Information Policy

How an Algorithm Made the Buses in Boston Better

Algorithms are invading transportation in a variety of ways beyond the flashy chase for self-driving cars. A new report shows that in Boston, an algorithm that was first implemented in 2017 to increase the efficiency of school bus driving routes has worked with tremendous success.

4 Emerging Concepts that Could Transform Cities

Big ideas can forever alter the fate of cities when they are written into cement, steel and stone. When St. Petersburg, Russia, was created in 1703 by Peter the Great, he envisioned the new capital as an emblem of a modern Russian empire, inspired by Western European trade hubs, such as Amsterdam. In the 20th century, Chandirgarh, India, was modeled on English “Garden Cities” in order to make a statement about progress and aspirations of prosperity in post-partition India. Half a world away in the United States, Detroit transformed itself into one of the world’s industrial megacities, shaped by the ideals of the American Dream and Henry Ford’s visionary manufacturing.

How to prioritize people over tech when planning smart cities

Deploying innovations is difficult, but community involvement can be key to efficiency, says smart cities research specialist John Harlow.

How tech leads local government innovation in Vienna, Helsinki and Belfast

Local authorities have to provide a vast range of services to everyone in their area, making innovation difficult. But a new breed of city officials are borrowing ideas and working methods from private-sector innovators, as well as collaborating with both companies and other cities in an attempt to at least match the digital services people get elsewhere.

Cities are growing faster and smarter, but can they go greener? We asked Siemens.

you think about Siemens, you’re probably picturing medical scanners, energy generators, or transportation equipment. You might not be thinking about smart cities, or how the company is working to accelerate technology innovation, eMobility, resilience, and urban sustainability. But that’s just what Martin Powell, the Global Head of Urban Development at Siemens, focuses on each and every day.