Private Industry Involvement with Smart Cities Universities and technology companies, such as Amazon, Google and Tesla, are building entire businesses that leverage and extend infrastructure built by utilities and regulated by local and federal entities. “These entities thrive by layering innovative technology advancements onto existing services and continue to push the boundaries of smart infrastructure,” Azer said. “They are taking their energy destiny into their own hands, complementing utility-fed power with net-zero initiatives that include on-site renewable generation, microgrids, energy efficiency programs and investments in carbon reduction projects.” Azer said these entities are finding that these steps are not only good for the environment, they are good for their business as well. Cities are watching closely and looking to mirror best practices. But finding the funding for these initiatives within the public domain can be a challenge. It is important to note that there is no “one size fits all” plan to address funding needs. One solution is financing through public private partnerships. For example, Kansas City, Mo., has collaborated with technology company Cisco, which will deliver several phases of smart city programs, Azer said. Another option is via grant-based pilots. The University of Chicago and Argonne National Laboratory are currently partnering to collect data from sensors placed throughout the city. The City of Chicago has also defrayed costs for other initiatives by relying on open source software to build out its data platform. Other cities have created plans using a mix of bond measures and government subsidies. Energy savings from initial undertakings, such as light emitting diode (LED) streetlight retrofits, can serve as budget to finance subsequent phases of smart city development, Azer said. LED lighting retrofits can provide superior coverage with 50 percent energy savings, even more if networked adaptive lighting controls are implemented. Perception Is Everything One issue that arose from respondents to the Black & Veatch report addressed the perceived competition regarding who is best served by these initiatives. Survey respondents overwhelmingly believe that commercial entities benefit most from municipal-wide smart city initiatives. When asked which city agencies would benefit most from smart city initiatives, most respondents cited electric utilities. “Many smart city initiatives begin as extensions from electric utility initiatives. Clearly, there is work to do to better communicate the value proposition these services bring to commercial enterprises and city residents,” Azer said. Azer said that with commercial interests already assumed by some to be in conflict with city agency priorities, ascertaining who foots the bill becomes an additional concern. Effectively communicating those opportunities to stakeholders is a key step in mitigating perception and cost issues. Advocacy from city leaders and persistent community outreach are also important ingredients to moving solutions forward. But for private sector participation, there must be the potential for viable economic return. “For retail or manufacturing businesses, an attractive return on investment includes energy efficiency gains, because a lower electric bill reduces operations costs,” Azer said. He also noted that universities and shopping centers could prioritize Wi-Fi access and issue targeted commercial notifications. While improved services may be a selling point for the public, their concerns about privacy will also have to be addressed, Azer noted. Mega-City Applications New York City might be one of the most visible examples of a smart city vision being customized to meet the needs of its business stakeholders. Among flagship projects that showcase this approach to planning is an initiative underway by CityBridge, a consortium of public companies. CityBridge has a program to replace more than 6,400 payphones with smart kiosks that provide free municipal WiFi and other public services, all funded by advertising displayed as digital signage on the kiosks. This alternative revenue source therefore serves as a funding mechanism as well. The return of investment for businesses includes advertising revenue derived from digital signage. For the municipality, an increase in awareness of public safety issues, along with quality of life benefits for city residents, appear to be markers of success. These new elements serve as a backbone of foundational infrastructure for expanded applications and services. “The private investment in these systems can blur the distinction between public and private contribution in the emerging smart city,” Azer said. Business and cities alike are also closely watching Hong Kong’s Wise City scheme, eager to benefit from lessons learned from an innovative early adopter. Where the business and investment community takes the lead on smart city planning, successful cases show the private entity willing to engage in funding roles. Successful privately backed infrastructure projects can bring a steady return on investment for many years. “Sustainable progress attracts additional sources of financing, further enhancing the region,” Azer pointed out. “Both cities and residents realize value from these services and technologies, which leverages private entities for public benefit.” Organizations such as Cleantech San Diego, the Smart Cities Council and the Top 100 Resilient Cities now have members from a wide variety of stakeholder groups, from established corporate companies to fresh, lean start-ups. These groups incorporate a best-practice approach to ensure that the needs of their stakeholders are met. “These organizations facilitate collaboration across a public, private and academic membership to encourage investment in smart city infrastructure and related sustainability initiatives,” Azer said. “Black & Veatch partners with select organizations in order to advance the collaborative dialogue.” Subject Matter Expert Rick Azer: AzerRE@bv.com Contact us to learn more about what we can do for you.
Data: The Art of the Possible The Black & Veatch 2017 Strategic Directions: Smart City/Smart Utility Report investigates the progress made by communities and utilities as they continue their evolution toward smarter infrastructure. Around the globe, cities and utilities are beginning to see tangible results from preliminary efforts and are gaining confidence in what a smart city can be.
Distribution Modernization Presents Challenges amid Evolving Business Models and Practices Transportation accounts for more than 25 percent of the nation’s greenhouse gas emissions, making electrification of the U.S. mass transportation sphere a top priority for city officials and utilities. Today, officials are reimagining how they can move people and goods sustainably across the urban landscape.
Holistic Distribution Modernization Programs Require More Than IT Upgrades Electric utilities are realizing that distribution modernization programs, also referred to as grid modernization, can no longer be put off.
Cyber Threats to Physical Assets Demand a Proactive Approach Intent on safeguarding the nation’s largest electric grids from potential mayhem, federal regulators have stepped up their oversight of the security of power utilities in an attempt to protect it from threats and incidents such as widespread, long-duration blackouts caused by digital saboteurs. Cyber threats linger, however, with operational technology (OT), including systems that are far less centralized and, thus, more vulnerable.
5G on the Horizon: the Fifth Generation of Wireless Broadband will Enable Smart Cities Applications Once just an industry buzzword, 5G is now truly on the horizon, promising faster communication speeds and ultra-low latency. As Internet of Things (IoT) connections scale from millions to billions, carriers have begun to hone in on this next generation of wireless technology by launching 5G trials and test beds in various markets throughout the United States.
Consulting Services and Needs Assessment The City of Chula Vista, California selected Black & Veatch to deliver an analysis of sensor technologies.
Deploying Multiple, Smart City Technologies to Reduce Traffic and Broaden Internet Access In early 2017, the City of Sacramento entered into a public-private partnership (P3) with Verizon Wireless. Verizon designated Black & Veatch as its preferred smart cities deployment partner for its Smart Communities efforts.
First Digital Kiosk Solution Deployment Verizon’s first digital kiosk solution deployment is for the City of New Rochelle, New York. The project will include the installation of kiosks throughout the city.