Americas: IoT Public Policy Index
- November 21, 2024
- William Payne
The NIST-managed Internet of Things (IoT) Advisory Board have completed their report on barriers to US IoT adoption. The Maryland Energy Administration has opened a funding round for its state-wide Maryland Smart Energy Communities Programmes. The City of Curitiba in Brazil has initiated the first Smart Neighbourhood in the country with assistance from the French Development Agency (AFD). The city of Barra do Garças in Brazil’s Matto Grosso region has added facial recognition to new smart traffic lights it is adding to the city’s roads to increase public safety and support urban policing. The US Department of Transportation has awarded Massachusetts $472 Million in federal funding for Boston’s North Station Draw One Bridge Replacement programme. Virginia has begun construction of a new rail bridge into Washington, DC.
NIST completes report on barriers to IoT adoption
The NIST-managed Internet of Things (IoT) Advisory Board have completed their report on barriers to the U.S. receiving the benefits of IoT adoption, along with their recommendations for overcoming those barriers. In response to the report findings, the IoT Advisory Board made 104 recommendations grouped into six themes.
For more information: IoT Assignment Completed! Report on Barriers to U.S. IoT Adoption | NIST
Maryland opens applications for smart energy programmes
The Maryland Energy Administration has opened a funding round for its state-wide Maryland Smart Energy Communities Programmes. These provide grants to Maryland communities and organizations to help with the costs of planning and installing clean energy projects.
For more information: Maryland Energy Administration
Brazil’s first Smart Neighbourhood
The City of Curitiba in Brazil has initiated the first Smart Neighbourhood in the country with assistance from the French Development Agency (AFD). Curitiba is one of Brazil’s leading smart city development locations. The new Smart Neighbourhood is located outside the city in an existing settlement that is threatened by climate change and flooding from the confluence of two of Brazil’s major rivers. The Smart Neighbourhood moves some 1,700 families to safer ground, as well as the provision of approaches and technologies to halt environmental degradation and promote urban transformation. The project was funded with 47 million euros.
For more information: Bairro Novo da Caximba
Barra do Garças adds facial recognition to traffic lights
The city of Barra do Garças in Brazil’s Matto Grosso region has added facial recognition to 34 new smart traffic lights it is adding to the city’s roads. The new smart traffic lights will also be able to read car number plates which will be automatically scanned for stolen or wanted vehicles. The smart technology is intended to improve road use and traffic management, as well as increase public safety and support urban policing.
For more information: Semáforos inteligentes farão reconhecimento facial e controle automático do tempo de abertura – Rede da Notícia
Massachusetts wins $472M for bridge replacement
The US Department of Transportation has awarded Massachusetts $472 Million in federal funding for Boston’s North Station Draw One Bridge Replacement programme. The project will allow for more train capacity, faster and more reliable rides, and increased safety on MBTA commuter rail and Amtrak trains. The $472,300,616 awarded to the MBTA came from the National Infrastructure Project Assistance program (MEGA) as part of the Multimodal Project Discretionary Grant program. This is the largest federal award the MBTA has won to date.
For more information: Massachusetts Wins $472 Million in Federal Funding for North Station Draw One Bridge Replacement | Mass.gov
Virginia begins $2.3B rail project
Virginia has begun construction of a new rail bridge into Washington, DC. The project is part of a strategy to all its regions to passenger rail. The $2.3 billion project will double the number of train tracks crossing the Potomac River from two to four, alleviating a major chokepoint for freight and passenger rail travelling along the East Coast.
For more information: Virginia goes all in on passenger rail – Route Fifty
White House announces low carbon construction advances
The White House has announced that it has secured agreement from New York State, New York City, the City of Los Angeles, Washington State, and Michigan to make new pledges to use lower-carbon materials in public infrastructure. As part of the Federal Government’s aim to reduce carbon in building materials, it has also announced that the Department of Energy’s Industrial Demonstrations Programme has enabled new formulations and new ways of manufacturing cement to reduce emissions and improve the performance of buildings, with better durability, aesthetics, or cost.
