(The Center Square) – Eight of the 15 fastest growing cities in the U.S. were reported in Texas, according to newly released U.S. Census Bureau data. Fort Worth also made history, becoming the 10th largest city in the United States. The populations of both Fort Worth and Austin also each surpassed one million people. While “a widespread national slowdown in population growth was reported between July 1, 2024, and July 1, 2025,” according to U.S. Census Bureau’s newly released Vintage 2025 population estimates, Texas cities broke records. The five fastest-growing cities in the country with populations of 20,000 or more were in Texas: Celina, Fulshear, Princeton, Melissa and Anna. Celina, located near Dallas, was the fastest-growing city in the U.S. It’s population surged by 24.6% in one year. Celina was also the fastest-growing city in the country in 2023, the Census notes, saying, “Rapid growth is nothing new for Celina.” Fulshear was not far behind, reporting a 21% population increase; Princeton’s increase was 18.1%; Melissa’s was 14.5%; Anna’s was 10.2%, according to the data. The 15 fastest growing cities and towns in the country with populations of 20,000 or more were Celina, TX, Fulshear, TX, Princeton, TX, Melissa, TX, Anna, TX, Haines City, FL, Waukee, IA, Forney, TX, Eagle Mountain, UT, Johnstown, CO, Kuna, ID, Queen Creek, AZ, Hutto, TX, Foley, AL, and Greenville, TX. Six of the top 15 cities with the largest numeric population increase in the country were also in Texas: Fort Worth (2), San Antonio (3), Celina (4), Houston (6), Fulshear (7) and McKinney (10). Five of the 15 most populated cities in the country are in Texas: Houston ranks fourth with a population of nearly 2.4 million; San Antonio is seventh with 1.5 million; Dallas, ninth with 1.3 million; Fort Worth, 10th, with one million;
May 15, 2026 · via thecentersquare.com
Dive Brief: - The National League of Cities’ 2026 Municipal Infrastructure Conditions Report, released Friday, shows “a noticeable drop” in reported water and sewer conditions compared to 2022. - A survey of public works directors and staff, city engineers and city managers from municipalities nationwide found that the officials’ ratings of their own water systems have dropped from 82% satisfactory in 2022 to 39% satisfactory in 2026, and 18% now rate their systems not satisfactory, up from none in 2022. - Aging assets, rising construction costs, capacity and fiscal constraints, increasingly complex regulatory requirements, the high cost of underground infrastructure and long timelines associated with utility upgrades are contributing to water systems’ lower ratings, according to the report. Dive Insight: Local governments fund more than 98% of all capital, operations and maintenance investments for drinking water and wastewater infrastructure, according to the report. Cities manage over 50,000 community drinking water systems and more than 16,000 wastewater treatment systems nationwide. Sixty-one percent of survey respondents say water systems are a high priority, and 53% say sewer systems are a high priority. One factor in the reported drop in water and sewer conditions may be tied to the 2021 Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, which provided new funding for water infrastructure. Engineering studies and asset inventories, required to apply for the funding, heightened many cities’ awareness of water infrastructure issues that were not fully documented before, according to the report. Stricter standards around lead pipe replacement and PFAS contamination can also “make systems appear to be in a worse position relative to new benchmarks,” the report states. The report says local officials’ perceptions of their systems are also influenced by “growing environmental and operational pressures,” including extreme weather and aging underground networks. It includes a quote from Albany, New York, Water Department
May 15, 2026 · via smartcitiesdive.com
