Smart cities harness the power of the Microsoft cloud
I’ve often said that U.S. cities are the launch pad for innovation. That’s why I’m excited that Microsoft is the premier sponsor of a first-of-its-kind event focused on the intersection of technology and urban life: Smart Cities NYC ’17, May 3-6. It’s an ideal match for our Microsoft CityNext initiative, which we started in 2013 to empower more sustainable, prosperous and economically competitive cities.
I’m especially looking forward to moderating a panel discussion on how smart cities are leveraging the cloud to better serve constituents. Here are a few examples of innovation using our Microsoft Azure and Azure Government cloud platforms:
Urban mobility and transportation:
- Cubic Transportation Systems is supporting Miami-Dade County in modernizing its Cubic-supplied, Azure-based EASY Card revenue management system to book, route and pay for transit across bus, train, bike-share and ride-share options.
- Microsoft is working through a new City Innovate Foundation public-private partnership to help advance transportation solutions for all cities, starting with Chattanooga, Tenn., Los Angeles, Miami-Dade, Oakland and Victoria, B.C. Please learn more here.
- Azure-based TransitScreen empowers commuters with a convenient, real-time picture of all their nearest transportation options—and helps cities become more sustainable and healthier places to live, work and play.
- Through a partnership with DataKind, Microsoft is analyzing traffic collision data in New York, Seattle and other Vision Zero Cities, which aim to reduce traffic-related deaths and serious injuries to zero.
- Fathym’s Internet of Things-enabled WeatherCloud enhances driver safety during inclement weather.
- The Microsoft Connected Vehicle Platform provides a set of services built on the Azure cloud to empower auto manufacturers to create custom connected driving experiences.
Health and human services:
- Diona is working to engage citizens with health and human services agencies through Azure-based mobile solutions.
- Foster Care Technologies has a leading edge foster-care placement solution called ECAP, which runs on Azure Government.
- Tetrus is enabling HHS agencies find loving, adoptive homes for children in a fraction of the time through an Azure Government-based information exchange.
- The California Department of Social Services, Microsoft and Planet Technologies partnered to redefine the entire citizen experience by empowering employees, engaging with citizens and optimizing operations through Surface, Azure and Office 365.
Public safety:
- The Microsoft Patrol Car is a great example of our work with partners to integrate cloud based, connected technology solutions into patrol vehicles.
- Genetec launched a Microsoft Azure-based security solution that police, fire and other departments can use to manage images from video security, access control and license plate recognition cameras to help cut crime. Microsoft and Genetec also are providing 10 U.S. cities with Community Connect starter kits to enable local businesses to connect surveillance cameras to police through the cloud, providing a vital tool that’s already reduced violent crime by 50 percent at participating Detroit businesses.
- The Miami-Dade Police Department is transforming its operations through two solutions powered by Microsoft cloud technology: VIEVU body-worn cameras for officers and the Community on Patrol (COP) mobile app that connects citizens to each other and to police.
Sustainability:
- Spatial Wave worked with Los Angeles to implement an Azure-based mobility component that provides more effective sanitation services while reducing costs.
- To improve building management and energy efficiency, Pittsburgh’s Carnegie Mellon University implemented the PI System from OSIsoft, based on Power BI for Office 365 and Windows Azure.
Microsoft also is proud to be the first technology company in the country to achieve Gold Level of Zero Waste Certification for our Redmond, Wash., campus, recognizing our work to divert at least 90 percent of food, office and construction waste away from landfills.
We’ll look forward to discussing more cloud-based solutions at Smart Cities NYC ’17 and demonstrating our Azure and Azure Government platforms, which support nearly 6 million government users across 7,000-plus federal, state and local organizations, and fulfill stringent security and compliance requirements. For example:
- Microsoft is the only cloud provider that offers a cloud that is DoD Impact Level 5 Provisional Authorization (PA)-ready for infrastructure, platform and productivity services.
- Azure Government meets a multitude of certifications and accreditations, including FedRAMP, FBI CJIS agreements with 27 states, HIPAA and many more.
If you can’t join us at Smart Cities NYC ‘17, please take advantage of our free trials of Microsoft Azure, Azure Government and Office 365 U.S. Government to experience the most trusted, comprehensive cloud for your smart city solutions. More information also is available at:
