Tech Trends the Most Innovative Cities in America Are Embracing

Local jurisdictions across the country are leveraging technology to bring operations into the digital age, all the while improving the citizen experience and boosting workforce retention.  

As the global leader in electronic plan review, we keep our finger on the pulse of how the most innovative cities in the U.S are incorporating technology and shaping their urban future. From enhanced connectivity to data-driven decision-making, these advancements are setting a new standard for what it means to be a "smart city" in the 21st century. 

In this post, in anticipation of the 2024 list, we explore the 2023 winners of the Center for Digital Government’s Digital Cities Awards to identify key trends across innovative local jurisdictions. 

1. Enhanced Connectivity is the Foundation of Smart Cities

Innovative cities, like Tamarac, Florida and Carlsbad, California, are investing heavily in expanding their digital infrastructure by laying extensive fiber networks.  

This enhanced connectivity isn't just about faster internet speeds — it’s also making smart technologies possible in parks, public spaces, city buildings, and more. For example, the City of Tamarac has deployed over 40,000 linear feet of underground fiber cable, connecting city facilities and enabling the creation of “smart parks" with features like public Wi-Fi, video surveillance for public safety, and interactive digital signage. 

2. Internet of Things (IoT) Integration Boosts Efficiency Across Cities 

The IoT is revolutionizing how modern cities in the U.S monitor and manage their infrastructure, projects, and resources. By connecting devices such as thermostats, lighting systems, and even waste management solutions to a central network, cities are optimizing resources and improving operational efficiency. This technology is also enhancing public safety — some cities are using IoT for crowd management and emergency response in public spaces. 

3. Digital Service Delivery for a 24/7 City Hall 

Innovative cities are moving beyond traditional in-person services, with Los Angeles, California leading the charge in creating a 24/7 virtual city hall.  

The City of LA began by inventorying its existing solutions’ capabilities and identifying new platforms for online service delivery, where necessary. Now residents can access a wide range of municipal services digitally, including paying bills, applying for permits, submitting plan review applications, and more. This shift not only makes for a better citizen experience but also improves the City’s efficiency across many business units, functions, and processes.  

4. Data Analytics for Better Decision Making and Resource Allocation 

Forward-thinking cities are leveraging data analytics to inform policy decisions and resource allocation. By creating public-facing dashboards, these municipalities are not only enabling data-driven decisions but also increasing transparency and accountability with their citizens. 

Carlsbad, California exemplifies this approach with dashboards that track emergency response, construction, and budgeting, allowing both officials and citizens to monitor performance and progress. The City's data analysis even optimized routing ambulances to hospitals based on their capacity.  

5. Addressing Social Issues with Tech Solutions 

Technology is increasingly being leveraged to address pressing social issues. Long Beach, California, has developed a comprehensive tech strategy to support unhoused citizens and combat homelessness. A new data dashboard tracks the issue to show how the state of homelessness in Long Beach has changed over time and highlights the services the City has deployed to support the unhoused community.  

Long Beach has also debuted new mobile access centers to support unhoused citizens in accessing technology and to share information about the services available.  

The most innovative cities are those that leverage technology as a tool to build more efficient and citizen-centric communities. By embracing a progressive approach and investing in technologies, local agencies are creating better communities for all.