For more information: FACT SHEET: Biden-Harris Administration Announces New Commitments to Bolster Innovative and Clean Construction Materials Across the United States | OSTP | The White House
South Korea to fund consultancy for Fray Bentos Smart City
The Uruguayan city of Fray Bentos has won South Korean government funding for preparatory work for its planned Smart City development. The city, on the River Plate, is planning a digital transformation to enable urban renewal of formerly one of Latin America’s principal industrial sites. Current smart city planning includes: governance, digital agenda, citizen participation, environment, water, energy, waste, SDGs (Sustainable Development Goals and Targets), human development, urban planning, heritage, sustainable mobility, urban planning, tourism, competitiveness and creative economies. The city has considerable industrial and cultural heritage, and has close connection with both the United Kingdom and Germany.
For more information: Presentación del proyecto de “Smart City” para Fray Bentos – Intendencia de Río Negro – Gobierno Departamental – Intendente: Griselda Crevoisier
White House uses Chips Act to award Intel $11.5 bn
The White House awarded Intel $3 bn in funding in September under the Chips and Science Act designed to boost the US semiconductor industry and spur growth. This follows a secret award of $8.5 bn to Intel in March under the same Act. In nine months, Intel has consumed over 22% of the money allocated by the Chips Act to the US semiconductor industry. The funds have been reallocated from the Commerce Department to the Department of Defense, which awarded Intel the money under Secure Enclave, a programme to secure microchips for US military equipment.
More information: Intel awarded up to $3 billion under CHIPS Act
Paraguay inaugurates 25 year Energy Strategy
The Government of Paraguay has inaugurated a new 25 year energy strategy. The strategy aims to create an energy plan for the Latin American nation that is sustainable and positions the country as a key player within the region. The strategy has 300 objectives, and is split over three phases: near-term, to 2028; mid-term, to 2035; and long-term, to 2050. The strategy includes grid modernisation, regional energy integration, renewables and hydrogen, efficiency, and adoption of a natural gas infrastructure.
More information: Gobierno firma decreto para nueva Política Energética Nacional con visión al 2050 – MOPC
Argentina boosts Energy Sector investments
Argentina’s new Basic Law promises tax and regulatory breaks for new energy projects. New oil, gas and shale projects are especially favoured. Projects exceeding $200 million are guaranteed 30 years of legal and regulatory stability. For projects over $1 billion, there are significant tax breaks and an exemption from export taxes after 2-3 years, depending on the size of the project, as well as exemption from import taxes related to the size of the project and progressive access to foreign currency.
More information: Argentina y Brasil adoptan enfoques diferentes en política energética
Ensenada wins support of Mexican Government for Smart City status
The Mexican city of Ensenada is aiming for Smart City status and has won the support of the country’s government in its efforts. The city, in Mexico’s Baja California state and close to the US Californian city of San Diego, has drawn up a strategic plan for Smart City implementation which has won the approval of the City council.
More information: Presenta Consulten plan estratégico para transformar a Ensenada en ciudad inteligente – Uniradio Informa Baja California
US action to secure connected vehicles
A US led summit with officials from Australia, Canada, the EU, the UK, Korea, and Japan has committed to develop affirmative cybersecurity standards for connected vehicles. The meeting follows the launch of a US regulatory process earlier this year on connected vehicle cybersecurity standards.
More information:
- First Multinational Meeting to Address Connected Vehicle Risks – United States Department of State
- Federal Register :: Securing the Information and Communications Technology and Services Supply Chain: Connected Vehicles
US Department of Transport V2X Deployment Plan
The US Department of Transport (USDOT) has published its National Deployment Plan for Vehicle-to-Everything (V2X) technologies. The plan aims to accelerate deployment of V2X technology to reduce the number of roadway fatalities. The plan complements the USDOT’s National Roadway Safety Strategy. The Federal Highway Administration has recently awarded $60 million in grants to three organisations to promote V2X technologies.
Brazil: BNDES approves Contagem funding
Brazil’s National Bank for Economic and Social Development (BNDES) has approved R$49.5 million for digital transformation of the city of Contagem in the Metropolitan Region of Bel Horizonte. The total budget will be R$55 million. The funds will applied to: digital management and infrastructure; digital government and smart city; and social services. The city plans to implement geoprocessing to modernise administration. Another is the implementation of a network of urban sensors to monitor air quality, traffic and noise levels.
More information: BNDES apoia com R$ 49,5 mi ações de governo digital e modernização da gestão em Contagem, na Grande BH — Agência Gov
U.S. Department of Energy defines zero-emission buildings
The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) has released a National Definition of a Zero Emissions Building document to advance public and private sector efforts to decarbonize the buildings sector. The definition serves as guidance as new and existing commercial and residential buildings move toward zero emissions to cut energy costs and meet President Biden’s climate goals.
