Download the 2018 Smart Cities & Utilities Report Smart City Elements Enable the Future of Safe Cities Imagine this scenario: A gunshot rings out in a high-crime section of a large city. A car speeds away. A victim lies on the sidewalk. An audio sensor embedded in a nearby streetlamp detects the sound of gunfire, identifies where it came from and, through a high-speed backhaul to the nearest real-time crime center, alerts dispatchers to the situation. As police and emergency medical technicians race to the scene, the streetlight brightens to its full capacity, making it easier for first responders to see what’s going on. Behind the scenes, the feeds collected by the surveillance cameras automatically are run through databases housing fingerprint, DNA and mugshot information. Real-time license plate and facial recognition technologies are applied, and a data analytics engine kicks in to correlate the data and provide actionable intelligence. The result? The perpetrators can be more quickly captured by law enforcement. That’s the future. When people think of smart cities, they typically envision smart parking meters, smart electric meters, smart streetlights and smart transportation systems, while public safety typically takes a back seat. However, the benefits of Safe City programs include not only improved crime-fighting but also safer conditions for first responders. For example, the public safety system could alert a police officer responding to a call that a dangerous individual lives at that address or that drug activity previously has occurred there. From a firefighting perspective, Safe City technologies could include the use of drones that can enter a burning building to investigate, sparing humans that risky task. Armed with multiple capabilities, such as the ability to enter confined spaces and transmit video, drones can be a valuable tool in any Safe City initiative. Drones can be equipped to detect the presence of chemical substances, such as a gas leak, or can provide aerial surveillance in dangerous or remote areas, in situations ranging from brush fires to lost or injured people. Social media, which continues to command a growing presence in our lives, fits into Safe City initiatives as well. Online and social media applications, such as Twitter, provide an opportunity for citizens to quickly post information and for government and public safety agencies, such as police and fire departments, to spread the word to the community about a situation, such as a crime scene, fire or accident. Figuring Out the Safe City Puzzle Cities, counties and communities eager to implement smart city solutions should include public safety initiatives within their planning process. Responses to Black & Veatch’s 2018 Smart Cities & Utilities Report survey show that although stakeholders are deploying individual Safe City initiatives, there is clearly an opportunity for a system integrator to deliver a bundled solution. For example, 27 percent of respondents said that they already use data analytics in their organization’s crime prevention and resolution activities, while another 21 percent plan to use data analytics in the next two years (Figure 1). Figure 1. Do you see data analytics (predictive and video analytics) playing a role in your organization’s crime prevention/ resolution? (Select one option.) Although data analytics are often used to identify high-crime locations, the next step could be to deploy video cameras at these locations to deter — and hopefully prevent — crimes from occurring. A surveillance video itself can then serve as an invaluable tool in solving crimes. According to the survey results, data, social media integration and video feeds are the most popular technologies currently in use at real-time crime centers. Over a third (36 percent) of survey respondents have already adopted integrated voice, data and video as elements of a public safety communications system, with 29 percent planning to adopt elements (Figure 2). More than half (54 percent) said they foresee adoption within the next two years. When asked what additional technologies were needed, respondents listed data analytics as No. 1, followed by video surveillance and longhaul connectivity. Figure 2. Does your organization plan to adopt integrated voice, data and video as elements of public safety communications systems? (Select one option.) Funding Safe City Initiatives Funding is a key issue when it comes to Safe Cities. Today, the largest cities armed with the largest budgets, namely New York and Los Angeles, are leading the way in public safety. These metropolises already have substantial video surveillance programs, along with sophisticated, state-of-the-art crime centers and/or emergency operations centers that coordinate first responder operations. When it comes to funding, half of municipalities surveyed state that they rely on federal grants as their primary source of money, followed closely by local taxes. Only 21 percent said they obtain funding through public-private partnerships (Figure 3). Figure 3. How do you obtain funding for the build out and operation of your Public Safety Command and Control Centers? (Select all that apply.) The Future of Safe Cities The current situation with respect to Safe Cities is a bit chaotic, with small, startup companies pitching individual products and services to large government entities — from facial recognition to gunshot detection and license plate recognition to last-mile backhaul. Buying cycles can be lengthy, and many municipalities end up self-performing the integration services. Many communities struggle to obtain the buy-in of their residents, as questions persist over privacy and surveillance. Although challenges exist, there are opportunities for system integrators or consultants to work with cities to put together a comprehensive Safe City roadmap. As part of this effort, a key component should be to educate the community and encourage community involvement, especially in regard to the social media aspect of the program. If implemented properly, a Safe City program can be important, not only in preventing and solving crime but also in working quietly behind the scenes to make people feel safe, universally improving quality of life.
With Grid Modernization, Utilities Poised For Most Visible Transformation The annual Strategic Directions Report series offers analysis and insights into key issues and trends facing the smart cities and utilities, electric, natural gas, and water utility sectors.
Designing Mines with Water in Mind Climate change, a growing global population and accelerating urbanization are deepening concern over the world’s water security.
FLNG Solutions Prove To Be Much More Than Potential It was roughly a decade ago when the initial introduction of floating liquefied natural gas (FLNG) solutions sought to help bring uneconomic gas reserves offshore, such as those in remote locations, to the market. Over the past few years, however, we’ve watched as offshore FLNG capabilities have moved closer to the mainland, offering a very flexible and economical solution to operators looking to offload their supply around the world.
Four Big Trends in Gas-to-Power Hold Promise for U.S. Market Major energy shifts are afoot, and the United States will play a critical role going forward. The EIA projects that by 2022, the U.S. will become a net energy exporter, according to its newly released Annual Energy Outlook 2018. For natural gas, this shift will happen even earlier, around 2020, the EIA says.
Market Strives to Deliver Over Pipeline Challenges As if the persistent low-price environment wasn’t enough, rampant natural gas production in the Appalachian and Permian Basins is ramping up concern that pipeline take-away capacity can’t keep up. This comes as the United States natural gas industry prepares to enter one of its strongest growth periods to date, driven by increasing global demand for low cost natural gas supplies and growing domestic demand for cleaner energy sources.
Black & Veatch, Coalition Donate Electric Resiliency to Hurricane-Affected Puerto Rico School, Saving it in the Process A coalition led by Black & Veatch donated tens of thousands of dollars in technology along with the manpower to provide a new, solar-driven power source for the SU Manuel Ortiz in Yabucoa, ground zero of Hurricane Maria.
Shell Microgrid Doubles as Research Lab for Testing New Energy Solutions Black & Veatch designed, procured and constructed a microgrid for Shell, which is using it to generate power while it also serves as a working test lab to explore advancements in renewable energy.
Client Removes Transmission Lines with Minimal Disruption to Auto, Train Traffic Below The United Illuminating Company needed to replace existing transmission line conductors located on 100-year-old lattice towers built on a historic railroad bridge, hiring Black & Veatch as the EPC contractor.
Redevelopment and Restoration of Abandoned Industrial Site Brings Back Native Wildlife Black & Veatch partnered with the State of Delaware’s Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control to go beyond their initial cleanup assignment to develop a solution that focuses on long-term sustainability and natural resource management for all living creatures in the Yorklyn Valley region.
Consulting Services and Needs Assessment The City of Chula Vista, California selected Black & Veatch to deliver an analysis of sensor technologies.