Smart Infrastructure AM

US technology giants Microsoft has made a number of exciting announcements at Smart Cities NYC 17 that are set to revolutionize the smart city sector. However, one announcement in particular struck a chord with many - and that was Microsoft's revelation that it has created a new accessibility toolkit specifically designed to help city officials, architects and urban planners design cities which would have inclusive features aimed at assisting people with disabilities.

Sidewalk Labs, which Google kick started almost two years ago, may soon develop a "large-scale district" to serve as a living laboratory for urban innovation technologies, Dan Doctoroff, founder and CEO of the company, said at the Smart Cities NYC conference.

The Mayor of Panama has declared his pride that the capital of Panama is Latin America's first 'smart city'. The global movement towards smart cities has been described as a phenomenon and South America has been slower than other continents in terms of embracing such a transformation. Cities all over the world are evolving as leaders attempt to shape a city that ultimately improves the lives of its residents.

US telecoms giant AT&T is working with Maxwell Air Force Base, officially known as Maxwell-Gunter Air Force Base, a United States Air Force installation under the Air Education and Training Command, to bring the power of IoT to their base operations and infrastructure.

Montreal has received an investment of $854m from Bell in order to implement the fastest broadband fiber technology directly to homes and businesses across the city. This investment is expected to create an estimated 2,700 new jobs and generate $2.2bn in economic activity. The incredible new infrastructure will provide direct links to 1.1 million residences and business locations - and will firmly place Monteal at the forefront of the global 'Smart Cities' movement.