The government stated that this standardized definition will help advance next-generation clean energy solutions, drive innovation, tackle the climate crisis, and support workforce development. Major technical advances in energy efficiency, heat pumps, and clean energy were cited as means to make new and existing buildings achieve zero emissions.
Link to document: National Definition of a Zero Emissions Building
Brazil imposes “sin tax” on EVs
Recent tax reform legislation in Brazil has categorized electric vehicles (EVs) as among products and services considered harmful, and therefore subject to a “sin tax.” This puts EVs in the same class as cigarettes and e.gambling. The VAT rate is expected to be 26.5 percent. The government based its decision on claims that EV batteries are harmful to the environment once they reach their end of life. The goal of creating these “sin taxes” is to lower the VAT on other, more essential goods. Oddly, the Brazilian government also offers an incentive to buy EVs under a green energy initiative that this tax appears to negate.
Link to legislation: Brazilian Tax Reform: Complementary Bill of Law No. 68/2024
Canada issues RFP for EV chargers across the country
Canada’s Minister of Energy and Natural Resources, John Wilkinson, has launched a request for proposals (RFP) under the country’s Zero Emission Vehicle Infrastructure Program (ZEVIP). The RFP seeks to deploy thousands of EV chargers, including fast chargers, in public and private places across Canada such as highways, public lots, multi-unit residential buildings, workplaces, and where on-road vehicle fleets are serviced. Applications will be accepted until September 19, 2024.
This funding will build on Canada’s intent to deploy 84,500 EV chargers across Canada. In addition to investments by provinces, territories, municipalities and the private sector, the federal government has supported approximately 20 percent of the nearly 30,000 public chargers that are operating in Canada.
Link to RFP: Zero-Emission Vehicle Infrastructure Program
U.S. FAA updates guidance on Remote ID for drones
Earlier this year, the U.S. Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) began enforcing the remote identification (remote ID) rule for recreational and commercial drones. The remote ID rule allows for identification and tracking of drones, and it had been optional due to availability issues with remote ID equipment. Now, the FAA has updated its guidance for complying with the rule. Its document for getting started with remote ID explains the rule, why it exists, and which drones must comply. It also explains the options for compliance and how to register drones with remote ID.
Link to guidance: Remote ID Toolkit
Markham, Canada, invests in energy tech
Today, Canada Growth Fund Inc. (“CGF”) and Markham District Energy Inc. (MDE), the city-owned operator of the Markham, Ontario, district energy networks, has announced a financial hedge fund with Canada Growth Fund (CGE) to enable new investment in Ontario’s energy sector. The 10-year contract enables MDE’s investment in a new heat pump system that will provide low-carbon energy services to Markham residents. The Project uses Noventa Energy Partners Inc.’s Wastewater Energy Transfer (WET) technology to extract thermal energy from wastewater.
Link to press release:
https://www.markhamdistrictenergy.com/news_event/canada-infrastructure-bank-cibc-and-markham-district-energy-close-270-million-infrastructure-investment/
Antigosh, Nova Scotia, receives funding for grid modernization
Electrical grid modernization requires a significant investment in new technology, including smart meters, remote monitoring equipment, and sensors. Smaller towns and cities that operate their own infrastructure often don’t have the resources to update the grid. The Government of Canada has jumped in to help support the town of Antigosh, Nova Scotia, with its grid modernization efforts with a $9.7 million CDN investment. The funding will help improve efficiency and increase the use of wind and solar energy. It will also provide for hardware and software to increase the grid’s resiliency. The funding for this project is provided through Canada’s Smart Renewables and Electrification Pathways Program (SREPs), which supports smart renewable energy, energy storage, and electrical grid modernization projects.
Link to document: SREPs
British Columbia approves new FortisBC EV charging rates
The British Columbia Utilities Commission (BCUC) in Canada has approved FortisBC’s new rate plan for its chain of EV charging stations. The new plan changes the way EV costs are calculated. Most EV charging stations charge by the minute, but FortisBC’s plan charges for the actual amount of electricity used. Drivers will bay $0.39 CDN per kilowatt hour at all 22 locations of FortisBC charging stations under the new plan starting August 1. The BCUS also approved FortisBC charging drivers a $0.40 CDN per minute idling rate.
