artificial intelligence, connected devices, and secure digital architectures to transition from reactive operations to intelligent, predictive, and adaptive mobility systems.  The discussion will highlight emerging approaches to sovereign and city-controlled AI, emphasizing how locally governed, transparent, and secure technologies can improve operational performance while strengthening public trust. Through real-world use cases, speakers will showcase applications such as advanced video analytics, Automated Traffic Signal Performance Measures (ATSPM), real-time corridor optimization, and AI-enabled incident and event management.  Participants will also explore how integrated digital ecosystems like combining IoT sensors, cloud platforms, cybersecurity frameworks, and interoperable data standards are enabling multimodal coordination, transit prioritization, and smart infrastructure management. Special attention will be given to translating national AI and digital governance principles into practical, scalable, and privacy-focused solutions at the municipal level.  From smart intersections and connected corridors to enterprise data platforms and cross-agency command centers, this session demonstrates how cities are building resilient, future-ready mobility networks. Attendees will gain insight into the technologies, governance models, and organizational strategies required to sustain digital transformation and deliver measurable improvements in safety, efficiency, and traveler experience.

AI Adoption in Cities can be a challenge. From risk aversion to data readiness to pilot purgatory to workforce resistance, the benefits of AI in cities can be hard to scale. What lessons from leading cities can we scale regarding creating a fertile ground for strategic, supported AI initiatives? Three key ideas we are trying to articulate in this conversation: (1) Technology evaluation plans are key for the thoughtful adoption of AI in a City and continued budgetary support (2) Agencies have to get in front of staff anxieties about workforce changes via clear communication, training resources, and the “why” etc. (3) It’s not just about being AI ready, capable, ethical – it's also about being AI strategic; finding the best fit AI that truly solves your jurisdiction’s problem(s). This panel seeks to be of value to cities at the beginning of their AI journey as well as partners who struggle to gain footing in cities.

Bud Ritchie (City of Harrisonburg) and Willow Stuart (GovAI) will unpack a clear, practical understanding of how AI can be used today to improve services and operations. They'll explore real-world use cases, key risks and governance considerations, and concrete strategies for deploying AI responsibly without hype, jargon, or technical overload.

Cities are increasingly pitched AI and automation tools for everything from permitting to property management, yet many struggle to realize real outcomes because technology is layered onto broken or unclear processes. This session features a case study from Trenton, NJ, developed through the Bloomberg Harvard City Hall Fellowship, that reframes digital transformation around a core municipal goal: moving city-owned properties into productive, community-serving use. Panelists will walk through how Trenton mapped and redesigned its property disposition process—clarifying decision points, reducing discretion, and addressing capacity gaps—before applying targeted automation and data tools. Moderated by the Center for Community Progress, the discussion will highlight how process clarity enables transparency, public trust, and measurable results.

From core to edge how Ericsson-Cradlepoint helps connect smart parking and smart intersection applications at a lower cost than wired infrastructure, and with stronger performance and stability. How enterprise-grade wireless edge routers feature best-in-class LTE powered by software-defined modem technology — with a Pathway to 5G — and ensure highly reliable, flexible network access for federal offices, vehicles, IoT, and even remote work.

Successful smart cities don’t start with a software demo; they start with a conversation. We’re highlighting municipalities that have mastered the art of "needs-first" innovation. Join us to discuss strategies for uncovering community pain points and aspirations, ensuring your city’s tech investments are driven by authentic resident feedback and designed to solve the challenges that matter most to your neighborhoods.

Meet awardees, top solution providers, and municipal leadership from around the globe at the Smart 20 Awards Reception. Enjoy an open bar, appetizers, and networking. Three winners - out of the top 20 awardees - will be announced!

