Technology & Society
How connectivity, automation, and everyday technology are reshaping cities, work, and daily life.
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Albuquerque and Portland’s Rest-in-Red Traffic Signals Make Streets Safer
A 2023 North Carolina study found rest-in-red signals cut total crashes by 43%. In Portland, one intersection’s average speed dropped from 39 mph to the posted limit almost overnight.
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Prince William County’s AI 311 Service Speeds Help for Residents
Prince William County’s new AI 311 service cuts wrong answers in half and adds 15 new service types, giving residents faster help any time of day.
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DC Compass AI Chatbot Helps Residents Find Fast Answers
Washington, D.C.’s DC Compass AI chatbot and Maricopa County’s Mari turn buried city data into plain-language answers for residents.
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Honolulu’s AI Permitting Technology Cuts Wait Times Nearly in Half
Denver just signed a $4.6 million contract chasing the same results, and a new federal fund offers $200 million a year to help other cities catch up. Could faster permits be the key to more housing nationwide?
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Frisco’s Digital Twin Speeds Emergency Response for Residents
More than 200 buildings, from hospitals to the Dallas Cowboys’ headquarters, are now mapped in detail for first responders. Could this data-sharing model become the standard for how cities prepare for emergencies?
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Baytown’s New Smart Water Meters Save Residents Money and Catch Leaks Fast
In 2018, Baytown billed a vacant building more than $1,100 for water nobody used. See how real-time monitoring and leak alerts aim to stop billing disasters like that before they start.
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Harford County’s New Energy Tracker Puts Solar Projects on the Map
The county’s new dashboard already tracks 26 active solar and battery projects, from ones still under review to one with an approved building permit. Could this kind of transparency become the norm for local land-use decisions?
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Comcast’s Eastern Ohio Broadband Expansion Reaches Rural Homes
Before this month, some residents drove into town just to get a signal strong enough for a job application or video call. See how state funding and private fiber build-out are finally closing that gap for rural Ohio families.
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Mitchell Schools’ AI Reading Platform Helps Kids Catch Up Faster
An AI reading platform helped Mitchell, SD elementary students leap ahead in reading at no cost to families, easing pressure on parents and teachers.
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Calvert County’s Digital Transformation Saves Residents Time
Online bill payments in the county jumped from about 500 a month to more than 1,200 in just three months, as thousands of residents ditched the drive to a county office altogether.