Link for more information: FortisBC charging stations
Info-Tech releases strategy white paper for government adoption of “exponential IT”
Info-Tech Research Group has published a paper that provides a blueprint for government entities to adopt what it calls an “exponential IT” mindset. Organizations with this mindset are more likely to benefit from using technology that is expected to deliver rapid business transformation. The Info-Tech paper covers three main areas:
- Defend against AI attacks by implementing measures such as machine learning and continuous threat monitoring.
- Focus on citizen-centric value delivery by using using emerging technologies like AI and the cloud to strengthen trust and engagement.
- Deliver autonomously by using AI-powered systems, robotic process automation, and self-service platforms.
Link to the document:
Priorities for Adopting an Exponential IT Mindset in State and Local Government
GSMA report predicts growth of cellular IoT connections in Latin America
The GSMA’s The Mobile Economy Latin America 2024 report predicts significant growth in the number of cellular IoT connections in that region through 2030. The researchers estimate that those connections will grow at a rate of 8 percent CAGR during that time. Brazil and Mexico will account for nearly 80 percent of that growth, but IoT is gaining traction in Argentina, Columbia, Chile, and Venezuela as well.
The report credits the increased adoption of low-power, wide area (LPWA) networks for the rate of IoT growth in Latin America. Given that growth, the GSMA believes there are opportunities for companies selling IoT solutions to partner with IoT platform firms in the region.
Link to the report:
The Mobile Economy Latin America 2024
California institutes new rule to electrify industrial boilers
Regulators in the South Coast Air Quality Management District approved a measure intended to reduce nitrogen oxide (NOx) emissions from industrial boilers and water heaters. The new rule applies to businesses across Los Angeles, Orange, Riverside, and San Bernardino counties.
The new rule is expected to expand commercial use of heat pumps and other new technologies in the region. Businesses will have to comply soon as the regulators wanted to give heat pump and other manufacturers time to ramp production. Smaller units in new buildings must meet zero-emission limits by 2026. Existing facilities with high-temperature units have until 2033 to comply.
Link to regulation
NIST finalizes security requirements for controlled unclassified information
The U.S. National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) has finalized its update of guidelines for safeguarding controlled unclassified information (CUI) such as intellectual property or health data. NIST SP 800-700A Revision 3 covers a number of areas affecting connected devices including device identification and authentication, identifier and authenticator management, physical access control, and access control for transmission.
The updated guidelines are designed to help organizations assess where they stand with security requirements and allow for flexibility to customize according to an organization’s needs.
Link to the document:
Canadian government launches Local Leadership for Climate Adaptation initiative
The government of Canada has announce a $530 million CDN initiative to build more climate-resilient communities. The Local Leadership Climate Adaptation initiative, administered through the Green Municipal Fund, will allocate those funds to more than 1,400 communities by 2031 to support adaptation planning, capacity building, and implementation to become more resilient against climate change.
Previous projects funded through the Green Municipal Fund have included retrofitting buildings with smart technology and smart grid projects.
Link to website
New York state releases Retrofit Playbook for large buildings
The state of New York has released a free guide to help owners of large buildings modernize and decarbonize their properties. The Retrofit Playbook for Large Buildings was developed by the New York State Energy Research and Development Authority (NYSERDA), RMI, Building Energy Exchange, and Urban Land Institute. It provides case studies, technical resources, and best practices to create asset value, reduce emissions, and increase resiliency.
A central part of the playbook is electrifying buildings, and implementing connected systems has a big role in that regard. The playbook provides resources in the form of webinars, reports, best practices, and other related playbooks to help building owners transition to electrified and connected systems such as heat pumps, ventilation controls, heating and cooling monitoring, and waste heat recovery.
Link to document:
Retrofit Playbook for Large Buildings
Connecticut announces awards for EV charger buildouts
The Connecticut Department of Transportation (CTDOT) has selected nine sites in the state to receive awards for building out electric vehicle (EV) charging stations. The awards total more than $5 million USD and will fill gaps in the state’s federallydesignated Alternative Fuel Corridors (AFC). They will fund 45 new charging stations across the state.
Each site will contain Level 3 EV charging stations with a minimum of four Direct Current Fast Charging (DCFC) ports. The charging stations will not be more than one mile from the exit ramps along the AFC.
