Using Smart City Technologies to Better a Community

Alex Iams, Interim Director for Arlington Economic Development

Alex Iams, Interim Director for Arlington Economic Development

Smart cities are growing in popularity. A city or community identified as being “smart” means that the local government uses different types of data and technology to manage its assets and resources effectively. They collect that data to help coordinate traffic lights to alleviate congestion, use cameras in high-traffic areas for public safety, or even use drone data to monitor things like water usage or to track other natural resources.

But what does being “smart” have to do with business and economic development? In Arlington, Virginia, being smart is seen as an opportunity – not only for the local government but also for many budding technology companies looking to harness open-source data for efficiency and access. Arlington made national headlines in 2018 when it was selected as the home of the much-anticipated Amazon HQ2. At the time, the company stated that Arlington’s tech workforce was a big reason for its decision to locate there, and it’s true. Arlington has one of the most educated workforces in the nation. Much of its workforce concentrates in the tech sector, and those highly-educated individuals are making a name out of creating technology that benefits the community and the consumer.

"Arlington takes the idea of being a smart city to the next level – asking not just about these smart IoT types of companies, but what it truly means for an urban jurisdiction is how that technology can be used to make the community a more liveable space"

A wonderful example of a company using data to help build a community is Arlington’s Evolent Health. Started with just a handful of employees in a small office, Evolent has grown to more than 2000 employees worldwide. The medical technology company partners with leading health care provider and payer organizations to analyze patient data to help keep people healthy. It provides insights for health care providers and Cybersecurity startup Fend has been able to use its Arlington location as a key tool in winning a key Department of Defense contract, allowing the company to expand. Fend uses data collection and the cloud to help reduce the possibility of hacking through a company’s network. Company leaders say Fend’s Arlington presence has opened a lot of doors for the company and provided insight, not just into the military and government, but the many security and defense companies located nearby.

Other local companies are using their location to connect and work with local governments. In Arlington, clean energy company SYNEXXUS Inc. worked with local county government officials monitor usage and in turn, reduce more than 80% of the lighting costs of a test portion of the county’s street lamps. It means not only that the county’s costs are reduced, but the system itself is more efficient. The company started in the defense sector, but its executives realized the opportunity to expand into local markets, finding success in its own backyard.

From using cameras to monitor security for large events like the annual Marine Corps Marathon and sensors to help alleviate traffic congestion to providing emergency services with resources to better dispatch services, Arlington is all about finding creative businesses and looking for innovation to add to the mix to serve the needs of people and the community. Arlington takes the idea of being a smart city to the next level – asking not just about these smart IoT types of companies, but what it truly means for an urban jurisdiction is how that technology can be used to make the community a more liveable space.