World Bank: The Future of Biofuels in Asia-Pacific Shipping The World Bank has outlined how East Asia and the Pacific can strengthen energy security, modernise maritime infrastructure and accelerate the adoption of low-carbon marine fuels as shipping charts a course towards net zero. Supporting between 16 and 18 million people through global, regional and domestic supply chains, the region's maritime sector underpins international commerce while transporting everything from manufactured goods to critical energy commodities. As demand for shipping continues to rise, the industry is facing mounting challenges including congested ports, ageing fleets, safety concerns and the need to replace fossil fuels with cleaner energy alternatives. According to the World Bank's latest report, Ports, Ships and Fuels: Maritime Efficiency, Safety and Sustainability in East Asia and Pacific, improving operational performance while investing in clean energy infrastructure will be central to building resilient supply chains and achieving long-term decarbonisation. Improving efficiency to reduce fuel demand The report identifies operational efficiency as one of the fastest and most cost-effective ways to reduce fuel consumption and emissions across the maritime sector. Shipping already represents the most energy-efficient form of freight transport, producing between 11 and 17 grams of CO₂ per ton-nautical mile. By comparison, heavy road freight emits around 70 grams while aviation generates as much as 515 grams. Efficiency gains over recent years have demonstrated the sector's potential. Between 2008 and 2024, global shipping volumes increased by almost 50%, yet energy consumption rose by just 5%, avoiding the use of around 1.8 million barrels of oil every day and delivering annual fuel savings of approximately US$60bn. The World Bank notes that highly efficient ports including Shanghai and Singapore benefit from rapid vessel turnaround times that strengthen manufacturing and trade, while smaller ports across island nations continue to struggle with slower cargo handling and
Jul 31, 2026 · via energydigital.com
Smart phones render Nevada privacy law vague and outdated, says attorney “The burden has now become placed on us as humans. If we want to have a private conversation, we really need to take extra steps to have that private conversation,” an attorney said while arguing a case involving the statute. This article was originally published by Nevada Current. A law invoked by Clark County District Attorney Steve Wolfson in separate cases – one against a former Mesquite police chief and the other against a current Henderson city councilwoman – for allegedly secretly recording conversations in their respective city halls, is antiquated in an age of smart phone ubiquity, defense attorney Tony Sgro argued Wednesday in Mesquite Justice Court. The statute, passed in 1989, has never been amended, and is constitutionally vague, given modern standards, Sgro, who represents former Mesquite Police Chief Joseph MaQuade Chesley, told Pro Tem Justice of the Peace Christopher Laurent. “When you are out in the world and anyone in your proximity, which is everyone, has a smartphone, they can record your table, and you didn’t know about it, because that’s where technology is,” Sgro said during a hearing on his motion to dismiss the charge against Chesley. “The burden has now become placed on us as humans. If we want to have a private conversation, we really need to take extra steps to have that private conversation.” Chesley faces one felony count for allegedly secretly recording a 2024 conversation among two city council members and another person during business hours in Mesquite City Hall. Chesley contends there was nothing surreptitious about his uniformed presence on the stairs of the public building. Henderson City Councilwoman Carrie Cox, who is up for re-election, faces trial in October just as early voting begins, for allegedly hiding behind a
Jul 31, 2026 · via route-fifty.com
Dive Brief: - The National Association of Wholesaler-Distributors has filed a federal lawsuit challenging Colorado's extended producer responsibility for packaging program, saying its rigid fee-setting rules and lack of oversight violate the U.S. Constitution. - NAW claims Colorado’s EPR law violates businesses’ First Amendment rights by compelling them to join and pay dues to Circular Action Alliance, the producer responsibility organization. It further argues the EPR program violates the due process clause by prohibiting businesses from challenging CAA’s fee assessments in court. - NAW has also filed a motion for a preliminary injunction, asking the court to block the EPR law’s enforcement while the case proceeds. NAW previously won a preliminary injunction in a separate EPR lawsuit in Oregon earlier this year, blocking the Oregon Department of Environmental Quality from enforcing its EPR law against certain NAW-member companies. Dive Insight: NAW is not new to EPR lawsuits: The trade association is currently challenging Oregon’s EPR law in court, a case that went to trial earlier this