As one of its top priorities, the City of Greensboro is committed to being a data-driven City, using information and technology to improve operational efficiency, transparency, and sustainability. Reliable data and meaningful insights are essential for effective sustainability and resilience reporting, helping the City track progress toward carbon reduction, cost savings, and community well-being. Cities have no shortage of data, but turning it into actionable insight remains a daily challenge. The City of Greensboro, in partnership with Nimble Energy, is applying artificial intelligence (AI) to automate and enhance how utility and interval data inform decisions around cost, carbon, and operations. This session will detail how Greensboro is integrating AI into its energy management program — from automating Duke Energy data ingestion to developing predictive baselines, anomaly detection, and cost-avoidance analytics. The panel will share how these innovations reduce manual analysis, improve decision quality, and create the foundation for transparent public dashboards and climate action reporting. Attendees will gain insights on how to responsibly adopt AI for energy and utility data, manage organizational change, and build scalable frameworks that enable smarter, more resilient, and sustainable municipal infrastructure.

Public spaces are the heart of every city, shaping how people connect, feel safe, and participate in civic life. Yet one essential element of effective placemaking is too often overlooked: public restrooms. When cities invest in accessible, well-designed restroom infrastructure, they’re not just meeting a basic need, they’re unlocking the social, economic, and cultural potential that transforms shared spaces into thriving community hubs. This panel explores how restroom access fuels equity, economic growth, and urban vibrancy, featuring leaders from progressive cities, transit authorities, and urban innovation experts who are redefining placemaking through inclusive, human-centered design and technology. Key Takeaways - Designing for Equity: How inclusive infrastructure like public restrooms advances accessibility, safety, and civic participation. - Economic Impact of Access: How restroom access supports local business districts, tourism, and public events. - The Future of Placemaking: How cities can rapidly deploy sustainable, tech-enabled solutions to transform underused spaces into thriving destinations.

Drones are rapidly shifting from novelty to necessity, fueling a market projected to reach $163.6 billion by 2030. Realizing the potential of this market requires a unified framework, one where innovators work within a single ecosystem that handles all authorization processes, permitting and private sector support so that they can scale solutions that blend seamlessly with everyday life. That’s exactly what’s happening in Detroit. Michigan Central and its partners have built the Advanced Aerial Innovation Region (AAIR)—an urban testbed spanning 28 miles to demonstrate what’s possible when innovation happens in a real urban environment rather than a controlled site. In its first year, AAIR supported 800+ flights, facilitated six BVLOS waivers, and powered pilots like the city’s longest continuous BVLOS drone delivery flight at 2.3 miles. This panel convenes leaders across sectors to discuss how the AAIR is the complete package, a turnkey solution that will serve as the blueprint for American cities in 2026 and how this integrated approach helps cities align with the FAA’s forthcoming Part 108 BVLOS regulations.

Many smart city initiatives successfully deploy technology, yet struggle to achieve sustained adoption and meaningful community participation. This session explores how trust and access, not technology alone, are the real drivers of engagement. Through concrete municipal examples, participants will discover how sharing infrastructure, designed as civic social infrastructure, enables cities to activate participation, build trust, and create solutions residents actually use. Key takeaways include: - Why community engagement depends more on trust and access than on technology alone - How sharing infrastructure functions as social infrastructure for cities - Practical design principles that drive real usage and long-term adoption - Lessons learned from cities that achieved rapid resident participation This session is ideal for leaders and innovation teams, focused on community engagement, affordability, resilience, and measurable local impact, looking to turn smart investments into trusted, community-powered solutions.

This panel examines the intersection of responsible AI deployment and proven process improvement methodologies in municipal settings. Drawing from Midland's groundbreaking Jacky 2.0 implementation, serving 140,000 residents in five languages, panelists will explore how LSS frameworks ensure AI initiatives deliver measurable outcomes while maintaining ethical standards and accessibility. Discussion will cover practical strategies for overcoming municipal resource constraints, building stakeholder buy-in, measuring ROI, and scaling from pilot to enterprise deployment. Attendees will learn how systematic process improvement methodologies transform AI from experimental technology into core municipal infrastructure that genuinely serves diverse communities.

Cities across the country are piloting new approaches to improve how people and goods move safely and efficiently. In this session, local leaders will share real-world examples of mobility initiatives underway in their communities—from public transit upgrades to emerging technology pilots. Join us to hear what’s working, the lessons learned, and the opportunities ahead in shaping more connected and accessible urban mobility.