Desaf·IA awards four teams for their innovative ideas developed with the help of artificial intelligence The third edition of Desaf·IA took place yesterday at UAB with 18 students who, over the course of one morning, worked in teams to propose solutions to two challenges based on the Sustainable Development Goals. The four winning teams —two per challenge— have received individual 60-euro vouchers to spend at Abacus. These are the winning teams in the Life on Land challenge: - Hídria — Marc Serrano Clusella and Irene Gomà Placència - Arrels Vives — Marcos Gómez Barragán and Álvaro Pérez Gallardo In the Sustainable Cities and Communities challenge: - CityLens — Judith Esteban Buzón and Isis Pla Juanicó - HydroRed — Rafa Chávez and Martina Piqué Julià The two challenges were based on the Sustainable Development Goals Life on Land and Sustainable Cities and Communities. The first focuses on protecting biodiversity, restoring natural spaces and using terrestrial ecosystems sustainably; the second promotes more inclusive, safe, resilient and sustainable urban environments. How the competition unfolded The day began at 10.00 a.m. with the participants being distributed into interdisciplinary pairs and an introductory session led by coach Pedro Olivares, a leadership specialist, who explained the challenges and introduced the use of generative artificial intelligence tools and prompting techniques. The session followed the design thinking methodology. For an hour and a half, the teams developed their proposals with occasional support from Olivares and the jury. From 12.00 noon onwards, each team presented its solution to the jury and answered their questions. After a brief deliberation, the morning ended with the prize-giving ceremony. A diverse and expert jury The jury was made up of Sofia Llàcer, founder of LYNA LABS and researcher at the Computer Vision Centre (CVC); Dario Cottafava, lecturer in the Bachelor's Degree in Smart
May 15, 2026 · via uab.cat
Dive Brief: - Dallas Area Rapid Transit ceased serving Highland Park, Texas, on Thursday, after the town’s voters chose not to continue participating in the regional transit agency’s services in a May 2 special election. - DART transit bus, paratransit and on-demand services to the town ended, but one bus route will continue running through Highland Park, skipping all stops within the city. - Highland Park was the only one of the six municipalities considering withdrawal from DART to pull out, leaving the transit agency serving 12 North Texas cities. Dive Insight: In 2024, Addison, Farmers Branch, Highland Park, Irving, Plano and University Park planned to hold elections on whether to continue with DART. Every DART member city imposes a 1% sales tax that generates revenue for the transit agency to defer the costs of providing transit service. In February, DART approved a plan to return part of its sales tax revenue to member cities. Three of the communities canceled their elections in light of the plan, but Addison, Highland Park and University Park went through with the vote this year. Of the 1,544 ballots cast in Highland Park, 1,076 people voted against staying with DART. Highland Park contributed $6.3 million in sales tax to DART and received $1.9 million worth of services in the 2023 fiscal year, the Texas Tribune reported. Highland Park’s exit will cause the transit agency to incur a $270 million loss over the next 20 years, according to the news outlet. “The future of North Texas will be shaped by the cities that choose to move forward with DART,” Randall Bryant, chair of the DART board of directors, said in a statement. “At the same time, we are pushing forward to expand our system and establish a fair, modern governance and funding model that works
May 15, 2026 · via smartcitiesdive.com
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May 15, 2026 · via youtube.com
Primary schools track air pollution and traffic using classroom sensors Posted on: 15 May 2026 Delivered through the Academy of the Near Future - a smart cities education initiative developed by Dublin City Council and CONNECT Centre, headquartered at Trinity - the programme gave primary school students an active role in shaping conversations around active travel, sustainability, and healthier cities. Primary school students across Dublin City have taken an active role in shaping how they travel through The Sensor Inspector, a citizen science programme focused on traffic monitoring, air quality, and active travel. Delivered through the Academy of the Near Future - a smart cities education initiative developed by Dublin City Council and CONNECT Centre, headquartered at Trinity College Dublin - the programme gave primary school students across Dublin City an active role in shaping conversations around active travel, sustainability, and healthier cities. It engaged five primary schools, working with 3rd to 6th-class students through a four-part workshop series. Participants used real-time data from sensors to investigate