month and is now undergoing a post-trial briefing. In June, NAW also joined as the sole business plaintiff in a 17-state coalition challenging California's EPR law, SB 54, in federal court. NAW had previously suggested it would take action elsewhere when it first launched the Oregon lawsuit. The named defendant in the Colorado lawsuit is Jill Hunsaker Ryan, executive director of the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment. NAW is the sole plaintiff in the Colorado case and is represented by the New Civil Liberties Alliance. In Colorado, the state Department of Public Health and Environment oversees the state EPR program and approved CAA’s program plan. Most producers are required to participate in the state EPR program, and in January they began paying mandatory fees. NAW takes issue with the fact that the
Jul 31, 2026 · via wastedive.com
Dive Brief: - The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration issued a temporary exemption allowing Zoox purpose-built robotaxis to operate paid public rides in the U.S., the agency announced Thursday. Purpose-built robotaxis such as Zoox’s bidirectional vehicles have no steering wheel or foot pedals. - The agency’s first such exemption allows up to 2,500 autonomous Zoox vehicles to be deployed annually for two years, subject to enhanced oversight, NHTSA said in a press release. - Zoox, an Amazon subsidiary, said it is working with regulators in Nevada and California, where it serves riders in Las Vegas and San Francisco, to meet the requirements for paid rides. Dive Insight: NHTSA’s exemption came as part of a series of actions aimed at accelerating AV innovation, it said. The agency will streamline the application process for automakers to temporarily sell a limited number of vehicles that do not meet current motor vehicle safety standards, work with a consortium to develop national AV safety standards and give the NHTSA administrator authority to issue temporary exemptions to certain previously manufactured vehicles. “By removing unnecessary barriers to innovation, developing industry guidance, and providing strong enforcement oversight while we create performance requirements, NHTSA is taking a balanced approach to AV regulation,” NHTSA Administrator Jonathan Morrison said in a statement. Zoox said it would start charging customers in Las Vegas next month. In addition to its two current locations, Zoox named Miami and Austin, Texas, as the next two cities to offer public rides after months of testing. As of March, Zoox was also testing in Atlanta, Dallas, Los Angeles, Phoenix, Seattle and Washington, D.C. “We are grateful to [Transportation] Secretary [Sean] Duffy, the administration, Administrator Morrison, and NHTSA for their engagement and their commitment to paving the way for Zoox and our fellow travelers to keep innovating and
Jul 31, 2026 · via smartcitiesdive.com
Everyday, i ask myself the same question: how can I help public decision-makers ensure energy security, economic attractiveness, and environmental security for their cities? Recent crises have revealed the fragility of our energy supplies and the urgent need to rethink our models. Heating represents one of the greatest challenges in urban energy consumption, accounting for a significant share of cities' energy needs. Persistent dependence on fossil fuels exposes our cities to major risks: price volatility, growing energy poverty, rising CO₂ emissions. While debates often focus on renewable electricity, I observe that conventional solutions are no longer sufficient. It is time to turn local resources into strategic assets. This is why I am convinced that urban district heating networks represent a concrete and innovative solution, capable of accelerating cities' energy transition, strengthening their resilience, and strengthening their energy independence . Through a locally adapted energy mix , leveraging biomass, geothermal energy, waste heat, and other local resources, these long-term local infrastructure enable the decarbonization of heating and cooling while guaranteeing affordable and stable energy for all. Key points to remember - Heat accounts for 50% of final energy consumption in Europe, and nearly 70% of this demand still depends on fossil fuels. - The urban district heating network brings together of local resources (biomass, geothermal energy, industrial waste heat, data center waste heat, heat recovered from wastewater and treatment plants, heat produced from non-recyclable waste) to deliver reliable and affordable energy. - The unique combination of Veolia's expertise in water, waste, and energy sectors enables the design of ultra-efficient circular economy loops at the heart of communities. - Veolia's innovative Ecothermal Grid offering provides a direct path toward carbon-neutral, intelligent networks designed for small and medium-sized cities. Let us explore how communities that have invested in urban district heating networks have
Jul 31, 2026 · via veolia.com