Smart cities invest heavily in data and technology but the communities that see real results are the ones that build the right networks around them. Goal-oriented and system-oriented networks that connect municipal leaders, researchers, community organizations, and regional partners are what turn connected infrastructure into measurable community change. This session brings together a researcher studying what makes collaborative networks succeed with two city leaders who are putting those principles into practice through regional air quality monitoring partnerships. Together, they'll unpack the ingredients of effective cross-sector networks - from shared goals and trusted data to the local ecosystems and actors that make collaboration stick - and show how air quality initiatives serve as a proving ground for broader smart city collaboration. Participants will leave with practical frameworks they can apply to their own goals, whether that's environmental health, transportation, public safety, or any challenge that requires multiple stakeholders pulling in the same direction.

Sponsored by Parsons

Learn how Sourcewell Ventures will help governments cut through complexity —and how the Sourcewell Ventures Civic Solutions Challenge is surfacing the next generation of tools ready to scale.

Cities across the country are accelerating their use of artificial intelligence to tackle increasingly complex urban challenges. This session explores real‑world applications of AI‑enabled digital twins and advanced modeling, demonstrating how these tools are redefining infrastructure planning, emergency response, and long‑term sustainability. The discussion will feature Dell experts alongside Raleigh’s CIO, who will share the city’s perspective on governing AI responsibly, fostering transparency, and preparing municipal teams for the next decade of data‑driven innovation. Together, they will examine how cities can operationalize AI in practical, trustworthy, and scalable ways.

As artificial intelligence and advanced data analytics become embedded in local government operations, the most important decisions are no longer purely technical—they are governance decisions. From transparency and privacy to equity, accountability, and public trust, AI is reshaping how communities experience government. This session brings together municipal leaders from across the country—including Washington, DC; Houston, TX; Mableton, GA; and Cary, NC—to explore the critical role elected officials play in setting the direction, values, and guardrails for AI and data use. Through real-world examples, including Cary’s Council-driven AI and Data Governance framework, speakers will show how effective AI governance starts with policy leadership, not technology procurement. Rather than asking “What tools should we buy?”, these communities are asking deeper questions: What decisions should AI support? Where must humans remain in the loop? How do we treat data as a public trust? By leading with governance first, cities are creating durable foundations that enable innovation while protecting residents and staff.

The Smart, Safe Cities: My eBodyGuard Program™ powers Smart Cities with proactive safety by delivering critical evidentiary infrastructure that serves as the bridge between communities and the justice system. Through collaboration with city leaders, law enforcement, prosecutors, and industry partners, eBodyGuard® supports a wide range of public safety use cases - empowering thriving communities and economies while fostering trust, engagement, and a shared sense of safety for all individuals.

City leaders share how they are modernizing core operations and infrastructure to improve efficiency, resilience, and service delivery. Panelists will highlight efforts in areas such as public safety, sustainability, cybersecurity, and asset management, showcasing strategies that strengthen reliability and sustainability across urban systems.

The intersection of AI, critical infrastructure, and energy grids are a symbiotic necessity, where AI serves as both the primary driver of new electricity demand and the essential tool for managing a complex and secure critical infrastructure. Inspired by the Department of Energy’s emerging Genesis Mission, this Challenge invites innovators to explore how advanced AI models and tools can support national critical infrastructure.

Large-scale events and seasonal visitors—place significant pressure on urban infrastructure, mobility systems, and public safety operations. Cities must coordinate across multiple departments to prepare for surges in visitors, manage real-time conditions, and rapidly restore normalcy once events conclude. This panel brings together municipal leaders and industry experts to discuss how cities can effectively manage both the pre-event planning window and the critical post-event recovery phase. City representatives will share insights into operational planning, emergency preparedness, transportation management, and resource deployment. They will highlight the challenges of balancing visitor experience with resident impact, handling unpredictable crowd behavior, and maintaining clear communication across agencies. Industry speakers will offer a technology-driven perspective, demonstrating how intelligent lighting, computer vision, and connected infrastructure enhance situational awareness and streamline operations. Attendees will learn how integrated smart-city platforms can support operations during the peak demand, as well as how you leverage them after. The discussion will explore best practices, real-world case studies, and opportunities for innovation. Participants will leave with practical strategies for strengthening event operations and a clearer understanding of how municipalities and technology partners can collaborate to create safer, smarter, and more efficient city environments.