their local area, identify environmental challenges, and develop community-led solutions to promote walking and cycling. The programme culminated in a showcase event at the Mansion House, where students presented their findings and proposals for safer, cleaner travel to local leaders. Speaking at the event, the Lord Mayor of Dublin, Councillor Ray McAdam, said: “It is inspiring to see young people across Dublin engaging so thoughtfully with the challenges and opportunities of active travel. Through The Sensor Inspector, students are not only learning about air quality, traffic and sustainability, but are contributing ideas that can help shape safer, healthier streets in their own communities. Empowering children to understand and influence how our city moves is an investment in Dublin’s future.” A core element of the initiative is student ownership; participants managed sensors in their
May 15, 2026 · via tcd.ie
Under a decision signed on May 13 by Chairman of the municipal People’s Committee Vu Dai Thang, the master plan covers Hanoi’s entire administrative boundaries spanning approximately 3,359.84 square kilometers. The plan outlines a development model based on a "multi-layered, multi-polar and multi-center" urban structure, with the Red River positioned as the city's principal ecological and cultural landscape axis. Hanoi is expected to pursue a "compact and green" development approach, while accelerating digital transformation, green transition, circular economy initiatives and climate adaptation. Under the approved roadmap, the capital’s population is projected to reach between 14-15 million by 2035, rising to 15-16 million by 2045 and 17-19 million by 2065, with the long-term figure capped at no more than 20 million. | Nhat Tan Bridge crossing the Red River in Hanoi. Photo by VnExpress/Ngoc Thanh | Urban land designated for construction is set to account for approximately 55-60% of Hanoi's total natural area by 2065, while the remaining land will be reserved for green corridors, forests and ecological spaces. By 2035, Hanoi aims to become a green, smart and modern city, as well as an important regional center for finance, commerce and innovation. Its gross regional domestic product (GRDP) is expected to reach approximately US$200 billion, with per capita GRDP exceeding $18,800. By 2045, the capital aspires to become one of the Asia-Pacific's leading innovation hubs, before evolving into a global city with life quality and happiness among the world's highest by 2065. One of the plan's most notable features is its emphasis on developing cultural industries and tourism into key economic sectors. Hanoi aims for cultural industries to contribute around 10% of GRDP by 2035, 12% by 2045 and 15-20% by 2065. The city also intends to strengthen its identity as a "creative city" while promoting the cultural heritage of
May 15, 2026 · via e.vnexpress.net
What Will the Second Hydrogen Racing World Cup Involve? Extreme H and the FIA have officially scheduled the second FIA Extreme H World Cup, following the breakthrough debut event last October. That inaugural race marked a milestone for the energy sector as the world’s first hydrogen-powered motorsport event, demonstrating how fuel cell technology can perform under extreme racing conditions. A full grid of hydrogen fuel cell vehicles tackled the demanding terrain of Qiddiya City in Saudi Arabia, showcasing both resilience and the potential of zero-emission propulsion systems. The series will now return to Qiddiya City from 29 to 31 October. Clean, green, racing machines Alejandro Agag, Founder and Chairman of Extreme H, reflects on Extreme H's debut with great pride. "The inaugural FIA Extreme H World Cup was proof that we could combine the raw ferocity of world-class motor sport with a future powered by clean energy," he says. “This second chapter, together with the FIA, our partners and the support of our host Qiddiya City, is about accelerating that vision as we continue to redefine the limits of what’s possible, for our pioneering technologies and our boundary-breaking drivers.” At the centre of the competition is the Pioneer 25, a 2,200kg car equipped with a next-generation hydrogen fuel cell system designed to push clean energy performance to new extremes. What will the 2026 edition involve? The 2026 edition will again adopt a multi-stage format, beginning with Time Trials that determine grid positions before progressing to knockout Head-to-Head duels. The structure culminates in an eight-car World Cup Final, where high-intensity racing places both drivers and hydrogen systems under sustained pressure. His Excellency Mohammed Ben Sulayem, President of the FIA, says: “The return of the FIA Extreme H World Cup for its second edition marks another important step in the development of
