| The people of Hue are not only proud of their history but also of their harmonious natural landscape. Photo: Minh Anh | Unique, vibrant The Hue Imperial Citadel complex, recognized by UNESCO as a World Cultural Heritage site in 1993, comprises over 300 architectural structures including imperial palaces, tombs, temples, pagodas, and other historical relics. Remarkably, these structures in Hue have retained a relatively high degree of integrity, creating a unique architectural landscape. These relics do not stand alone but are integrated into a comprehensive urban planning scheme deeply rooted in the Nguyen Dynasty style. From the surrounding citadel walls to the main thoroughfares, the overall structure forms a complete "open-air museum" of unprecedented scale. If tangible heritage is the "backbone," then intangible heritage is the "soul" of Hue. Hue Royal Court Music – a representative intangible cultural heritage of humanity – is still performed regularly. Hue folk songs are regularly performed in concert halls or on the Perfume River. Traditional craft villages such as bronze casting, incense making, and rattan and bamboo weaving continue to exist and develop. In particular, Hue's royal and folk cuisine boasts hundreds of exquisite dishes that have been passed down and prepared daily. Traditional festivals such as the Lantern Festival, the Ao Dai Festival, and the Hue Festival have become distinctive cultural features. All of this creates a "living" cultural ecosystem, not merely artifacts in a museum. Hue's strength lies in the strong connection between its community and its heritage. Many families have lived around the historical sites for generations, becoming natural "keepers of the flame." The people of Hue are not only proud of their history but also express that value through their lifestyle, language, clothing, and daily behavior. It is this human element that makes Hue's heritage seem like a living,
Apr 4, 2026 · via vietnam.vn
Morocco presented its smart city strategy on Thursday in Strasbourg, France, as officials and youth delegates discussed artificial intelligence and local governance during a session of the Congress of Local and Regional Authorities of the Council of Europe, Morocco’s Press Agency (MAP) reported. At a plenary session dedicated to AI, Moroccan delegate Mohammed Amine El Guermat addressed the Congress of Local and Regional Authorities of the Council of Europe dedicated to AI. The delegate said Morocco uses technology to modernize local governance and expand access to public services. He pointed to smart city projects underway in major urban areas, including Rabat and Casablanca. El Guermat cited the “Rabat Smart and Sustainable City” project as a concrete example of Morocco’s digital transition. He said the initiative reflects national efforts to integrate innovation into urban planning and public administration. “Innovation alone does not ensure inclusive outcomes,” the delegate noted. Without training, oversight, and full implementation, digital policies may benefit highly connected groups while excluding vulnerable populations, El Guermat added. Speaking on behalf of youth delegates, he said many cities and regions lack readiness to manage complex digital transitions. He cited limited training, tight budgets, and outdated infrastructure as key constraints for local authorities. These limitations risk leaving large segments of the population behind as governments expand digital services, he added. During his comments, the delegate called for measures to protect access for older adults, rural communities, and people with disabilities. He said digital transformation must align with human rights, democratic governance, and the rule of law. AI should serve people rather than replace human-centered decision-making, he explained. The Congress of Local and Regional Authorities runs a youth delegate program that brings younger participants into institutional discussions. Youth delegates take part in debates, committee work, and policy exchanges along with elected representatives. They
Apr 4, 2026 · via barlamantoday.com
At a working session held in the capital city of Hanoi on April 3, representatives from the Ministry of Science and Technology, the Ministry of National Defense, Dien Bien authorities and relevant agencies and businesses discussed the development of the pilot project involving UAV (unmanned aerial vehicle) applications. Deputy Minister of Science and Technology Bui Hoang Phuong stated that Dien Bien was chosen not only due to its mountainous terrain and fragmented geography but also to serve as a reference model for other localities in the future. UAV technology has already been applied in various locations. Therefore, the project will focus on building practical application models to evaluate the effectiveness of integrating UAVs into economic activities, particularly in cargo transportation, while also supporting data collection for production, business operations and management. The Ministry of National Defense has agreed in principle with the pilot project in Dien Bien Province. However, implementation must strictly ensure national defense and security requirements, airspace management, flight safety and public order. At the session, a representative of Vietnam Post Corporation (VNPost) proposed deploying a UAV-based cargo transport model in the province. With its rugged mountainous terrain, Dien Bien faces significant challenges in upgrading road infrastructure, which requires substantial resources and time due to complex construction conditions. Therefore, alongside planned road investments, the province could enhance connectivity through an integrated logistics system combining UAVs and road transport under the low-altitude economy framework, implemented step by step along priority corridors and key nodes.
