Is Peterborough up for Smart Cities Challenge?
With the release of the federal Liberals’ 2016 budget and its subsequent Fall Economic Statement, most followers of urban affairs focused on the announcement of an ambitious 11-year investment of $186 billion in new infrastructure. In the small print, however, the government also announced something called the 2017 Smart Cities Challenge, which was reaffirmed in last week’s budget.
The idea of the Smart Cities Challenge is to accelerate the use of innovative technological infrastructure in Canadian cities. The government cites examples of emerging technologies such as smart roads, smart energy systems and advanced digital connectivity for homes and businesses. I would add innovations such as sensors, smart lights and smart meters whose data can be analyzed for its application to public service delivery. Consider as well smart traffic and transit systems; smart street lamps; or street signage linked to smart phones. Canadian cities like Peterborough are to be invited to develop Smart Cities Plans and compete for a share of $300 million in prize money over 11 years.
As a nation, we have some catching up to do on this front. Great Britain adopted a Smart Cities Strategy in 2012. Glasgow won the Future Cities Demonstrators project that year and was awarded 24 million pounds to help implement its proposal for the integration of city systems and the delivery of more responsive city services.
In the United States, a Smart Cities Challenge was launched in 2015 with a $40 million prize for the winning city that could “demonstrate how advanced data and intelligent transportation systems, technologies and applications can be used to reduce congestion, keep travellers safe, protect the environment, respond to climate change, connect underserved communities and support economic vitality.”
The Obama administration committed $80 million and Vulcan Inc. promised another $10 million to the winning city. More than 75 cities responded and Columbus, Ohio, was named the winner.
The announcement of the Canadian challenge has received strong support from organizations such as the Canadian Council on Public-Private Partnerships and the Information Technology Association of Canada. They understand that continuing migration to cities will mean that smart infrastructure systems will be in everincreasing demand. That demand could create new technologies for clean water and sanitation systems; clean power; intelligent traffic systems; efficient and reliable public transit; connected and autonomous vehicles; and public safety.
Cities have long served as laboratories for experimentation, innovation and change. Public investment in urban technologies has multiple benefits including new employment and economic development; new products for sale to new markets; new savings from efficiencies; and better functioning cities. The City of Stratford developed a wireless, smart-metering network in 2010 to collect data on energy use and provide residents with real-time information on individual consumption and cost. The City of Edmonton is installing technology that would collect real-time information on unoccupied parking spots and make the data available to drivers through an app.
The Go100percent.org initiative is another good example of smart urban leadership. Twelve countries, 67 cities, 62 regions, 9 utilities and 21 not-forprofit organizations serving more than 257 million people have already shifted or are committed to shifting to 100 per cent renewable energy in at least one sector. The cities of Vancouver and Victoria and Ontario’s Oxford County are among them.
The City of Peterborough is taking its first steps in this field. Through the Smart Cities Challenge, we now have a wonderful opportunity to collaborate with Trent University, Fleming College, local technology firms and the business community to advance our own smart city technologies that can provide improved public benefits and help build a smarter and more efficient community.