The 2024 IDC Smart Cities North America Awards has named the City of Dallas as one of four finalists in the civic engagement category for its “Digital Equity Program.”
IDC defines smart cities as “focused on using emerging technologies and innovation to make cities more livable, and [that] offer new services and economic opportunities.”
The City’s Digital Equity Program is a comprehensive initiative that uses taxpayer money to help low-income residents get access to the internet and the skills and devices needed to use it. City officials have made a priority of equity initiatives in recent years, allegedly letting core City services and crime reduction fall by the wayside.
This is not the first time Dallas has been spotlighted for its digital efforts. As reported by The Dallas Express last year, the City was highlighted for its smart city initiatives, including community Wi-Fi, Air Quality Environmental Monitors (AQMs), and AI-powered cameras, which it piloted in the Red Cloud neighborhood.
Another study in 2023 conducted by ProtechOS, a real estate software company, ranked Dallas No.7 on a list of the U.S. cities best prepared for a “smart city” future.
Dallas has also been at the forefront of leveraging state-of-the-art tech to help run the city. In March 2023, The Dallas Express reported that the City is using drones in several non-police projects throughout Dallas.
The City also utilizes “smart city infrastructure devices” from software company Ubicquia. These versatile devices can provide light, deliver Wi-Fi, and even monitor and optimize traffic.
“Being named a finalist in the IDC Smart Cities Awards reaffirms what we already know: that the City of Dallas is a national leader in data analytics and committed to digital and civic engagement, ensuring that important information is  available to all residents,” said Dr. Brita Andercheck, chief data officer and director of data analytics and business intelligence, per a City press release.
Some of the digital engagement initiatives from the City include:
311 Service Request Dashboard, which provides residents with access to information about city service requests. It allows them to monitor their requests and receive daily updates;
City Manager Goals Dashboard , delivered in English and Spanish, which provides insights into the City’s progress on its major strategic goals.;
Domestic Violence Dashboard, an interactive platform designed to raise public awareness regarding domestic violence, highlighting the collaborative efforts of the Dallas Police Department, the Dallas County District Attorney’s Office, and various non-profit organizations and shelters to support survivors and their families;
Dallas Fire-Rescue Dashboard, which enables residents to view the City’s emergency response times to different types of calls, offering insight into the City’s emergency services operations.
Voting for the awards is now closed. Winners will be announced on March 27, and the awards will be presented at the Smart Cities Connect conference on May 9 in Raleigh, North Carolina.