Apr 4, 2026 · via en.sggp.org.vn
Abstract The 15-minute city presents a novel approach to sustainable urban environments; however, it is not a one-size-fits-all solution. This paper proposes a methodological framework that classifies 15-minute cities by overall performance and relative performance across facility categories. The study of 339 Chinese cities identifies four distinct city types: high-performance livability-oriented, high-performance consumption-oriented, medium-performance essential service-oriented, and under-served. More affluent cities with more dispersed population and facilities generally perform better. City performance is associated with facility provision profile, with high-performing cities investing more in quality-of-life amenities, while others focus on meeting residents’ basic service needs. These findings support tailored development strategies, suggesting that cities should first ensure access to essential services, before progressively developing livability and consumption-oriented amenities that satisfy more diversified needs. By linking city typologies to facility provision profiles, this study contributes to a deeper understanding of differentiated urban development strategies and provides actionable insights for planning 15-minute cities. Similar content being viewed by others Data availability The original POI data for Chinese cities collected from Amap [https://www.amap.com/] and the national road network data obtained from OpenStreetMap are not publicly available due to licensing and privacy restrictions, but may be obtained from the corresponding author upon reasonable request. Population data were obtained from the open dataset by Chen et al. [https://doi.org/10.6084/m9.figshare.24916140.v1]. The City Construction Statistical Yearbook 2021 was sourced from China’s Ministry of Housing and Urban-Rural Development [https://www.mohurd.gov.cn/gongkai/fdzdgknr/sjfb/tjxx/jstjnj/index.html], and the China City Statistical Yearbook was obtained from China Statistics Press [https://www.zgtjcbs.com/]. References Moreno, C., Allam, Z., Chabaud, D., Gall, C. & Pratlong, F. Introducing the “15-minute city”: sustainability, resilience and place identity in future post-pandemic cities. Smart Cities 4, 93–111 (2021). Urban and Transit Planning: City Planning: Urbanization and Circular Development https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-031-20995-6 (Springer International Publishing, 2023). Allam, Z., Bibri, S. E., Chabaud, D. & Moreno, C. The ‘15-minute
Apr 4, 2026 · via nature.com
Microsoft invests in Japan’s AI infrastructure by Alimat Aliyeva As part of its development strategy in Japan, Microsoft plans to invest 1.6 trillion yen (about $10 billion) in the country’s economy between 2026 and 2029, AzerNEWS reports. The program is aimed at expanding artificial intelligence (AI) infrastructure and strengthening collaboration with Japan in cybersecurity. During his visit to Japan, Microsoft President Brad Smith unveiled the plan, which includes an educational initiative to train 1 million engineers and developers to work with AI by 2030. As part of the project, Microsoft will collaborate with local partners such as SoftBank and Sakura Internet. The joint effort is expected to enable Japanese companies and government agencies to use Microsoft Azure cloud services while ensuring that sensitive data remains within the country. Additionally, the partners plan to enhance intelligence sharing to prevent cybercrime, reflecting a broader commitment to secure digital growth. According to Microsoft’s internal data, AI adoption in Japan has surged, with one in five working-age residents currently using generative AI tools. However, government forecasts suggest that by 2040, Japan could face a shortage of more than 3 million specialists in robotics and AI, making investments in education and talent development critical for the country’s economic future. Experts also note that Microsoft’s investment could spur innovation hubs across Japan, potentially creating AI-powered solutions in healthcare, manufacturing, and smart cities. This ambitious initiative positions Japan as a global leader in AI and cybersecurity, while also highlighting the strategic role of private-public partnerships in shaping the future of technology. Here we are to serve you with news right now. It does not cost much, but worth your attention. Choose to support open, independent, quality journalism and subscribe on a monthly basis. By subscribing to our online newspaper, you can have full digital access to all
Apr 4, 2026 · via azernews.az