Link to press release:
Michigan funds lamppost EV chargers in Detroit, other locations
The state of Michigan has funded the installation of EV chargers on lampposts in Detroit and other locations. The Michigan Mobility Funding Platform (MMFP), administered by the state’s Office of Future Mobility and Electrification (OFME), has selected EV charging company Voltpost to deploy the chargers at a cost of $100,000 USD. Each of the ten locations will have chargers at curbsides or in parking lots.
Voltpost claims its lamppost charging platform reduces the cost, timing, and footprint of EV chargers by retrofitting existing infrastructure and removing the need for construction and trenching. This lowers the barriers to implementing municipality-owned EV systems and more easily allows municipalities to generate new revenue streams from the charging fees.
Link to website:
Michigan Mobility Funding Platform (MMFP)
The U.S. Department of Energy appoints board of directors for the Foundation for Energy Security and Innovation
The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) has identified individuals to serve on the governing board of the newly formed Foundation for Energy Security and Innovation. They will set priorities for FESI, which was formed by the 2022 CHIPS and Science Act, including key hires, fundraising. fostering public-private partnerships, investing in companies commercializing critical energy technologies, and tackling a wide variety of systemic and distributed federal, state, and local deployment challenges.
Link to press release:
DOE Appoints Inaugural Board of Directors for Groundbreaking New Foundation
Brazil and Japan issue joint statement on sustainable development, climate partnership
Brazil and Japan have issued a statement outlining common goals in their Brazi/Japan Partnership Initiative on Environment, Climate, Sustainable Development and Resilient Economies partnership. Among them is an agreement to explore cooperation on joint technological development and technology transfer to Brazilian stakeholders. Both countries renewed their commitment to promoting the Collaborative Development Project for Precision and Digital Agriculture to Strengthen the Innovation Ecosystem and the Sustainability of Brazilian Agrifood Chains, including development of agricultural data platforms and using IT through public-private partnerships between Brazil and Japan.
Link to the statement:
Biden-Harris administration announces clean energy manufacturing investments
The U.S. Department of Energy has awarded $1.93 billion USD for 35 projects across 20 states through the Qualifying Advanced Energy Project Credit (48C), a tax credit funded by the Inflation Reduction Act. Among the projects receiving those tax credits includes support for electric grid resilience and EV charging stations. The full list of projects is available here.
Chattanooga invests in $280 million smart grid technology project
Chattanooga, Tennessee, and electric utility EPB have invested $280 million USD to create a local smart grid for the city. The investment includes a $169 million municipal bond. The smart grid will be able to communicate with all the devices connected to it: smart meters, sensors, controllers, and computers. An EPB-funded study predicts that the project will product $2.7 billion USD in economic value over 10 years.
Link to study:
Ten Years of Fiber Optic and Smart Grid Infrastructure in Hamilton County, Tennessee
New American Medical Association codes to affect remote patient monitoring
The American Medical Association (AMA) has proposed a medical coding change that would allow Medicare to pay for more remote patient monitoring (RPM). If the AMA’s Current Procedural Terminology Editorial Panel approves the changes at their May 2024 meeting, the new rules would allow shorter monitoring times and more interactive communication to be billable.
Link to story:
New codes from the AMA could mean more RPM reimbursement by 2025
City of Carmel modernizes its network infrastructure with WiFi 6E technology
Carmel, Indiana, has updated its wired and wireless networking infrastructure with HPE Aruba Networking systems, which support the WiFi 6E standard. The move is in response partly to increased public and municipal data traffic from mobile and IoT devices. The new system is expected to deliver free, end-to-end WiFi connectivity to support the public and city staff. The press release is available here.
Canadian smart grid project wins innovation award
The Sault Smart Grid project serving Sault Ste. Maria, Ontario, has won the Innovation Excellence Award by the Electricity Distributors Association (EDA). Managed by PUC Distribution, which the city owns, the Sault Smart Grid was recognized as Canada’s first community-wide smart grid system. The project has allowed for improved grid resilience, reporting, and outage management while reducing the amount of released carbon dioxide by 2,804 tons.
Link to awards announcement:
Electricity Distributors Association Honours Outstanding Local Hydro Achievements
US Gov issues AI adoption guidance
The US Federal Risk and Authorization Management Program (FedRAMP) together with the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) has issued guidance to US Federal agencies and other public sector agencies about the adoption of AI in the US public sector. The draft guidance is aimed at adoption of AI in four areas in particular: chat interfaces; code generators; debugging tools; and image generators. The guidance is aimed at accelerating adoption while also safeguarding sensitive data and users’ personal information.