In South Carolina’s Richland County, where about 67,000 of the 440,000 residents — nearly half of them children — receive Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program benefits, local food bank representatives have told Columbia Mayor Dan Rickenmann they won’t be able to absorb heightened demand following cuts to SNAP made in last year’s One Big Beautiful Bill Act. If the city has to step in and help, “we’d have to reevaluate where we’re spending money,” potentially taking funds away from initiatives like transitional and supportive housing for the local homeless population, Rickenmann told Smart Cities Dive. Rickenmann saw firsthand last fall how the pause in SNAP benefits during the federal government shutdown affected residents. “This past November opened up a lot of people’s eyes,” he said. “Where they worshipped, where they worked, they saw people talking about” the personal impact of SNAP funding cuts. Rickenmann is among a bipartisan group of 210 U.S. mayors who sent a letter urging senators to “protect and strengthen” SNAP as the U.S. Senate considers an update to the Farm Bill, which authorizes appropriations for the program. He’s one of more than 100 mayors from states that voted Republican in the 2024 presidential election to sign the letter. “This is not a partisan issue,” he said. The July 20 letter from the U.S. Conference of Mayors cites U.S. Department of Agriculture data that more than 4 million people across the U.S. have lost SNAP benefits since the One Big Beautiful Bill Act was enacted in July 2025. It calls for senators to reverse the SNAP cuts in the bill and delay its requirement that states pay 25% more in SNAP program administrative costs starting in October, noting that this will “impose unsustainable fiscal burdens on states and localities.” In response to the bill’s requirement that each state
Jul 31, 2026 · via smartcitiesdive.com
London tops BCG ranking as Dubai stands out for AI adoption and smart city innovation Dubai: Dubai has been ranked the world's second most intelligent city in a new global study by Boston Consulting Group (BCG), placing ahead of New York City, Washington and Amsterdam in the consultancy's inaugural Intelligent Cities Index. Only London ranked higher than Dubai in the assessment, which evaluated how 61 of the world's biggest cities use AI, digital technology and governance to improve life for residents and businesses. The study assessed cities across five areas — outcomes, strategy, adoption, ways of working and enablers — before grouping them into four maturity levels: leading, accelerating, emerging and developing. According to the report, Dubai was among only five cities to achieve the highest "leading" maturity level overall, while Abu Dhabi ranked 20th globally, placing it in the "accelerating" maturity cohort. Abu Dhabi also ranked among the world's top 10 for intelligent city enablers, reflecting the strength of its technology, infrastructure, funding, ecosystem and talent foundations. Having two UAE cities ranked among the world's top 20 in BCG's first Intelligent Cities Index shows the progress the country has made in putting AI into everyday urban life," said Dr Akram Awad, Managing Director and Partner and Global Lead for Smart Cities at Boston Consulting Group (BCG). He said the report highlights strong adoption of smart city applications, AI platforms and digital government services, supported by high levels of resident optimism. "That combination gives cities a strong foundation to continue improving how people live, work and interact with public services." The top five cities in the index are: London Dubai New York City Washington Amsterdam According to the consulting major, each of these cities demonstrates leading maturity across at least two of the five assessment domains, although none dominates every
Jul 31, 2026 · via gulfnews.com
Almaty has ranked 38th among 61 cities in the inaugural Intelligent Cities Index, a respectable result that also reveals the distance between Kazakhstan’s digital ambitions and the world’s leading urban centers. The index, compiled by Boston Consulting Group (BCG), assesses how cities use artificial intelligence and digital technology to improve services and outcomes for residents. Almaty scored 62 out of 100, placing it in BCG’s “emerging” category. What Almaty’s Ranking Reveals This score placed Almaty 38th among 61 major cities worldwide, ranking above cities including Milan, Melbourne, and Istanbul. However, it remained five points below the lowest-ranked city in BCG’s higher “accelerating” category and 23 points behind London, which headed the index with 85 points. Almaty performed reasonably well on strategy, adoption, and digital infrastructure, but its weakest score was for “ways of working,” which covers institutional readiness, governance, and project implementation. BCG found that leading cities combined technology with clear accountability, reliable funding, and measurable improvements for residents. The publication of these rankings has coincided with Kazakhstan’s adoption of a national methodology for Smart Cities and Smart Regions, approved by the Ministry of Artificial Intelligence and Digital Development. The framework, which took effect on July 12, sets common requirements and deadlines for the country’s cities. The question is whether it will improve urban life or encourage local authorities to accumulate equipment and platforms in pursuit of higher scores. Tackling Everyday Urban Problems The clearest examples in Almaty concern public transport, which residents will be able to judge through their daily journeys. Buses already carry GPS trackers and video cameras, while fares can be paid through the ONAY electronic payment system. The city plans to add payment by bank card, Apple Pay, and Samsung Pay. Electronic information displays are due to be installed at 1,188 bus stops during 2026–27. Officials