Everything we know about the giant car‑free Chinese city being built as the urban playground of the future Published on Apr 03, 2026 at 11:17 PM (UTC+4) by Jason Fan Last updated on Apr 02, 2026 at 2:16 PM (UTC+4) Edited by Amelia Jean Hershman-Jones The car‑free Chinese city, named Net City, backed by tech giant Tencent, sounds like a utopia straight out of science fiction. The ambitious project promised to rethink how cities work from the ground up. Instead of roads packed with cars, it would prioritize people, green space, and smart technology. Now in 2026, it’s still evolving, but the vision remains just as bold. Enter our competition to win a stunning 2006 Ford GT or $400,000 cash! Construction of the Chinese city began in 2020 Planned for Shenzhen’s Dachan Bay, Net City was designed as a massive mixed-use district roughly the size of Midtown Manhattan. Tencent envisioned it as a fully integrated live-work-play ecosystem, combining offices, homes, schools, parks, and retail into one seamless environment. A multinational conglomerate having its own giant headquarters isn’t uncommon, but what really sets it apart is its car-free philosophy. Instead of prioritizing roads, the master plan focuses on walking, cycling, ferries, and public transit, with green corridors, wetlands, and public spaces woven throughout The idea was simple: design a city around people, not vehicles. Add in AI systems, environmental sensors, and smart infrastructure, and Net City quickly became one of the most ambitious ‘future city’ concepts anywhere in the world. Fast forward to 2026, and the reality is a little more grounded. Construction began in the early 2020s, and parts of the development have now entered phased rollout. Early zones tied to Tencent’s headquarters, including residential towers and office spaces, were moving toward completion by late 2025, with trial operations already
Apr 4, 2026 · via supercarblondie.com
Top 25 Companies in Global Remote Infrastructure Management Market (2024–2035): Spherical Insights Analysis RELEASE DATE: Apr 2026 Author: Spherical InsightsRequest Free Sample Speak to Analyst Introduction Remote Infrastructure Management (RIM) market refers to services that enable organizations to monitor, manage, and optimize IT infrastructure such as servers, networks, databases, and cloud systems from remote locations. The market is driven by rising cloud adoption, increasing complexity of hybrid IT environments, cost optimization needs, and demand for real-time monitoring and cybersecurity. RIM solutions are widely applied in industries such as BFSI, healthcare, IT & telecom, retail, and government for ensuring operational efficiency, business continuity, and system performance. Governments worldwide support digital transformation through initiatives like smart cities, data localization laws, and IT infrastructure modernization, encouraging RIM adoption. Recent developments include AI-driven AIOps platforms, partnerships among companies like IBM, SAP, and AWS, and expansion of cloud-managed services. Additionally, investments in AI infrastructure and data centers are shaping the market landscape. Technological advancements such as automation, machine learning, predictive analytics, and edge computing are significantly enhancing remote monitoring capabilities and driving market growth globally. Navigate Future Markets with Confidence: Insights from Spherical Insights LLP The insights presented in this blog are derived from comprehensive market research conducted by Spherical Insights LLP, a trusted advisory partner to leading global enterprises. Backed by in-depth data analysis, expert forecasting, and industry-specific intelligence, our reports empower decision-makers to identify strategic growth opportunities in fast-evolving sectors. Clients seeking detailed market segmentation, competitive landscapes, regional outlooks, and future investment trends will find immense value in the full report. By leveraging our research, businesses can make informed decisions, gain a competitive edge, and stay ahead in the transition toward sustainable and profitable solutions. In May 2025, HCL Technologies launched a solution in collaboration with CareAR (a Xerox company) and ServiceNow to
Apr 4, 2026 · via sphericalinsights.com
Global Elevator and Escalator Market Is Rising Fast as Cities Build Higher and Smarter From high-rise living to smart infrastructure, vertical mobility is becoming one of the most essential pillars of modern urban development Modern cities are no longer spreading outward — they are growing upward. As urban populations increase and land becomes more expensive, countries around the world are embracing vertical development in a big way. Towering residential complexes, mixed-use skyscrapers, metro stations, airports, hospitals, hotels, and shopping centers are reshaping the built environment. And at the center of this transformation is one often-overlooked industry: elevators and escalators. According to the market data you provided, the Global Elevator and Escalator Market is projected to rise from US$ 163.44 Billion in 2025 to US$ 249.45 Billion by 2034, expanding at a CAGR of 4.81% from 2026 to 2034. That steady growth reflects more than construction demand — it reveals how deeply vertical transportation has become woven into daily life. From helping commuters move efficiently through metro systems to supporting aging populations in residential buildings, elevators and escalators are no longer