May 15, 2026 · via energydigital.com
San Francisco is home to OpenAI and Anthropic, two frontier AI labs worth a combined $2 trillion, according to The Economist. Ninety-one additional AI unicorns cluster in the Bay Area, adding another $600 billion in private-market capitalization. By any measure of innovation capital, San Francisco stands as the most technologically advanced city on earth. Yet that same analysis found that AI wealth has not translated into broad urban prosperity. The middle class continues to shrink. The city holds more technology, more data, and more innovation capital than anywhere in history, and its operating systems still cannot convert any of it into adaptive economic outcomes. This is not a San Francisco problem. It is an American city problem. CBRE’s Q1 2026 U.S. Office Market Report recorded eight consecutive quarters of positive net office absorption in New York City, with Q1 alone totaling 6.9 million square feet, the highest first-quarter figure since 2020. San Francisco posted 3.4 million square feet in new leasing during Q1 2026, up 43% year over year and its strongest quarter since 2019, according to Colliers’ Q1 2026 San Francisco Office Market Report. The predictions of urban collapse proved wrong. But the recovery exposed a deeper issue: cities equipped themselves relentlessly with sensors, dashboards, and real-time data, yet designed most of that infrastructure to measure performance rather than respond to volatility. The Same Infrastructure, Overloaded and Empty in the Same Week That gap between measurement and responsiveness shows up in three places. The MTA now publishes daily ridership data showing pronounced midweek peaks and sharp Monday and Friday declines, a pattern that has hardened into a new normal as hybrid work stabilizes. Kastle Systems, which tracks access-control data across 2,600 buildings and 41,000 businesses, reported in December 2025 that A+ office buildings hit 95.5% occupancy on a peak
May 15, 2026 · via fortune.com
Equinix has expanded its Equinix Fabric “Geo Zones” capability to Australia as part of a broader rollout across five continents, positioning the feature as a way for organisations to enforce data-sovereignty requirements at the network level across hybrid and multi-cloud environments. The company said the service is designed to reduce compliance risk created by network rerouting events—such as failovers or congestion—where traffic can be redirected across borders without a customer’s explicit intent. Under the Geo Zones model, customers set geographic boundaries for data movement, with traffic permitted only along paths that meet the defined jurisdictional requirements. Equinix described Geo Zones as a sovereignty enforcement layer built into Equinix Fabric. “Most networks prioritise availability and performance over geographic or regulatory boundaries, often leaving customers with limited visibility or control over where their data travels,” the release said. Analyst Courtney Munroe, founder of Apex Research, said the increasing number of regional privacy and regulatory regimes is complicating operations for multinational organisations. “A global enterprise operating under GDPR in Europe, LGPD in Brazil, and APRA in Australia simultaneously needs different data routing rules for each jurisdiction, with every outage, failover, or congestion event a potential compliance violation,” Munroe said. Equinix vice president of digital interconnection Arun Dev said the company’s approach is to enforce jurisdictional controls at the network layer across providers. “Traffic either flows along compliant paths or it’s blocked,” Dev said. In comments accompanying the release, Equinix also pointed to assurance measures it says support “sovereign connectivity,” including country-specific security and compliance certifications. It said Equinix Fabric in Australia has undergone an IRAP assessment aligned to the Australian Government Information Security Manual. Equinix said Geo Zones is available in preview in multiple markets including Australia, Brazil, Canada, Japan, Switzerland, the UK and the US, with European Union availability expected in June.