Jul 31, 2026 · via timesca.com
With the constant developments taking place in the lighting industry, the use of LED light engines has emerged as an integral part of today's lighting systems. They offer high energy efficiency, increased lifespan and more flexible design compared to other lighting methods. The use of LED light engines for various purposes such as residential, commercial, industrial, automotive and outdoor has been leading to revolutionary changes in the global lighting industry due to the emphasis placed on building sustainable infrastructure and conserving energy. In contrast to conventional lighting methods, LED lighting systems have small size, improved luminous performance, reduced energy usage, and can be used for such sophisticated applications as dimming, sensor capability, color rendering, and intelligent energy management. Energy-efficient lighting and green construction government programs along with the emergence of smart cities contribute to increased adoption of LED lights on an international scale. The Energy Star program by the U.S. Department of Energy, LED green building guidelines, Chinese Green Lighting Program and the creation of smart cities in Japan and South Korea all create strong demand for advanced LED lighting systems. As per SNS Insider, the value of the U.S. LED Light Engine Market in 2025 stood at approximately USD 17.08 Billion and is forecasted to reach approximately USD 60.95 Billion by 2035 at a CAGR of approximately 13.55%. The value of the Global LED Light Engine Market stood at USD 59.44 Billion in 2025 and is forecasted to increase to USD 214.5 Billion by 2035 at a CAGR of 13.69% between 2026 and 2035. The rising investment in smart lighting infrastructure, rising adoption of efficient lighting systems, increased application of automotive LEDs, and rising need for connected lighting systems remain some of the major drivers of the market. Gain Actionable Intelligence on the LED Light Engine Market - Request
Jul 31, 2026 · via snsinsider.com
bp Veteran Fuzzy Bitar Becomes CEO of the Energy Institute Fawaz ‘Fuzzy’ Bitar is trading bp’s boardroom for the Energy Institute’s top job. He first joined bp in the 1980s, working as an engineer in the North Sea. In the intervening years, his career has taken him from the jungles of Colombia to the deserts of the Middle East, and across Azerbaijan and Indonesia too. “It has been an adventure, a responsibility and, above all, a privilege,” he wrote on LinkedIn, announcing his departure. A career of milestones Fuzzy served as Offshore Installation Manager on bp’s first production facility in the Caspian Sea. He later acted as Project Director for the Tangguh LNG development. Following the Deepwater Horizon disaster in the Gulf of Mexico, he led bp’s Global Operations Organization, steering the company through what he calls one of the defining moments for the industry. “These experiences tested us both professionally and personally,” he reflects. “They demanded resilience, humility, courage, and teamwork. They also taught me lessons that I will carry for the rest of my life.” Most recently he served as Senior Vice President for Health, Safety, Environment & Carbon, a position he describes as deeply meaningful. “Above all, I am proud of the culture of safety and care we have built for one another,” he explains. A new chapter Fuzzy is retiring from bp at the end of this year after nearly four decades with the company. “For so long, bp has not simply been where I worked, it has been part of who I am,” he says. He will take up the role of CEO at the Energy Institute on 1 January 2027. He is a Fellow of the Royal Academy of Engineering and a former Chair of the International Association of Oil and Gas Producers. “Whatever
Jul 31, 2026 · via energydigital.com