just conveniences. They are essential infrastructure. Why vertical mobility matters more than ever An elevator or escalator may seem like a small component of a building, but in reality, it defines how people interact with the space. Elevators allow people and goods to move efficiently between floors in residential, commercial, and industrial buildings. Escalators, on the other hand, are designed to keep large numbers of people flowing smoothly in high-traffic areas such as malls, airports, railway stations, and public transit hubs. Together, these systems have become indispensable in urban planning and modern architecture. As cities become denser, the demand for vertical transportation naturally rises. It is nearly impossible to imagine a high-rise residential tower or a multi-level hospital functioning effectively
Apr 4, 2026 · via vocal.media
03 Apr AI TELECOMMUNICATIONS KEYNOTE SPEAKER: FUTURIST CONSULTANT FOR CORPORATE EVENTS Famous AI telecommunications keynote speakers and futurist consulting experts focus on the emerging trends transforming the industry through artificial intelligence. Thought leaders, SMEs and influencers can be found working as celebrity AI telecommunications keynote speakers helping providers, executives, and technology teams understand how ML, LLMs and automation can improve network efficiency, customer experience, and strategic decision-making. A leading thrust of work is around automated network optimization. Machine learning algorithms can monitor traffic patterns, predict congestion, and dynamically allocate bandwidth to ensure seamless connectivity. Telecom companies like Verizon and AT&T are highlighted by the best AI telecommunications keynote speakers for using tech to enhance network reliability and reduce downtime, especially in 5G and fiber-optic deployments. Also pros focus on predictive maintenance and fault detection. Per top AI telecommunications keynote speakers, smart systems analyze sensor data from network equipment to anticipate failures before they occur, minimizing service disruptions and reducing repair costs. This trend enables telecom providers to improve operational efficiency and maintain high service standards. Customer experience personalization is also a leading interest. New IoT enables telecom companies to offer tailored plans, predict customer needs, and automate support through chatbots and virtual assistants. By analyzing usage patterns and preferences, global AI telecommunications keynote speakers note that tech can proactively recommend services or resolve issues, increasing customer satisfaction and loyalty. And thought leaders, SMEs and KOLs discuss fraud detection and cybersecurity. Telecom networks face constant threats, from SIM swap fraud to DDoS attacks. Smart tools can detect anomalies, identify potential threats in real time, and automate responses, enhancing network security. On top of it analytics and decision intelligence is worth watching. Industry executives are using tech to optimize pricing strategies, forecast demand, and plan network expansions. Data-driven insights international AI telecommunications
Apr 3, 2026 · via futuristsspeakers.com
Dive Brief: - Housing referrals from United Way’s 211 helpline, a phone number that connects to local assistance organizations in the U.S., reached a record high of 6 million in 2025, up from 5.6 million in 2024, according to a United Way Worldwide 211 Impact Survey released this week. Housing accounted for 31% of all 211 referrals, the most of any category last year. - Utilities and food assistance followed housing in the number of 211 referrals, with 3.1 million for utilities and 2.5 million for food. - "What we’re hearing across the 211 network is a sharp increase in people struggling — particularly around finding and keeping stable housing — which serves as a sounding alarm from communities nationwide,” Heather Black, vice president of 211 system strategy at United Way Worldwide said in a news release. Dive Insight: 2025 was a challenging year for housing affordability in the U.S. The median existing home price hit an all-time high in June, and the number of cost-burdened renters continued to soar. United Way last year documented 19 million calls to 211, up from 18.1 million calls in 2024. Over the past decade, referrals for housing assistance have surged 150%. Housing last year also made up the largest “unmet need,” according to the organization. “In other words, there were not enough community resources available to handle the housing needs 211 callers expressed,” the report stated. Utility-assistance referrals increased 6% compared with 2024 and have doubled over the past 10 years. Food referrals remained steady at 2.5 million compared with the year before but are nearly double pre-pandemic numbers, the survey found. Other top 2025 referrals included legal, consumer and public safety assistance, followed by individual, family and community support assistance, mental health and substance abuse assistance and income support and financial assistance.
