Black & Veatch and software subsidiary Atonix Digital are working with the City of San Diego to implement a strategy that could bring smart city technologies to underserved areas of the city. The Inclusive Connected Communities Roadmap project is a collaborative effort between regional business association Cleantech San Diego, Black & Veatch, Atonix Digital, and community research firm Harder+Company that will evaluate how technology-based solutions can help address the top economic and social challenges of residents in low- to moderate-income areas of San Diego.
A Planning Approach Focused on Communities in Need First
For this roadmap project, the City of San Diego’s initial goal is to identify how technology can meet the needs of communities of concern and empower citizens that previously had limited access to such benefits and limited input in the decision-making process. Those technology solutions can then be scaled out to other areas of the city as part of a larger smart city plan ensuring equity across communities of all income levels.
The Inclusive Connected Communities Roadmap is starting in the San Diego Promise Zone (SDPZ), an area that comprises three of the City’s most economically disadvantaged neighborhoods.
Inclusive Goal-Setting for Economic Growth
The project team is holding a series of smart city goal-setting meetings with community leaders in the SDPZ to discuss, identify, and vote on the key issues they would like to be addressed, such as:
- Vocational training
- Housing
- Technology
- Transit
- Food
- Energy
- Health
“As is too often the case with many new technology programs, smart city work has typically been conducted in higher-income areas of San Diego for ease of access to resources and users. Through our Inclusive Connected Communities Roadmap project, we will change this pattern and start with low- to moderate-income communities for future smart city project development.”
Erik Caldwell
Deputy Chief Operating Officer for Smart and Sustainable Communities, City of San Diego
"We embrace the focus on low- to moderate-income communities and the use of technology to provide benefits to the community. The methodology includes extensive communication with community representatives and reviewing current and target state assessments and city policies. Our top priority is establishing a data-driven framework to prioritize deployment of real technology projects to create positive community outcomes."
Steph Stoppenhagen
Director of Business Development for Connected Communities | Black & Veatch
“The City of San Diego is rapidly emerging as one of the smartest cities in North America due to a number of progressive initiatives that benefit both the economy and the environment. Implementing technology deployment decisions where there is the greatest need is a critical shift in how cities should build a truly connected community, and we are proud to be part of that change in perspective here in San Diego.”
Jason Anderson
President and CEO, Cleantech San Diego
Information from this project story originally appeared on the Cleantech San Diego website.