According to the plan, the orientation is to build Ho Chi Minh City into a smart, sustainably developed city based on a green growth model, data-driven urban governance, and digital technology , contributing to improving the effectiveness and efficiency of state management; improving the quality of urban services; enhancing the quality of life for citizens and the city's competitiveness. By 2030, Ho Chi Minh City aims to be among the top 50 smart cities in the world. The city places citizens at the center, ensuring that all urban services are provided transparently, conveniently, safely, and promoting community participation. By 2035, the city aims to become one of the three national-level smart city operations centers, playing a key role in coordinating data, technology, and innovation nationwide. By 2045, the city will achieve the highest level of smart city maturity according to the National Sustainable Smart City Criteria, becoming one of the leading smart cities and a center for science and technology development and innovation in the Asia-Pacific region. The project is being implemented throughout Ho Chi Minh City, including: State agencies, political and social organizations, public service units in the city; organizations, businesses and citizens participating in, exploiting and benefiting from smart city services. The Smart City Development Project is implemented according to nine principles: Adherence to the law and unified management; putting citizens and businesses at the center; using data as the foundation; interconnectedness, integration, and shared use; ensuring information security and protecting privacy; ensuring the role and responsibility of the heads of agencies and units; ensuring safety and controlled implementation; implementing according to a roadmap and in line with available resources; and being open, flexible, and avoiding technological lockdowns. To realize the objectives of the Project, Ho Chi Minh City will review and improve the city's system of guiding
Jul 31, 2026 · via vietnam.vn
CityUHK College of Computing Secures HK$55.69 Million RGC Funding for Flagship AI Project on Urban Emergency Response and Rescue 31 Jul 2026 Led by Prof. Wang Jianping, Dean of the College of Computing, the project titled “SynapseCity: AI-driven Urban Emergency Response and Rescue” has secured HK$55.69 million under the latest Research Grants Council Theme-based Research Scheme (TRS). The flagship AI project aims to build SynapseCity, the world’s first privacy-preserving, cross-departmental emergency coordination platform designed to enhance urban public safety and emergency management. The project demonstrates the College’s growing research leadership in artificial intelligence, smart cities, multi-agent systems, data-driven decision-making, and urban resilience. By leveraging advanced multi-agent systems, SynapseCity seeks to break down data silos across departments and organizations, enabling real-time analysis, knowledge sharing, and decision support during extreme weather events and other urban emergencies. The platform is expected to provide timely and intelligent coordination support for complex emergency scenarios, where rapid information exchange and cross-sector collaboration are critical. The project has received strong support from more than 20 government, industry, and academic institutions locally and internationally, including the Hong Kong Fire Services Department, the Hong Kong Police Force, the Hong Kong Observatory, Towngas, China Taiping Insurance, and the University of Cambridge. This broad-based collaboration underscores the real-world significance of the project and its potential impact on public safety, emergency response, and smart city development in Hong Kong and beyond. "Looking ahead to smart city development, urban public safety faces increasingly complex and dynamic challenges,” said Prof. Wang. “Traditional, fragmented emergency networks can no longer meet the demands for real-time cross-departmental collaboration. CityUHK has a strong research foundation and interdisciplinary advantages in AI, smart cities, structural and infrastructure safety and lifecycle maintenance, as well as disaster- and climate-resilient cities. Through this project, our team will drive interdisciplinary and inter-institutional collaboration, providing
Jul 31, 2026 · via cityu.edu.hk
AI boomtowns worsen divide in China’s split-screen economy In Hefei, the heart of China’s memory-chip industry, factories can barely keep up with the world’s appetite for AI hardware. In Changchun, the rust-belt home of gasoline-powered carmaking, officials admitted to “unprecedented” difficulties — a phrase later removed after drawing social media attention. The two cities capture the split-screen economy emerging from the global AI boom. A handful of tech hubs delivered their biggest share of China’s growth in at least two decades in the first half, according to Nomura Holdings Inc., while the rest of the country slowed to the bottom edge of Beijing’s full-year target. At the epicenter of the AI transformation in China are cities like Hefei, the capital of the eastern Anhui province and home to memory chip giant CXMT Corp. But even inside the boomtowns, little of the windfall is reaching households. Retail sales are shrinking in several of them, undercut by automation and temporary labor in the very factories driving the surge. “The fruits of AI-driven growth are mainly reaped by a few ‘smart’ cities,” Nomura economists Jing Wang and Ting Lu said in a note on Wednesday. As that’s “unlikely to offset mounting growth headwinds across the rest of the country, we believe Beijing will likely step up policy efforts in the second half.” The blistering performance shows both the promise and peril of AI for growth, especially as regions reliant on older industries quickly cede ground and a prolonged property downturn goes unresolved. For China, the outsize burden borne by a select few in powering the economy of the entire country is also a risk as major trading partners like the US curb their imports of advanced technology and equipment. Propelled by a global spending bonanza on artificial intelligence during the first half of
