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a digital divide whether we like it or for Crown Castle. WHEN SMART CITIES GO BAD
not. It’s common in the community,” There are corporate partners who are
Ramachandran said. “In IT we think • IT budgets are in separate
pushing the technology will solve the willing to help cities understand how departments
problem, but really it’s access to the they can build around existing projects
technology. We have to understand and programs. For example, in some • Public Wi-Fi that is too proprietary
the user and not just say invest in the cases, it’s easy to expand from smart
technology.” lighting to smart metering without • Skipping pilots and going straight to
tremendous expenditure. procurement
The digital divide issue resonates
particularly when it is time to hire From the corporate perspective, • No clear direction from pilot to
qualified employees. Job applications there’s an educational aspect. “Cities procurement
are on online process. Even the most don’t know what is possible – we have
basic jobs now have components of to help them understand what has • Political mandate in one press release
technology, and particularly in Public been done, what can be done, and how and then never revisited
Works, the industry is evolving to that can be leveraged,” said Randolph
include vehicles that have powerful Wheatley, Vice President of Product • Ignoring the urgency of projects on an
dashboards, logging devices, and Marketing for Sensus, a Xylem Brand. “elected” schedule
joystick controls.
Academic institutions are often • Policies and performance measure
Ramachandran said, “It’s a program, eager to give their students hands-on outcomes that don’t measure the
not a project – that requires an experience. Several National Science “right” things and so are perceived as
organizational shift – look at Smart Foundation grant projects were unsuccessful
Cities as on-going, not short-lived.” highlighted at the conference. The
advances in technology are happening • Exclusive approach ignoring the digital
In New Orleans, the city is offering so rapidly that having local universities divide
technology classes in underprivileged and colleges as key players in city
areas of the city. Not only are they projects has been very valuable in pilot • Heavy-handed governance over
helping citizens access the assistance programs and data collection. technology
programs that are now exclusively
online, but they are offering The True Value of the Right of Way • Not using peer networks
foundational training that makes
technology less intimidating. “We are Cities own the most valuable • Not having lots of people sign off on
starting with computer literacy. So, we asset of any Smart Cities project – projects
are starting to educate our citizens,” said the right of way. The fiber network
Kim LeGrue, Chief Information Officer infrastructure layer has not been part of • Not working strategically in phases
for the City of New Orleans. “That’s a the conversation in the past for cities,
citywide initiative. We have to help our but now it is. Cities like Chattanooga • Not involving academic and corporate
citizens understand why the technology and Morristown have explored ways partners on pilots
is helpful. If data is as much of a demon to establish their own fiber networks.
as it is an asset, we’ve got to fix it.” According to Dura-Line, an ISO- Michael Pegues, Chief Information
9001 global manufacturer of HDPE Officer for the City of Aurora, Ill.,
Public/Private Academic Partnerships conduit headquartered in Knoxville, recommends that if something doesn’t
turn out as expected, try to fail forward.
While cities are creating policies and Continued on page 10 Illustrate where the good is and where
offering basic services, it’s imperative the opportunity is to transform the
to leverage relationships with private government system and where residents
corporations and academic institutions. live. Once an innovative champion
project is accomplished, it will open
“Customers and constituents are the door for more. People need to be
the same people – so figure out how aware of how technology is transforming
to align transformative change,” said people’s lives. Then, they will see the
Graham, who has been successful with value and support a Smart City strategy.
partnering on implementing Smart
Cities solutions in the City of San
Diego.
Finding the right corporate and
academic partners can stretch limited
budgets and yield greater results than
a straightforward traditional purchase
agreement.
“Phase Zero is understanding what
you already have,” said Rebecca Hunter,
Corporate Development and Strategy
View online at tnpublicworks.com 9