Apr 3, 2026 · via smartcitiesdive.com
But a spokesperson for the charity said the position articulated by its deputy chief operations officer at a council meeting recently is not its current policy. Francesco Pilla has lost track of how many times he has seen cars fly through red lights and over the pedestrian crossing at the junction near Harold’s Cross Educate Together National School, as he brings his children to and from the campus. “It’s something that happens every single morning,” he said by phone on Wednesday. Recently, he was frightened out of his skin, he said, when a van sped through the crossing, which had a green man, and narrowly missed his child on a scooter. “Sometimes, my little son, when he sees the green man, he flies straight on,” he says. Pilla speaks as both a concerned parent, and an academic. In his role as professor of smart and sustainable cities at the School of Architecture, Planning and Environmental Policy in UCD, his work focuses on building better and safer communities, he said. Last year, Pilla organised a project that saw student’s scooters fitted with cameras, so they could document the chaotic traffic around the school and the nearby junction, as they navigated it. “We captured many vans, cars passing through the red light, skimming the kids passing through the red light with a full green man,” he says. Chaos at that junction of Harold’s Cross Road and Parkview Avenue is just one of several concerns members of the school’s parent staff association (PSA) have, they say. Concerns for the traffic around the campus, a former greyhound racing stadium, were flagged before the school welcomed its first tranche of students, junior infants, in 2019. At the time, it was a temporary set-up, with lessons run in makeshift classrooms. In March 2022, permission was granted
Apr 3, 2026 · via dublininquirer.com
City to celebrate year of music with global summit - Published Sunderland will get a chance to showcase its music credentials as it is set to host a global summit. It became the second UK city, after Manchester, to join the Music Cities Network (MCN) last year - a scheme that gives member cities access to collaborative opportunities, resources and advocacy. It has been selected to host the network's summer summit in June, marking a year of celebrations of the city's Year of Music, which features events, gigs and workshops across 12 months. Sunderland Music City's CEO Michelle Daurat said it was a "proud moment" to be chosen as a host for the event for fellow city members such as Berlin, Reykjavik and Sydney. She said: "As we reach the culmination of our Year of Music, this summit not only celebrates how far we've come, but also sets the stage for Sunderland's future as a connected, innovative and internationally engaged music city." The MCN said the event will take place across three days from 18 June and will explore how to build sustainable "music ecosystems" within urban policies. Managing director of the MCN Lena Ingwersen said: "This summit builds on conversations we've had and will continue to have across Europe - from ESNS to Tallinn Music Week - where cities and industry leaders are rethinking how music can shape more resilient, future-oriented cities." Follow BBC Sunderland on X, external, Facebook, external, Nextdoor and Instagram, external. Get in touch Do you have a story suggestion for BBC Wear? Related topics - Published21 January - Published25 January 2025
Apr 3, 2026 · via bbc.co.uk
Abstract The dynamic nature of traffic, high mobility and varying topology are major challenges to Urban Vehicular Ad Hoc Networks (VANETs), especially in densely populated urban areas. The methods of traditional routing and congestion control are not able to adjust and this leads to increased latency, decreased throughput and frequent breakdowns. In this paper, a new hybrid deep learning architecture that combines Graph Convolutional Networks (GCN) to extract spatial features and Long Short-Term Memory (LSTM) networks to model time is proposed with the aim of offering adaptive routing and other proactive congestion control capabilities in urban VANETs. The model applies the real time traffic information of sensors and vehicular communication systems in urban areas to forecast traffic congestion, model vehicle density and route optimization. In experimental results, the proposed GCN-LSTM model is significantly more efficient in routing and also in predicting results, compared to the baseline models. In particular, it recorded a Mean Absolute Error of 0.02, Root Mean Squared Error (RMSE) of 0.07, routing latency of 38.13 ms and Packet Delivery Ratio of 95, which was much better than GCN-only (MAE: 4.65, PDR: 90.3) and CNN-LSTM (MAE: 0.14, PDR: 88.1). The hybrid model also aids the real-time traffic processing through the edge-cloud cooperation, reducing the inference latency and scaling to city regions. Such methods as geospatial embedding and temporal batching enable the model to represent the intricate flow of traffic in high-resolution. The architecture is also modular and allows simple incorporation of both emergency vehicle prioritization and location-based rerouting and is scalable to operate on resource-constrained edge nodes, meaning it can be used in practice in intelligent city infrastructure. Altogether, the developed model offers a high-performing and scalable adaptive routing and congestion control solution to smart urban transportation systems. Data availability The dataset used in this study is the