Jul 31, 2026 · via bworldonline.com
Dive Brief: - President Donald Trump is continuing his quest to reshape Washington, D.C. On Wednesday, he announced a complete overhaul of Washington Dulles International Airport in nearby Dulles, Virginia. - The project is bonded at $22.5 billion, said Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy during a news conference at the White House. Plans will see construction teams replace concourses, add gates and remove the people movers, replacing them with a U-shaped train system, Duffy said. - The announcement lands after the DOT’s December call for proposals to modernize the airport. The agency submitted a request for information for aid in the design, financing and construction of new concourses and terminals, spurred by Trump’s August executive order to beautify federal architecture. Dive Insight: No contractor was named in the announcement, and the USDOT did not respond to Construction Dive’s inquiries by time of publication. The USDOT, the Metropolitan Washington Airports Authority and United Airlines will collectively oversee the project, according to the announcement. The $22.5 billion figure is an increase from the previous sum of $7 billion for the Dulles modernization program. MWAA, working with airlines that operate at Dulles, will finance the new concourses and terminal facilities through municipal bonds. Other portions of the development will also open doors for public-private partnership investment opportunities. “This new construction effort builds upon the multiyear Dulles Master Plan, developed in consultation with our airline partners, to modernize Washington’s main international airport,” said Jack Potter, MWAA president and CEO, in the announcement. “We are grateful for the Trump administration’s interest in accelerating the pace and scope of our plans, and we look forward to building new facilities that will be a source of pride for our nation.”
Jul 31, 2026 · via smartcitiesdive.com
On July 30, the Ho Chi Minh City People's Committee Office announced that Vice Chairman of the Ho Chi Minh City People's Committee Nguyen Manh Cuong had signed Decision No. 4714/QD-UBND approving the city's Smart City Development Plan for the 2026-2030 period, with a vision to 2045. The plan identifies smart city development as one of the city's key priorities to modernize urban governance, improve residents' quality of life, promote green growth and the digital economy, and advance sustainable development. The smart city initiative is built on the foundation of the National Digital Transformation Strategy, placing people and businesses at the center of development. All urban governance, administrative and public service delivery activities are designed to serve residents more quickly, conveniently, transparently and securely, while ensuring digital inclusion and narrowing disparities in access to digital services. The plan underscores that smart city development is not merely about adopting new technologies but about transforming state and urban governance driven by data and digital technology. The city will treat data as a strategic resource for development while accelerating the adoption of artificial intelligence (AI), large language models (LLMs), predictive analytics, Digital Twin technology, the Internet of Things (IoT) and big data to support decision-making, provide early risk warnings and optimize urban operations. The implementation of the plan will comply with relevant legal regulations and align with the National ICT (Information and Communications Technology) Architecture Framework for Smart City Development. It adopts a data-centric approach, ensuring connectivity, interoperability and data sharing across systems while safeguarding information security, cybersecurity and citizens' privacy. The city will also implement the plan in phases in line with available resources, prioritizing shared digital platforms to avoid fragmented or overlapping investments and minimize reliance on any single technology provider. The plan will be implemented citywide and applies to state
Jul 31, 2026 · via en.sggp.org.vn