May 15, 2026 · via australiancybersecuritymagazine.com.au
Global mayors gather in Chengdu to discuss sustainable urban development CHENGDU, May 15 (Xinhua) -- Mayors and city representatives from around the world gathered in the southwestern Chinese city of Chengdu this week to discuss how cities can respond to mounting pressures from climate change, population aging, resource constraints and public safety risks. The 2026 World Mayors Dialogue, held from May 13 to 15, brought together representatives from 26 countries, 32 cities and five international organizations. Under the theme "Park City: Harmonious Coexistence," participants exchanged views on technological innovation, industrial cooperation, cultural exchange and ecological security. Chengdu, the host city and capital of Sichuan Province, aimed to promote its "park city" model, an approach that local officials say links ecological protection, public services, a business-friendly environment and urban governance. The city is also known internationally as the home of giant pandas and one of the UNESCO Creative Cities of Gastronomy. The discussions reflected concerns shared by cities across regions and stages of development. A representative from Recife said the coastal city is among the most threatened in both Brazil and the world by sea-level rise. Josy Ita Michaud-Payet, mayor of Victoria, Seychelles, said cities far apart still face many of the same questions. "Although our cities are separated by thousands of kilometers, we share a common challenge and an even greater common opportunity: how do we build cities that are clean, green, resilient, and people-centered for future generations?" she said. Chengdu Mayor Chen Shuping said the city has been exploring a sustainable development path that brings together ecology, production and daily life. He added that the dialogue offered a platform for cities to build understanding, share experiences and seek consensus. Participants have noted that cooperation between cities is essential to addressing shared challenges. When sister cities can cooperate efficiently, practical
May 15, 2026 · via en.people.cn
Beam Global will announce Q1 2026 results on May 15, 2026, followed by a conference call. Quiver AI Summary Beam Global, a provider of sustainable infrastructure solutions, announced it will report its first quarter 2026 operating results on May 15, 2026, after market close. The company will host a conference call at 4:30 p.m. ET that same day to discuss the financial results and provide updates on corporate developments, followed by a Q&A session. Participants are encouraged to pre-register for the call. Beam Global focuses on innovative technology solutions for transportation, energy security, and smart city infrastructure, with operations in the U.S., Europe, and the Middle East. The company is headquartered in San Diego, CA, and trades on the Nasdaq under the ticker BEEM. Potential Positives - Beam Global's upcoming financial results announcement demonstrates transparency and commitment to keeping stakeholders informed about corporate performance. - The scheduled conference call allows for direct engagement between management and investors, fostering communication and trust. - Beam Global's positioning as a provider of sustainable infrastructure solutions aligns with growing market demands for environmentally friendly technology, potentially attracting interest from socially responsible investors. Potential Negatives - The announcement of the earnings report on May 15, 2026, could indicate that the company is under pressure to demonstrate improved financial performance, suggesting previous results may not have met expectations. - The requirement for all callers to pre-register for the conference call could create barriers to participation, potentially limiting shareholder engagement and feedback. - The lack of detailed information in the release about upcoming financial results may raise concerns among investors regarding transparency and financial health prior to the earnings call. FAQ When will Beam Global report its first quarter 2026 results? Beam Global will report its first quarter 2026 operating results on May 15, 2026, after the
May 15, 2026 · via quiverquant.com
