Static: How did the five-year smart city plan in Coral Gables evolve?
Rodolfo: There have been many initiatives such as the Public Safety Headquarters building, smart parking, and smart building renovations. We tested the first integrated model of its kind AI smart city tycoonInc., which uses cutting-edge analytics and benchmark technology for aerospace engineering, in downtown Coral Gables. We are now adding 10 more smart city pillars. This, to me, is the next evolution of IoT infrastructure or cyber-physical technology for smart cities as it reduces the footprint and integrates all the technology in one place. It’s like plug and play. It’s more cost effective because now you only build once.
We’ve also done research with universities. Research project funded by Department of Energy Advanced Research Projects Agency It will investigate the smart signals that Connect to smart vehicles Real-time traffic optimization. This is something we’ve started in the last two years.
Static: What projects are you most excited about right now in your role as Director of Innovation and Technology at Coral Gables?
Rodolfo: there Smart City Centrewhich companies frequently use to get data when they want to see it Traffic in the city center. If you work in retail or a downtown restaurant, you are interested in this type of data because it helps you improve your sales. It is also used by city and university planners, and even by middle school students who sometimes use the platform to do their homework. For example, students were doing research on nature and conservation, and they reached out to us to see if we had data to share. Used by first responders, city officials, and residents who want to see data about canal probes. We are trying to get more people to use it. The most popular feature is a mobile application to pay for city services, such as parking, online.
Related: How Coral Gables is driving smart city growth with a digital twin.
Static: Tell me about Coral Gables’ work with digital twins.
Rodolfo: We have a lot of geospatial analytics applications in our dual digital platform where we connect data from assets like smart lights. We take advantage of the many tools, intelligence, and capabilities of the cloud that we have Amazon Web Services To interpret our urban analyses. We are now experimenting with immersive Web3 devices such as virtual reality headsets, incl skylightAnd Microsoft HoloLens And Magic Leap. In our lab, we test applications that allow us to use VR headsets to perform visual checks. This also includes a bit of augmented reality, because that gives you the metadata related to the object you’re viewing. We also work with University of MiamiBusiness technology researchers who are testing an augmented reality device that looks a bit like The Google glass.
Static: How do Coral Gables projects put actionable data in the hands of their citizens?
Rodolfo: One example of this is the data we publish on the Smart City Hub. Transparency portals display productivity data from city accounts, or financial data on how the city spends taxpayer money. All this data is published and shared with the public. We share traffic data with businesses so they can use it for economic growth and productivity. This is actionable data, especially information related to general safety.
Static: What are some of the recent public safety deployments in Coral Gables? What technology is involved in those?
Rodolfo: In our Community Intelligence Center here, the Police Department has launched a Virtual Reality Center where they run simulations of response scenarios. We also redesigned the Public Safety Emergency Operations Center. city gatherings emergency operations Here for Coral Gables and six other partners: municipalities From Pinecrest, West Miami, South Miami, Cutler Bay, Sweetwater, and the University of Miami campus located in Coral Gables.
explore: How the City of Carlsbad has improved data sharing across local government.
also, Police Department He recently started an innovative drone program that can fly him anywhere in the city within three minutes to speed up response when an incident occurs. My team also uses drones to inspect damage to towers or on building roofs, and to perform operations such as drone deliveries of supplies when there is no physical access or rescue reconnaissance after hurricanes.
Static: What are your most important goals for the future? What are the milestones you expect to achieve?
Rodolfo: We have to finish implementing our cloud suite of enterprise systems. We work with all departments, including finance and human resources, to implement systems. With this new platform for financial institutions and HR, we’re going to be completely digital and paperless so it’s a major milestone for us. digital transformation Journey, to become fully digital, interoperable and integrated.
We are also expanding our smart districts by adding an additional 25 fiber lanes, connecting them to the south and north of the city. So, we have a lot of targets that will have a regional impact.