• The plaza outside the (now CPD-only) Millennium Park Bike Station has been gated, and all the bike racks have been removed, causing a parking shortage (Bluesky,Twitter) • “Chicagoans Can Vote On How Park District Should Spend $500,000 [including bike parking racks]. Here’s How To Cast Your Ballot” (Block Club) • “Chicago’s walking, biking, and transit spaces take center stage for visiting state legislators” (Active Trans) • Official CTA press release: “Cook County State’s Attorney’s Office Unveils New Public Awareness Campaign to Deter Violent Crime on the CTA” • Press release: Chicago mayoral candidate John Kelly says he will prioritize “Making the CTA safe and reliable,” by “redeploying approximately 100 officers to CTA patrols” • “Accessible pedestrian signal rollout in Chicago ahead of targets, but technical gaps persist: report” (Smart Cities Dive) • “Letters: Businesses should improve access for people with disabilities” (Tribune) • “South Loop Neighbors Pitch New Bus Connector As Development Booms” (Block Club) • “U.S. Rep. Mike Quigley: How Chicago can build or preserve 50,000 units of housing in five years” (Tribune) • “Expected increase’ of passengers on Metra, CTA for Lollapalooza; big crowds likely.” Consider riding a bicycle or scooter on the Charli XCX-inspired “Brat Lane” instead. (NBC) • “CTA workers describe “doors closing’ chime,” imitate the Milwaukee resident who does the announcement (CTA) • Reminder: CDOT Chicago Mobility Collaborative quarterly public meeting, “dinner will be provided,” tonight, Thu. 7/30, 6-8 PM, DRW College Prep, 931 S. Homan Ave. If you appreciate Streetsblog Chicago’s livable streets reporting and advocacy, please consider making a tax-deductible donation to support our work. Thank you! In addition to editing Streetsblog Chicago, John has written about transportation and more for many other local and national publications. A Chicagoan since 1989, he enjoys exploring the city and region on foot, bike, bus,
Jul 31, 2026 · via chi.streetsblog.org
From housing above highways to digital twins, industry experts gathered at “Future Cities: Infrastructure Ready Cities 2026” to explore strategies for smarter, resilient cities. The two-day event, organised by Star Media Group, discussed topics such as transit-oriented development, smart and resilient infrastructure, infrastructure financing and public-private partnerships (PPPs), urban planning and local governance, urban proptech, as well as net-zero ecosystems and ESG compliance. O2 Design Atelier founder and principal architect Edric Choo captured the audience’s attention with his proposal to address housing issues in the Klang Valley with residential blocks above highways or train stations. “Because of land price and construction costs, people move to the suburbs and travel two to three hours in the traffic to get to work, and then back home. That is crazy.” Equipped with features such as courtyards, jogging tracks and greenery, Choo envisioned this to be attractive living spaces while keeping people close to the city. He also shared a futuristic concept of flying capsule homes that can plug in and out of towers built above the ground, eliminating the need to clear forests for development. Later, in a panel discussion on “Internal Infrastructure: Integrating Smart Interior Systems into the Urban Fabric”, Jalex Group of Companies executive director Janet Lee, who is also the past president of Malaysian Interior Industry Partners Association, shared that Malaysian builders are often asked to bring down their budget, compress buildings and replacing materials with local alternatives. Commercial viability must be addressed right from the beginning of projects, she said, instead of telling the builders and suppliers to make changes towards the end. The project objectives risk being compromised, leading to delays, cost overruns and systems that cannot integrate effectively, she added. Lee said builders and suppliers should see themselves as long-term solution partners, rather than at the bottom
Jul 31, 2026 · via thestar.com.my
Industrial Cybersecurity Innovation: Key Trends, Growth Drivers and Opportunities Introduction to Industrial Cybersecurity Industrial cybersecurity is transforming the protection of critical infrastructure and industrial operations by enabling resilient defense mechanisms, real-time threat detection, and comprehensive security frameworks for operational technology (OT) environments. As industries increasingly adopt Industrial Internet of Things (IIoT), smart manufacturing, connected supply chains, and digital twin technologies, the demand for robust cybersecurity solutions continues to grow exponentially. Industrial cybersecurity technology enables secure system architectures, reduced operational disruptions, and superior threat intelligence capabilities, making it a critical enabler of next-generation industrial automation and sustainable digital infrastructure. History of Industrial Cybersecurity Industrial cybersecurity initially emerged from traditional information technology (IT) security practices before evolving into specialized OT security solutions designed to protect industrial control systems (ICS), supervisory control and data acquisition (SCADA) systems, and distributed control systems (DCS). Early industrial security focused primarily on air-gapped networks and physical isolation. However, the convergence of IT and OT environments, combined with the rise of Industry 4.0, has transformed industrial cybersecurity into a dynamic field requiring advanced threat detection, continuous monitoring, and automated incident response