Limiting construction noise, detecting potholes priorities for rising NYC transit tech startups It’s that time of year again, when New York City transit agencies once again turn to startups and emerging technologies to tackle some of the metropolis’ biggest transportation challenges, like potholes, aging subway trains and construction noise, through the eighth annual competition led by the Transit Tech Lab, a business accelerator for startup and growth-stage transportation technology companies. A common theme across this year’s cohort is using artificial intelligence, cameras and motion sensors to address infrastructure monitoring, bridge safety, construction management and operational resilience, areas that transit leaders say are increasingly critical as aging infrastructure and climate threats strain systems across the region. Eighteen companies focused on data modernization and improving infrastructure. “This NYC DOT is going to be aggressively delivering on our Vision Zero goals, with ambitious, bold projects to make our streets safer. Doubling down on this work will require looking at every opportunity to become a more efficient and organized agency,” Mike Flynn, commissioner of New York City’s Transportation Department, said in a press release in January, when the competition began. Cyvl, a Boston-based startup, will mount cameras and sensors on vehicles driving throughout the metro area, like street sweepers or garbage trucks, to automatically detect potholes and other pavement problems, in an effort to replace manual inspections with searchable map of infrastructure conditions. The city’s Department of Transportation, which has repaired more than 80,000 potholes this year so far, aims to address 311 road complaints within two days. To tackle some of the city’s transportation problems below ground, Ontra Mobility, a transit planning platform based in New York City, will use AI to analyze subway ridership and operations data to predict travel demand, recommend service design changes and keep trains running on time —
May 14, 2026 · via statescoop.com
Urban water systems, public health, and infrastructure get no breather, slashing recovery windows to near zero. âClimate extremes are no longer isolated events. Many Indian cities endure repeated dry-hot stress in short bursts, gutting urban sustainability and resilience,â lead researcher IISERâs Prof. Somil Swarnkar told TOI. Prof Vikas Punia and PhD student IISER Bhopal Vaishnavi Sahu were the part of the study along with Prof Swarnkar. The team crafted a âCumulative Vulnerability Index,â blending climate hazards with socio-economic metrics: human capital, environmental health, economic muscle, and quality of life. Standouts like robust education and green spaces emerged as resilience superpowers. Cities boasting strong schools, clean air, and solid infrastructure shrug off shocks better. Conversely, spots plagued by shoddy planning, scant greenery, pollution, and weak economies teeter on the brink. âHuman capital and environmental quality drive urban toughness,â the study notes. Prof. Swarnkar urged action: âBoost environmental quality, urban green belts, education, and smart planning to slash future risks.â The findings jolted Indiaâs Smart Cities Mission and sustainable development push, aligning with UN goals SDG 11 (Sustainable Cities) and SDG 13 (Climate Action). Blanket national fixes wonât cut itâcity-tailored strategies are key, factoring in diverse terrains from plains to peaks. Recommendations pack heat mitigation, water savvy, greening drives, and climate-proof builds into urban blueprints. Integrate risk checks into governance, the researchers implore, to steel cities against wilder weather ahead. âIndiaâs urban tomorrow hinges on mastering compound extremes. Resilient planning isnât optionalâitâs survival,â Prof. Swarnkar warned. TNN
May 14, 2026 · via timesofindia.indiatimes.com
UN calls for AI-driven transformation of future cities With most of the world’s population expected to live in cities by 2050, AI is seen as central to managing future urban growth and infrastructure demands. UN organisations and urban experts have called on governments, city leaders, and the private sector to accelerate the use of AI and digital technologies to shape the future of urban life. The appeal was made during the 3rd UN Virtual Worlds Day held in Geneva. With 70 percent of the global population expected to live in urban areas by 2050, discussions focused on the emergence of an ‘AI-enabled citiverse’ combining AI, digital twins and spatial intelligence to improve planning, infrastructure management and quality of life in cities. Participants outlined five strategic priorities, including strengthening inclusive AI systems, improving data-driven decision-making, and ensuring responsible economic and social development. Emphasis was also placed on global cooperation and the need for