5

Engage community

Stay up to speed Network with peers. As you begin your journey, reach out to your peers and agency IT leadership to get their perspectives (and to educate them on connected roadways). We suggest:

Asking your IT team about the ease of integration with your existing infrastructure

Talking to other departments and agencies to uncover opportunities that may not seem obvious at first

Engaging trusted vendors about innovative options and futureproofing techniques to reduce costs while increasing usability.

Engage community. Plant the seeds for strong community buy-in. This can help reduce your stress as the project grows, especially if any unforeseen issues pop up. So start talking with:

Government agencies (state, local, and fed)

Special interest groups

Private businesses

Large educational institutions

Private citizens and community groups.

Be transparent by using social media to educate your community, understand their concerns, and keep them updated. And host a public workshop so all stakeholders can gain a sense of ownership in the process. Then post results online.

Play "follow the leader"

National and industry standards for connected roadways are already being developed, so look to public and private sector entities leading that effort to gain guidance and inspiration. Bookmark and check in regularly with:

Pick up a new habit. Connected roadways are always evolving, so it's important to keep up with innovations and methodologies. Get in the habit of checking out online industry mags like SmartCities Dive, American City & County, IoT News, and GovTech on a weekly basis.

What about paying the bill? Many funding opportunities are available to help finance different aspects of your connected roadways journey. Cisco can offer you help in navigating what can sometimes seem like a very complex funding and grants process. You can find out more here. And also check out the flexible payment solutions available through Cisco Capital.

Get social!

Social media is at the core of a new ethos in transportation. One where sharing, critiquing, and building community is defining how professionals approach connected roadways. Check out hashtags like #connectedcar, #transportation, #connectedroadways, #smartcar, #smartcity, #bigdata, #autonomousvehicles, and #AV to join the conversation.

About the authorKenneth R. Dodson, Landscape Architect As a licensed Landscape Architect with over fifteen years of experience in community and environmental design, including transportation and pedestrian design, Kenn helps governments better understand technology so they can improve quality of life for their citizens. From visioning future possibilities to making complex ideas more relatable, he sees the need for government to increase responsiveness and creativity as it deals with complex issues, and feels the Internet of Things (IoT) can drive this transformation.For transportation, smart cities, and the environment, Kenn sees the IoT as a key driver of sustainability. With its power to gather and aggregate massive amounts of data for deeper analysis, the IoT can help create better outcomes at every level of a community's existence, including for individual citizens. Plus, the IoT can power the move of data processing to where actions originate, helping create a natural resilience for communities in times of stress.

"There’s a reason I choose to work in the public sector at Cisco. As a landscape architect who has helped shape the fabric of my community, from multi-thousand acre developments to quiet little parks, I see the value in our local governance. It is here, in our community, that our lives unfold every day. And it is here, in the intimacy of our neighborhoods, that we can truly impact quality of life."

Join the conversation

Keep up on the latest innovations in transportation, smart cities, public safety, and more. Together, we can create communities empowered by technology with improved quality of life for everyone.

Check in with Kenn on:

Twitter - Gircom
LinkedIn - Kenneth R. Dodson