Panagiota Karava, a professor at Purdue University, has been leading a groundbreaking project focused on "Sociotechnical Systems to Enable Smart and Connected Energy Aware Residential Communities." Panagiota and her team have been exploring innovative ways to help residents understand and reduce their home energy use.

Nalini Venkatasubramanian, a professor at the University of California, Irvine, has been leading a groundbreaking project that aims to revolutionize the way we manage and maintain our aging water infrastructure systems. Through her work on the Smart Water Infrastructure Data Exchange (SWADE) project, Nalini has demonstrated the power of data-driven approaches and machine learning techniques to tackle some of the most pressing challenges facing water utilities and municipalities.

The NSF S&CC program, started in 2016, supports foundational research to solve complex challenges faced by communities in the 21st century. It focuses on fostering deep collaborations between researchers, local governments, industry, and community…

The University of Utah is strengthening its role as a national leader in smart urban growth through the work of Guang Tian, a new assistant professor in the Scientific Computing and Imaging Institute and the first SCI faculty member from the Department of City and Metropolitan Planning.

The SMARTER Center at Morgan State University is advancing transportation safety through two new research initiatives that integrate LiDAR sensing with data analytics and connected computing systems. These projects support safer intersections, smarter infrastructure, and improved protection for roadway workers across Maryland.

Northwest New Brunswick communities will see major improvements to public transit following a $704,160 federal investment through Canada’s Rural Transit Solutions Fund (RTSF). Announced by MP Guillaume Deschênes-Thériault, the funding will enable the Northwest Regional Services Commission (NRSC) to expand and modernize transit services that support regional mobility and economic vitality.

As India undergoes one of the world’s fastest urban transformations, the Smart Cities Mission, launched by the Government of India in 2015, is reshaping how cities grow, connect, and sustain themselves. With more than 35% of India’s population now living in urban areas, a number expected to surpass 40% by 2030, the initiative aims to develop over 100 technology-enabled, people-centric cities equipped with robust digital infrastructure, sustainable systems, and efficient governance.

The U.S. National Science Foundation (NSF) has awarded Cal Poly Pomona (CPP) a $7.5 million grant, one of the largest in the university’s history, to establish the Center for Research Advancement in Smart Manufacturing (CREST-RASM). The new center will serve as a national hub for advancing intelligent, secure, and sustainable manufacturing systems that integrate artificial intelligence and digital technologies across industrial sectors.

Once a marketing term used to sell tech solutions, “smart cities” have evolved into something more practical and transformative, local government efforts that use data, sensors, and digital tools to improve how communities function day to day.