Smart Cities

Government technology practitioners discussed the future of “smart cities” at the Smart Cities NYC conference at the Brooklyn Navy Yard.

21:35 11 May 2017

The Smart Cities NYC conference has been attended by government technology practitioners from various countries and cities to discuss the future of the Internet of Things (IoT) and “smart cities”. Jeff Merritt, Director of Innovation for the City of New York and a go-to person for smart cities in the local administration, led the panelist in a discussion of the importance of changing processes and government operation in the digital era. These include adopting the use of sensors, establishing citywide connectivity and integrating emerging technologies into everyday work.

 

Ger Baron, Chief Technology Officer of Amsterdam, Netherlands, said that transforming the government is essential in order to respond better to the expanding digital work. He explained that the government needs to redefine itself and move away from the organisation designed 30 or 40 years ago.

 

“I do think we are at a tipping point,” said Ger Baron, “This is the moment to start connecting the dots,”

 

All speakers agreed that public private partnerships play a critical role to advance the development of smart cities. Thus, they encourage government to partner with telecommunications providers, startups, and universities, among others.