Data-Smart Cities

The @CityofFortWorth had a problem: 100+ different maps, disconnected data, and siloed departments. The solution? One @ArcGISStoryMaps hub that brought everyone together. Here's how they're planning for millions: datasmart.hks.harvard.edu/how-fort-worth…

Public health & infrastructure leaders: do you know where preventable falls are concentrated? And can you map that against your infrastructure repair priorities? If not, check out this framework for injecting public health goals into infra monitoring: ow.ly/abX450YtEzk

Are you thinking about scaling from the very beginning of your pilots? Listen to the full episode for advice on scaling AI pilots 🎧 datasmart.hks.harvard.edu/agentic-ai-cit…

Cities can collect data on cracked sidewalks & potholes. But does this help prevent harms & address repairs equitably? Without explicit frameworks, AI monitoring systems risk becoming expensive digital filing cabinets. @TheRealKhahlil explains: datasmart.hks.harvard.edu/ai-infra-publi…

Make sure to follow along as we continue to expand the #AgenticCity conversation!

Out now! Our latest #DataSmartCityPod w/ experts @SantiOnCities (@CityOfBoston) & Mitch Weiss (@HarvardHBS) 🎧 datasmart.hks.harvard.edu/agentic-ai-cit… With @GoldsmithOnGov they discuss moving from pilot to adoption, what's slowing down gov't agencies, & why you keep hearing about MCP servers.

Can AI help cities move from compliance exercises to genuine responsiveness? In this episode of the #DataSmartCityPod, Eyal Feder-Levy discusses the future of performance management as a trust-building and listening tool rather than a wall of statistics. datasmart.hks.harvard.edu/cities-measure…

We're excited to start this conversation about Agentic AI in local government: fastcompany.com/91500167/local… Keep an eye out for an upcoming episode of our #DataSmartCityPod podcast on this same topic, plus more research and writing with @ojwise to come!

We collect massive amounts of mobility data—but how often do we use it to change the experience of riding? datasmart.hks.harvard.edu/gis-la-metro-2… LA Metro’s approach ties GIS analysis to real-time feedback and conditions: lighting, station safety, affordability, and first/last mile access.

Extreme heat = pub health issue. In Greater Boston, cit-scientists mapped where heat & humidity hit hardest, to guide cooling centers, AC distribution, & greening in the most at-need places. #CommunitDataHealthInitiative @envdefensefund @RWJF @OurMayors datasmart.hks.harvard.edu/wicked-hot-map…

There's a performance measurement paradox in government: the data and stats tell one story, but residents report something different. Listen to @eyalFeder explain why citizen satisfaction and perception should be the true North Star for city leaders: datasmart.hks.harvard.edu/cities-measure…

What if transit agencies planned around how people actually move, not just where buses already go? @metrolosangeles is using #GIS and real rider behavior to improve routes, pricing, and access. datasmart.hks.harvard.edu/gis-la-metro-2… How could your city’s transit system learn from this work?

As we continue focusing on mayors that are driving climate action fwd, we're sharing this piece from last year's @OurMayors conference. Featuring @MayorBMScott & @mayorpaulyoung, this article outlines steps for addressing environmental harms. @EDFHealth datasmart.hks.harvard.edu/news/2025/06/l…

"Sometimes it can be a process flow, it can be an automation or it can be AI purely...it's a combination of all of these that are resulting in faster issuance." Suma Nallapati on #AI, permit reform, and process improvement. datasmart.hks.harvard.edu/personalizing-…

"GovTech Singapore has transformed how the gov't collaborates & experiments; by building common platforms & embedding technical teams inside ministries & agencies, it facilitates horizontal collaboration that feels unusually spontaneous in a bureaucracy." ow.ly/3ugM50YcR1S

"If I'm ordering something off of Amazon, I don't care which department does what, I just want my shoes on my porch by tomorrow afternoon. So that's the kind of expectation users have when they're interacting with government." Denver CAIO Suma Nallapati ow.ly/XcF450Y8Wvn

"Singapore’s success shows how investing in in-house technical capacity can create a more coherent, coordinated digital infrastructure." Check out our new piece by @GoldsmithOnGov and Juncheng "Tony" Yang: datasmart.hks.harvard.edu/boosting-digit…

Not sure where to start to unlock the productivity of your team in order to be more responsive to your residents? Check out the advice Brian Elms shares with Stephen Goldsmith on the #DataSmartCityPod 🎧 datasmart.hks.harvard.edu/ai-agents-peak…

What if your city's data is missing an entire perspective? 📊 New research on smart city equity shows that when resident 311 reports meet computer vision data, the two systems see almost entirely different problems: less than 10% overlap. 👉 datasmart.hks.harvard.edu/residents-algo…

Today's episode of the #DataSmartCityPod features @Suma_Nallapati, CAIO @CityofDenver Nallapati and host Stephen Goldsmith discuss: 🌞Sunny the AI-powered chatbot 📃Freeing employees from tedious paperwork 🧰How AI is just one tool in a bigger toolbox datasmart.hks.harvard.edu/personalizing-…