capabilities. Continuous advancements in AI-powered threat intelligence, zero-trust architectures, and security orchestration have enabled industrial organizations to achieve comprehensive cyber resilience across their digital and physical operations. Benefits of Industrial Cybersecurity Industrial cybersecurity solutions provide significant advantages over conventional security approaches by delivering greater threat visibility, faster incident response, and improved operational continuity. Their ability to minimize cybersecurity risks while supporting seamless industrial operations makes them an essential investment for modern industrial enterprises across multiple sectors. Key Benefits Include: - Enhanced threat detection with AI-powered monitoring and predictive analytics. - Real-time visibility into OT/IT network activities and anomalous behaviors. - Improved operational resilience with reduced downtime and production interruptions. - Protection of critical infrastructure including energy grids,
Jul 30, 2026 · via marketsandmarkets.com
The federal government could shoulder 65% of the cost of Boston’s plan for nearly $10 billion of coastal resilience infrastructure protecting Boston from coastal flooding and sea level rise following a U.S. Army Corps of Engineers risk management feasibility study released last week. The first draft of the study outlines more than 20 infrastructure projects along 16 miles of Boston’s coastline that would protect inland areas from flooding during extreme weather events. The Army Corps estimates the infrastructure will prevent an estimated $41 billion in damages. “The Army Corps partnership is a once-in-a-generation opportunity to unlock significant federal funding to protect Boston’s major job centers and our state’s economic competitiveness,” Lindsey Butler, executive Director of the Green Ribbon Commission. Boston started the process of sponsoring the study, which is required for the city to be eligible for federal funding, in 2022, Chief Climate Officer Brian Swett told Smart Cities Dive. The study, he said, "is the big kahuna.” The final report is expected in 2028. The city began to take coastal resilience seriously after it just missed being hit by Hurricane Sandy in 2012, Swett said. One-sixth of Boston sits on filled tidelands built under the assumption that sea levels would remain static, Swett said. Sandy’s near-miss — on top of a history of 24 federal or state disaster declarations, 14 of them involving major flooding, since 1991 — spurred the city to pursue resilience. Its Climate Ready Boston initiative, published in 2016, resulted in the creation of Coastal Resilience Solutions plans, which identify flood risk locations and opportunities for prevention infrastructure. Boston is the only major U.S. city to zone new construction to a future flood standard that projects 40 inches of sea level rise by 2070, he said. “We recognized the significance of what we were facing —
Jul 30, 2026 · via smartcitiesdive.com
Dive Brief: - The Federal Transit Administration opened $610 million in transit agency bus grants Monday under two competitive programs focused on zero- or low-emission buses and bus facilities, according to a press release. The FTA said it intends to prioritize low-emission projects over zero-emission projects, to the maximum extent permitted by law. - Approximately $589 million for the Low or No Emission bus program will help state and local authorities acquire zero-emission and low-emission transit buses and related infrastructure, according to the notice of funding opportunity. About $21 million is available through the Buses and Bus Facilities program, which can be used to purchase, rehabilitate or lease buses and bus-related facilities. - The FTA announced a separate $22 million funding round Wednesday under two public transit infrastructure programs to improve operator and passenger safety, build new maintenance facilities, improve scheduling systems for people with accessibility issues, implement contactless payment systems and “acquire transit vehicles with family-friendly features,” according to a press release. Dive Insight: Funding for the FTA’s bus programs comes from the mass transit account of the Highway Trust Fund and is authorized by the 2021 Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act for fiscal year 2026, the law's final year. Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy proposed eliminating the mass transit account in a July 22 letter to six senators serving on committees with influence over the next surface transportation legislation. “By eliminating both the Mass Transit Account and advance appropriations, USDOT would strip all guaranteed funding from transit formula grants, which would have an outsized impact on rural and smaller communities that depend most on federal support to provide critical public transit services,” the American Public Transportation Association said in a July 24 statement. The FTA hasn’t signed any new Capital Investment Grants since the beginning of the Trump administration,
Jul 30, 2026 · via smartcitiesdive.com