Kansas City wins 'smart city' tech award, ups the ante for innovation

An article written by Scott Canon of The Kansas City Star discusses a recent award granted to Kansas City by Edison Awards. Edison Awards is a nonprofit group, "committed to inspiring educational institutions and supporting the business world." The 'smart city' award was granted to Kansas City due to the city's impressive enhancements to data collection. Kansas City is, "deploying the most extensive coordinated suite of connective Wi-Fi technology and analytical platforms in the world to enhance the citizens' experience and improve delivery of city services." All of this work is being done in an effort to make Kansas City become, "one of the smartest cities in the world within five years." 

As of right now, Kansas City has implemented technology that supplies data for several uses including: notifying police as to whether more patrol is necessary, up-to-date traffic tracking, brightening and dimming streetlights, updates on parking availability, and helping restaurants decide whether to notify companies to send additional buses for their customers. Kansas City's website says, "smart city initiatives will help the City of Kansas use real-time data to deliver basic services more efficiently and will attract economic development and entrepreneurs." 

To learn more about the innovation, please visit The Kansas City Star's article: http://www.kansascity.com/news/business/technology...