Located east of Miami and with a population slightly under 50,000, Coral Gables has started a series of Smart City programs in recent years and is already reaping the rewards. With its Smart Districts Expansion project, Coral Gables has implemented a robust and resilient technology infrastructure, through multiple innovation districts providing connectivity, visibility control and automation of city services. Their city theme, “A World Class City with a Hometown Feel” embodies the high quality of life their citizens get both from their technological innovations and more traditional quality of life considerations like walkability and weather.
Smart City Hub
Coral Gables' centralized Smart City Hub serves as the nerve center for the city's diverse array of smart technologies, consolidating data and insights from various sources to optimize urban services. Powered by advanced sensors, connectivity, and artificial intelligence, the Smart City Hub enables real-time monitoring of traffic, energy consumption, and environmental conditions.
This centralized approach facilitates more informed decision-making for city officials and enhances overall urban efficiency. Coral Gables' Smart City Hub exemplifies a forward-thinking commitment to sustainable development, as it not only improves day-to-day operations but also contributes to the city's long-term resilience and adaptability to the challenges of the modern world.
In a testimonial about the Smart City Hub, the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) said "The Coral Gables Smart City Hub Platform is one model example of a smart city ecosystem successfully using open source platforms to collect and exchange data from sensors and other sources. To be successful, trusted data exchange is critical among people, business, organizations and devices."
Embracing AI for a Digital Future
Coral Gables, Florida, has taken a groundbreaking step towards smart urban infrastructure with the development of an AI-Powered utility pole, created in collaboration with the German company Ekin. This innovative utility pole serves as a multifunctional hub, integrating cutting-edge artificial intelligence technologies to enhance city services and public safety. Equipped with advanced sensors and cameras, the utility pole can monitor traffic flow, detect environmental changes, and contribute to overall urban planning. The partnership with Ekin, a renowned player in intelligent solutions, has allowed Coral Gables to leverage state-of-the-art technology to create a more connected and efficient urban environment.
Additionally, the city utilizes AI algorithms for predictive maintenance of public infrastructure, optimizing resource allocation and reducing operational costs. Coral Gables' commitment to harnessing AI reflects its forward-thinking approach to urban development, aiming to create a smarter and more sustainable community for its residents. The integration of AI technologies positions Coral Gables as a model city for leveraging innovation to address modern urban challenges.
Sustainability in the Sunshine State
With its location on the coast of Southeast Florida, Coral Gables has 47 miles of coastline and waterways. While this contributes greatly to the quality of life, it also presents a forthcoming challenge with climate change, coastal erosion, hurricanes and the potential of rising sea levels all threatening the city.
But Coral Gables is responding to these threats. In 2013, the city passed a sustainability master plan focused on renewable energy, green buildings, decarbonization and coastal resiliency, which has seen it become a sustainability leader in Florida and across the United States. With Florida's largest municipal electric vehicle fleet, it is in the process of installing nearly 250 electric vehicle charging points and is on pace to cut its carbon emissions by 25% by 2025.
The city has also learned from the hurricanes of the past. After a series of hurricanes ravaged Florida in 2004, city officials recognized the importance of reliable network connectivity during natural disasters and the resulting recovery. In the two decades since, they have built a network with multiple redundancies and remote end points, so they can reliably count on their network and systems in the face of even the largest hurricanes they are likely to encounter.
Population: 49,248
Website: www.coralgables.com
Smart21 2023 | 2024
Top7 2023 | 2024