common standards to guide digital urban transformation. The conference also highlighted key risks, including governance gaps, trust and safety concerns, and widening digital divides. A joint briefing warned that the benefits of AI-driven urban systems must be distributed fairly, including to developing economies and underserved communities. Why does it matter? The integration of AI into urban systems signals a structural shift in how cities are designed, managed and experienced. As urbanisation accelerates globally, AI-enabled infrastructure could significantly improve efficiency, resilience and sustainability, but also risks deepening inequality if governance and access remain uneven across regions. United Nations organisations and urban experts have called on governments, city leaders and the private sector to accelerate the use of AI and digital technologies in shaping the future of urban life. The appeal was made during the 3rd UN Virtual Worlds Day held in Geneva. With 70 percent of the global population
May 14, 2026 · via dig.watch
Bhopal: A stark new study has sounded the alarm on surging âcompound dry-hot eventsâ (CDHEs) battering Indiaâs âSmart Citiesâ, including Indore, Gwalior, Raipur and Lucknow, exposing urban hubs to crippling water shortages, scorching heat, and crumbling resilience in the absence of adequate measures. Researchers from IISER Bhopal and MANIT Bhopal pored over 60 years of data (1958-2023) across 100 Smart Cities, uncovering a grim trend: Northern India, the Himalayas, and Western India face the fiercest climate onslaught. The study was recently published in international journal Urban Climate. Cities like Indore, Gwalior, Lucknow, Prayagraj, Ranchi, Warangal, Vishakhapatnam, Thiruvananthapuram, Kota, Jammu, Patna, Ludhiana, Rajkot and Raipur are among the top vulnerability charts, hammered by relentless heat-drought combos and shaky adaptive capacities. The big reveal? These punishing eventsâonce rare, striking every few yearsânow crash in almost every season. Urban water systems, public health, and infrastructure get no breather, slashing recovery windows to near zero. âClimate extremes are no longer isolated events. Many Indian cities endure repeated dry-hot stress in short bursts, gutting urban sustainability and resilience,â lead researcher IISERâs Prof. Somil Swarnkar told TOI. Prof Vikas Punia and PhD student IISER Bhopal Vaishnavi Sahu were the part of the study along with Prof Swarnkar. The team crafted a âCumulative Vulnerability Index,â blending climate hazards with socio-economic metrics: human capital, environmental health, economic muscle, and quality of life. Standouts like robust education and green spaces emerged as resilience superpowers. Cities boasting strong schools, clean air, and solid infrastructure shrug off shocks better. Conversely, spots plagued by shoddy planning, scant greenery, pollution, and weak economies teeter on the brink. âHuman capital and environmental quality drive urban toughness,â the study notes. Prof. Swarnkar urged action: âBoost environmental quality, urban green belts, education, and smart planning to slash future risks.â The findings jolted Indiaâs Smart Cities Mission
May 14, 2026 · via timesofindia.indiatimes.com
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During the visit, Sheikh Khaled toured the accompanying exhibition, reviewing advanced smart infrastructure solutions and innovative technologies showcased by more than 75 participating exhibitors specialising in smart city planning and sustainable urban development.
His Highness emphasised that investing in advanced, sustainable infrastructure reflects Abu Dhabi’s long-term vision to build resilient, efficient cities that support economic growth, improve quality of life and respond to future global challenges.
The summit featured conferences and panel discussions with more than 100 speakers and 250 government officials, alongside over 7,000 industry leaders, executives, experts and specialists from sectors linked to infrastructure and urban development.
Discussions focused on four key pillars shaping future cities: infrastructure, urban quality of life, smart solutions, and sustainability and resilience.
A dedicated Abu Dhabi pavilion highlighted the emirate’s integrated urban planning and governance model, while major organisations showcased projects aligned with Abu Dhabi’s US$57 billion infrastructure pipeline.
Sheikh Khaled was accompanied by several senior officials, including Sheikh Khalifa bin Tahnoon bin Mohammed Al Nahyan and Engineer Maysarah Mahmoud Eid.