Apr 3, 2026 · via nature.com
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Apr 3, 2026 · via youtube.com
Charlotte To Host TechDay Event With $10K Prize Competition for HBCU Students The City of Charlotte will hold Charlotte Community TechDay 2026 on Thursday, April 23, from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. at Johnson C. Smith University’s Innovation Center. The City of Charlotte will hold Charlotte Community TechDay 2026 on Thursday, April 23, from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. at Johnson C. Smith University's Innovation Center. Demonstrations and workshops will fill the day. Student teams from Historically Black Colleges and Universities will compete for $10,000 in prizes. Pathway Community Foundation has teamed up with the city to organize the event. Student teams representing HBCUs will present prototype solutions they built after three months working with Charlotte and Henry County, Georgia. These teams will pitch ideas designed to tackle actual civic problems facing communities today. "Charlotte is proud to host the HBCU Smart Cities Challenge in our growing city," said Mayor Vi Lyles, according to Charlotte.gov. "This partnership creates the opportunities to showcase some of our innovation work; connect with others; and expand our horizons, and we cannot wait to see it all come together on April 23." This marks the city's second run with the HBCU Smart Cities Program. The Charlotte Department of Transportation worked with students last year through this initiative. Now they're back, bringing fresh minds to brainstorm solutions for getting people and goods around town more efficiently. Want to show off your tech? Exhibitors can sign up to display their innovations at the event. Anyone with technology to share can register. Technologies that improve mobility — how people and goods move — get first consideration. Exhibitor registration closes Thursday, April 9. The partnership with Pathway Community Foundation shows how serious the city is about working together to spark new ideas. Community members can sign up online. Johnson
Apr 3, 2026 · via kiss951.com
Tönnjes presented its next-generation solutions for secure and networked vehicle identification, a new generation of hybrid chips and demonstrated its latest developments for digital vehicle registration and authentication in a live trade fair environment. The new hybrid chip, presented at at Intertraffic in Amsterdam earlier this month, was developed in collaboration with Swiss semiconductor manufacturer EM Microelectronic. The secure dual-frequency RAIN RFID and NFC tag combines long-range, high-speed vehicle identification with convenient smartphone-based verification. This hybrid approach enables a wide range of use cases— from identification in heavy traffic to targeted roadside checks— while advanced cryptography, including AES-128 authentication, and extended memory structures ensure the high level of security, privacy and flexibility required for government applications, according to executives of both companies. Tönnjes’s Jochen Betz By integrating electronic identification technologies into physical license plates and vehicle components, Tönnjes is underlining its holistic approach to modern transport and mobility systems. “The introduction of our hybrid chip is a milestone for secure and scalable vehicle identification. We offer authorities powerful, secure and flexible solutions for long-term use,” said Jochen Betz, Managing Director of Tönnjes, a global market leader in secure vehicle identification that offers governments and authorities system solutions for vehicle registration worldwide. RFID Innovation The hybrid chip is designed to support future-proof global RAIN RFID vehicle identification while remaining compatible with existing infrastructures. Its architecture allows for the individual implementation of UHF or NFC functionality with the option to upgrade transponders as regulatory or operational requirements evolve. Combined with Tönnjes solutions such as IDePLATE, IDeSTIX and IDeSTIX Headlamp Tag, the new chip generation strengthens the company’s modular portfolio for secure vehicle registration systems worldwide. EM Microelectronic, a company of the Swatch Group, designs and manufactures true ultra-low power integrated circuits and modules for battery-operated and field-powered devices in wearable, consumer, automotive
Apr 3, 2026 · via rfidjournal.com
