City to Accelerate Adoption of Smart City Technology

West Palm Beach to Accelerate Adoption of Smart City Technology, following National Science Foundation Investment in CS3 Engineering Research Center

WEST PALM BEACH, FLA (August 16, 2022) - The City of West Palm Beach's future adoption of smart streetscape technologies to enhance livability, safety and inclusivity was just accelerated, thanks to the National Science Foundation's (NSF) multimillion-dollar investment in The Engineering Research Center for Smart Streetscapes (CS3). CS3 will be led by Columbia University with Florida Atlantic University (FAU), Rutgers University, University of Central Florida, and Lehman College.

As high-density cities transform how people live, work, travel and manage urban infrastructure, CS3 aims to address emerging, urban challenges that threaten livability, safety and inclusion. CS3 aims to harness local data, in real time, for the public good through the development of applications for the streetscape -- neighborhood streets, sidewalks, and public spaces- where many public and commercial activities take place. CS3will focus on five themes: road safety and traffic efficiency; public safety; assistive technologies; future of outdoor work; and hyper-local environments.

CS3 will leverage a diverse cohort of non-academic stakeholders-- including industry partners, community organizations, municipalities and K-12 schools-- as collaborative co-producers of knowledge and auditors of technology research and development. This is a new approach to engineering research that is built on a culture of inclusion that bridges the "digital divide" and demarcates stakeholdership.

CS3 will build upon the Mobility Intelligence Project (MIP), which developed data to achieve insights into how the public moves throughout West Palm Beach's downtown. Tracking pedestrian movements on Clematis Street, Banyan Boulevard, Tamarind Avenue, and Rosemary Avenue, the data was used to inform City decisions to improve mobility, transportation, and the downtown experience. The MIP was a partnership between the City, FAU, the Knight Foundation and Community Foundation of Palm Beach and Martin Counties. The MIP's West Palm Beach "testbed" will play a key role in the future CS3.

"Over the next decade, CS3will bring a range of smart streetscape technologies to the City of West Palm Beach and position the City as a national leader in smart cities," said West Palm Beach Mayor Keith A. James. "These technologies will enable new streetscape applications designed to enhance livability, safety, and inclusivity across West Palm Beach - from enabling safer crosswalks, to improving transportation and parking, to assisting pedestrians with disabilities. The specific applications to be developed will be selected and guided through continuous public engagement."

"We are thrilled to receive this Engineering Research Center award with our partners," said FAU President John Kelly. "CS3will provide important pathways for universities, government, industry and community stakeholders to collaboratively improve quality of life, enhance social equity, and stimulate economic development through innovative and cutting-edge smart city technologies."

"Our team could not be more excited to embark on this path with our partners to advance the future of the nation's streetscapes, and to deliver fundamental improvements in the livability, safety, and inclusivity of American communities through engineering research and education," said Jason Hallstrom, Ph.D., executive director of I-SENSE and deputy director and chief research officer for CS3.

CS3 will be supported for five years, with approximately $26 million in funding, with the potential for a renewal of an additional five years, totaling up to $52 million. Click here to learn more about the CS3.