How generative AI is shaping today’s cities
Author | Elvira Esparza Generative artificial intelligence plays a pivotal role in the development of smart cities, offering innovative solutions across a wide range of sectors. Linker Vision, through its GenAI Observ platform, is leveraging Vision Language Models (VLMs) and Large-Scale Vision Models (LVMs) to develop cutting-edge applications. These technologies power AI-driven video analysis agents, […]
Drone in a box: a solution for emergency response
Author | Raquel C. Pico Since their emergence a few years ago, drones have demonstrated their potential in solving various challenges and enabling the development of innovative services. Although they initially sparked interest as novel or entertaining gadgets, it quickly became evident that drones could take on critical and essential roles. Emergency services are one […]
What is permeable paving?
Author | Lucía Burbano Water resources are becoming increasingly precious and scarce, necessitating the implementation of sustainable management solutions in urban areas. Permeable paving is gaining attention for its ability to harness rainwater, enabling cities to align sustainable practices with the natural water cycle and implement the sponge city concept. To underscore the urgency of […]
How Washington is testing low carbon district energy systems to improve its sustainability
Author | Lucía Burbano Heating and cooling systems in buildings in the United States make up approximately 43% of the nation’s total energy consumption. Fossil fuels used in these heating and cooling systems contribute significantly to greenhouse gas emissions, increasing air pollution and accelerating the effects of climate change, according to the U.S. Environmental Protection […]
The Argentine City That Has Created a True Smart City Ecosystem
This is a guest post by Lucía Bellocchio, founder and executive director of Trend Smart Cities. Lucía has extensive experience working on urban innovation, and has written in leading media outlets in South America like La Nación, El Observador, Clarín or TN. When the topic of Smart Cities is broached on an international scale, the […]
Smart hospitals: how they’re helping to make healthcare more efficient
Author | Raquel C. Pico Digitalization has become the defining revolution of the 21st century, so it comes as no surprise that the digital transition is impacting all sectors. No scenario is untouched by its potential benefits, and none escape the need to update methods, incorporate new tools, and rethink how things are done. For […]
How AI-powered LiDAR technology is rapidly gaining momentum, playing a transformative role in enhancing life within smart cities
Author | Lucía Burbano Often, the combination of two smart technologies amplifies their individual capabilities, working together like allies. This synergy is especially evident between devices that collect data and those that process, screen, and analyze it. In the case of LiDAR and artificial intelligence, this collaboration unlocks numerous applications within the context of smart […]
UK cities are implementing advanced noise detection systems to enhance emergency response times and potentially save more lives
Author | Elvira Esparza Sound detectors trigger instant alerts upon identifying unusual acoustic signals, such as gunshots or cries for help. This enables emergency services to respond more rapidly while simultaneously enhancing public safety in smart cities and high-risk environments. Their use is being expanded in select cities to enhance public safety and security. These […]
Biofuel for the aeronautical industry: What are the pros, cons, and impact on cities?
Author | Lucía Burbano Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF) is widely regarded as the most realistic alternative for decarbonizing the aviation sector, which is responsible for 12% of CO2 emissions in transportation and 2% of global CO2 emissions. The construction of biofuel production plants is becoming increasingly common in the aeronautical sector, presenting both potential solutions […]
Empty offices are costing cities a fortune (and how some are fighting to change this disastrous situation)
Author | Elvira Esparza Mandatory remote working imposed by COVID in 2020 continues to leave a lasting impact on office spaces. Although in-person and hybrid working models have resumed, office occupancy levels remain significantly below those seen prior to the pandemic. Empty offices are projected to continue inflicting significant economic losses on cities. The solution […]