May 14, 2026 · via sharjah24.ae
Eric Becker is an associate principal at OZ Architecture and a former volunteer firefighter with the Timberline Fire Protection District in Boulder County, Colorado. OZ Architecture has partnered with fire districts and public safety agencies across Colorado and the Mountain West for more than 30 years. Many fire stations in service today were built for a job that no longer exists. According to the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA), more than two out of every five fire stations were more than 40 years old in 2020. But age alone isn’t the issue; well-designed civic buildings should serve their communities for 50 years or more. The challenge is that many stations were planned around an outdated model of firefighter service. Roughly two-thirds of fire department calls are now medical in nature. Today’s facilities must accommodate a faster tempo, medical response and expanded responsibilities that include prevention, training and community engagement. At the same time, growing awareness of firefighter health risks, from cancer exposure to behavioral health challenges, is reshaping how stations are designed, organized and operated. For local officials responsible for planning and funding public safety infrastructure, a fire station’s design is not simply a construction decision. It is an operational decision that will shape emergency response, firefighter health and training capacity for the next half century. Design for the way firefighters work today Some fire districts are rethinking how their stations support prevention, mitigation, preparedness and community health. South Metro Fire Rescue, with 30 stations throughout the south Denver metro area, is updating its stations with a more consistent focus on first responder health and well-being, response efficiency and long-term durability. The district’s recently completed Station No. 15 in Centennial, Colorado, represents what's possible when civic leadership treats a fire station as a long-term commitment to the people who staff
May 14, 2026 · via smartcitiesdive.com
Austin, Texas, is leaking. And it’s not alone. Large Texas cities have aging and insufficient water pipes that lose billions of gallons of water every year due to leaks and water main breaks, according to the Texas Tribune. Austin’s water losses have been steadily increasing since 2021, reaching 9.3 billion gallons in 2024, KXAN reported. That’s 31% higher than the 7.1 billion gallons lost in 2023 — enough to fill Lake Austin, an audit found. A digital smart meter initiative is now helping Austin monitor and address leaks faster, officials say. Austin Water’s My ATX Water program is gradually modernizing the utility’s water metering system with digital smart meters that provide customers with near-real-time data via a portal and can detect and alert customers to potential leaks. The utility has installed around 267,000 wireless smart meters since 2020 and estimates they have saved 1.2 billion gallons of water through leak notifications and repairs since 2021. The initiative was recognized this spring in the IDC Smart Cities North America Awards. Austin Water Director Shay Ralls Roalson said in a March news release that the utility is using technology that can make an impact on the community. "Our My ATX Water Portal gives our customers the power and tools they need to play an active role in protecting Austin's water supply, with our dedicated teams supporting them every step of the way,” she said. Along with alerting users to potential leaks, the smart water system offers daily water-usage reports, water-budgeting tools and water conservation opportunities. The program is helping to build “a more sustainable water future for generations to come,” Roalson said. The city is also replacing insufficient water pipes and secured $45 million from the state last year to upgrade its polybutylene pipes. Polybutylene, a material that was popular from the
May 14, 2026 · via smartcitiesdive.com
Heather Minor, town clerk for Long View, North Carolina, said she used to spend four to eight hours per meeting recording, transcribing and reporting minutes for the official public record. That took time away from other tasks, including her dual role as the town’s public relations director. Using HeyGov’s ClerkMinutes AI platform, Minor said she now spends about 30 to 60 minutes processing each meeting’s minutes, not only freeing her to handle other work, but also increasing the records’ transparency and accuracy. “I’d record the whole meeting and then basically had to sit through the meeting twice, listening to the meeting for about 15 to 30 seconds at a time and then stopping to record what I heard,” Minor said. “This has really saved me a ton of errors.” Even though she looked over the minutes after completing them, Minor said she didn’t always enter information correctly. “We are humans, so it’s very easy to transpose numbers or what have you,” she said. After the town, which has about 5,300 residents, held a recent budget meeting, ClerkMinutes got “every budget number correct. It picked up everything exactly how I want it to look,” Minor said. ClerkMinutes transcribes meetings from audio files, adding timestamps and speaker names and capturing motions and votes, then saves the transcription as a Word document or PDF. Minor is able to quickly share the meeting minutes with the public, boosting the city’s transparency. Dustin Overbeck, founder of HeyGov, said the platform — which he calls “clerkware” — can save clerks about two hours per meeting. He’s adding new features, including options to integrate municipal letterhead into the templates and upload video. When someone clicks on a timestamp on the transcription, it triggers the video so they can view, listen and read at the same time. More
May 14, 2026 · via smartcitiesdive.com