So much of the progress made in government modernization rests at how well local teams can find, select, and manage the performance of their IT vendors. Given the flood of innovation and AI meeting constrained government staff and budgets head on, this topic is more timely than ever. In this closed door, public sector only workshop, cities will be invited to share their successes and struggles with vendor collaboration. From piloting to contracting to change orders to implementation challenges to product management, cities will identify shared headaches and experiences ripe for problem solving. City peers will also workshop ideas to strengthen their teams and bolster their ability to work well with our private sector partners. This workshop will be facilitated by the Technology Team at Partners for Public Good (PPG), a nonprofit that seeks to strengthen the core operatizing functions of government. Travel stipends will be available to cities participating in the the workshop.

Cities across the U.S. are reimagining streetlights as multifunctional smart assets that deliver far more than illumination. By integrating IoT sensors, advanced controls, and data analytics, municipalities are achieving measurable improvements in public safety, operational efficiency, and sustainability—while laying the foundation for equitable infrastructure. This keynote brings together leaders from Ubicquia, Ameresco and Memphis Light, Gas & Water (MLGW) to share lessons learned from large-scale deployments. Attendees will gain insights into technology integration, and community impact, as well as practical steps for scaling smart lighting projects citywide.

The intersection of AI, critical infrastructure, and energy grids are a symbiotic necessity, where AI serves as both the primary driver of new electricity demand and the essential tool for managing a complex and secure critical infrastructure. Inspired by the Department of Energy’s emerging Genesis Mission, this Challenge invites innovators to explore how advanced AI models and tools can support national critical infrastructure.

Join IDC as we celebrate the winners of the 2026 IDC Smart Cities North America Awards—honoring forward-thinking civic and educational institutions that are delivering real public impact through strong leadership and innovative use of technology. These award-winning organizations stood out for not only launching, but sustaining smart city initiatives during especially challenging times. Moderated by Ruthbea Yesner, Vice President, IDC Government Insights and Smart Cities and Communities Strategies, this session will spotlight best practices behind successful project implementation. Attendees will gain firsthand insights into the critical success factors that helped these initiatives drive measurable outcomes, unlock new services, and create more sustainable, livable cities and communities.

Municipalities often face constraints in budget, staffing, and expertise when trying to implement new technology solutions. This panel examines how regional partnerships between municipalities can overcome these challenges by pooling resources, sharing R&D outcomes, and collaboratively negotiating contracts. Apex, NC provides a working example: the town has developed tools like a crowd counting platform and civic feedback analysis system, which are now being shared with neighboring municipalities. Additional efforts include collective IT purchasing programs to secure cost savings on software, piggyback contracts for smaller municipalities to access state or larger city agreements, and centralized vendor vetting to replace informal recommendation networks. Panelists will discuss project-specific lessons as well as strategies for establishing long-term regional partnerships. Attendees will gain practical guidance on structuring collaborative innovation efforts, scaling municipal technology initiatives, and fostering intergovernmental relationships that benefit multiple communities simultaneously.

Cities are under constant pressure to make streets safer, more accessible, and more efficient—but with limited budgets and more project needs than they can fund, the real challenge is knowing which investments will have the greatest impact and making a strong case for them. State of Place has a Stage II SBIR grant to address this problem with new data capture hardware, machine learning forecasting, and decision support tools. Most importantly, the company is working closely with cities at each step of the way. This panel will offer a real-time update of the Phase 1 results and how city and community leaders in Philadelphia, Kansas City, Colorado Springs, San Diego, Syracuse and Charlotte are actively working with this new tech for better community impact.