Automated traffic enforcement technologies have shown reductions in collisions, speeding and red-light violations but remain controversial. In December, the U.S. Department of Transportation said it would approve grants for traffic safety cameras only in school or work zones under the Safe Streets and Roads for All program. At least seven states have statutes that ban the use of red-light cameras for traffic enforcement, according to the National Conference of State Legislatures. Opponents often claim that automated safety cameras do little more than bring in revenue. Still, those funds often go back into road-safety improvements, said Verra Mobility Vice President of Strategic Partnership Will Barnow. “We need to build trust that these are not just revenue-generating type programs, but they're really centered on safety,” he said. Verra Mobility is a leading provider of traffic-enforcement systems. “We work with our partners to try to always lead with safety messaging and make sure that they're transparent with the communities,” Barnow said. Speeding accounted for 29% of traffic fatalities in 2024, responsible for nearly 12,000 deaths, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. More than 1,000 people died in 2023 due to drivers running through red lights, according to the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety. Traffic agencies commonly use safety cameras to help reduce deaths and injuries. In 2025, communities across the U.S. had 338 speed safety camera programs and 351 red light safety programs, according to the IIHS. Speeding declined by an average of 72% at 15 sites in San Francisco within six months after safety cameras were installed last year. New York City’s red-light program, which has operated for 30 years, achieved a 73% decrease in red-light violations, a 65% decline in T-bone crashes and 49% fewer rear-end collisions at camera-installed intersections, according to the NYC Department of Transportation. In Philadelphia,
Apr 3, 2026 · via smartcitiesdive.com
Dive Brief: - In her first proposed budget as Detroit mayor, Mary Sheffield earmarked $7.9 million to pay all full-time city employees a livable wage of at least $21.45 an hour. Sheffield’s office estimates this could affect 900 workers — 70% of whom are Detroit residents, according to Michigan Public Radio. - Detroit is part of a wave of cities that have implemented livable wages and housing in recent years, said William Hatcher, a public administration professor at Augusta University in Georgia. - “As there is more pressure on affordability with little action at the national level to address that public problem, there may be more livable wage initiatives among the states and local governments in the U.S.,” Hatcher told Smart Cities Dive. Dive Insight: Detroit’s average household income grew from $22,000 in 2014 to $39,000 in 2025, according to a City of Detroit press release. But Detroit’s poverty rate is still close to 35%, and the U.S. Census Bureau reported last year that the child poverty rate was more than 50%. “Detroit can’t say it is taking poverty reduction seriously as long as it is not paying a significant number of its employees a livable wage,” Sheffield said in a statement. “This is an urgent priority.” Hatcher said livable wages for municipal employees can promote community sustainability. When as many residents as possible earn a living wage, it creates more resources for schools, parks and other features that are attractive to future residents. And “having more residents able to afford basic necessities leads to businesses benefiting from having more stable customers,” he said. But Hatcher also notes that cities may need to increase taxes to pay for employee livable wages, which could lead to an exodus of high income-earning residents. According to Michigan Public Radio, Sheffield’s office said the
Apr 3, 2026 · via smartcitiesdive.com
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Apr 3, 2026 · via instagram.com
As Türkiye has moved into the 5G era as of this week, the impact will go far beyond faster internet speeds. The next-generation tech is expected to reshape consumer behavior, create entirely new digital ecosystems and open the door for a new generation of unicorn startups to emerge from Türkiye. When infrastructure changes, business models change as well. Technology history shows that each major leap in connectivity creates new consumer habits and, eventually, billion-dollar companies. In Türkiye, the 3G era after 2009 saw the rise of platforms such as sahibinden.com and Yemeksepeti. The 4G period and the years after 2020 brought unicorns, including Peak, Getir, Trendyol, Insider, Dream Games and Hepsiburada. While 3G and 4G connected people to mobile apps and screens, 5G will connect machines, sensors and systems to one another, and to the cloud, with near-zero latency. This creates a new digital layer across industries ranging from manufacturing to health care, generating a much larger opportunity set for entrepreneurs. Winners of 5G era Globally, the biggest winners of the 5G era are still unknown. Few people could have predicted the rise of Instagram during the 4G rollout. The most valuable future opportunities are likely to come from startups that creatively combine 5G’s low latency and high device capacity. The next wave of unicorns will probably not be "5G apps" alone. They are more likely to emerge at the intersection of artificial intelligence, the physical world and 5G infrastructure. Most of these companies are expected to surface between 2026 and 2030. Although much of the current attention and investment is flowing into AI, 5G is quietly becoming the backbone that will enable these future businesses. Türkiye's 5G preparations have only been discussed through the devices and services used by millions of people. However, 5G infrastructure is more of an
Apr 3, 2026 · via dailysabah.com