Link to Federal guidance:
Emerging Technology Prioritization Framework: FedRAMP
Peru issues technical guidance for Smart Cities
The National Quality Institute of Peru (Inacal), an agency of the country’s Ministry of Production, has approved four technical standards to guide cities in the country adopt smart city technologies. The standards comprise ‘a master plan’ intended to guide mayors and city authorities. According to news reports, the new guidance is expected to become mandatory for city authorities.
News report:
Ecuador holds Smart City summit
The Government of Ecuador has held a summit of government officials, telecommunications executives and local government leaders to discuss the development of smart cities in the country, and what technologies can be incorporated to benefit Ecuadorian citizens and communities. The event was organised by the country’s Ministry of Telecommunications and the Information Society (MINTEL).
Government announcement:
US DOT: $50m transport tech awards
The US Department of Transport has made grant awards totalling $50 million to 34 transport technology demonstration projects under the Strengthening Mobility and Revolutionising Transportation (SMART) programme, part of the $500 million Bipartisan Infrastructure Bill. Projects include connected vehicles and V2I in Chattanooga, Charleston and Washington State. Digital transport twins will be created in Puerto Rico and Broward County, Florida; smart roads and traffic systems in Wyoming, Maryland and Talladega, AL.
NIST strategic plan for smart cities
NIST is developing a strategic plan for a three year programme of research and development of smart city technologies and their implementation. The strategic plan will run from 2024 to 2026, and is intended to give new focus and direction to the Global Community Technology Challenge (GCTC) programme of U.S smart cities and communities that is led by NIST. NIST is now conducting a public review of its published proposals before publication of the final plan in spring 2024. the plan can be viewed at:
https://doi.org/10.6028/NIST.SP.1900-207.ipd
Portland seeks new approaches to city surveillance
The City of Portland, Oregon, is conducting a review of its surveillance technologies policy. The city began the development of a surveillance technology policy in 2021, which has included the development of an inventory of all surveillance technologies within the city. More broadly, the city is seeking approaches and technologies that support public safety without exacerbating pre-existing bias or divides. The City of Portland PDX website can be found at:
Alexandria, VA, expands smart mobility programme
The city of Alexandria, Virginia, has published its fy 2024 annual work program, detailing the city’s smart mobility programme of works and objectives for 2024. The city, which is in the Greater Washington DC area, has set out major work objectives including: adaptive signal control; traffic data governance; smart intersections; smart asset management; Intelligent Transportation Systems; Autonomous Vehicle preparations and infrastructure; and connected vehicle infrastructure. the FY 2024 Annual Work Programme can be found at:
Alexandria Smart Mobility Annual Work Plan FY 2024
White House ratings for infrastructure IoT security
The White House is considering introducing a ratings system to rank critical infrastructure cybersecurity. Utilities for water, rail, energy and other critical infrastructure sectors will have their technology, including embedded and IoT, inspected for cybersecurity vulnerabilities, and ranked in an effort to improve oversight and hold utilities to account for cyber resilience. The ranking scheme would be parallel to the Administration’s efforts to introduce a voluntary cybersecurity scheme for consumer smart devices: the Cyber Trust Mark. The plans were revealed by Anne Neuberger, deputy national security advisor for cyber, during the Billington Cybersecurity Summit in Washington DC in September.
More information here.
DOE awards $3.5bn for Grid innovation
The US Department of Energy has announced up to $3.5 billion in Grid Resilience and Innovation Partnerships (GRIP) Program investments for 58 projects across 44 states to strengthen electric grid resilience and reliability across America. Recipients include microgrid and innovation programmes in Chattanooga, New Orleans, Jamestown, Greater Philadelphia, Los Angeles, Oklahoma, Portland, Rhode Island, Tri-State, Sacramento, Missouri, and Virginia.
More information here.
US-Israel National Infrastructure IoT cyber initiative
A joint initiative between the Israeli Government’s National Cyber Directorate (INCD) and the US Department of Homeland Security (DHS) is aimed at improving the security of embedded and IoT systems in both countries’ national infrastructure. The programme covers hardened cybersecurity for industrial control systems, air traffic, airports, and maritime threat intelligence, and will be implemented in both the United States and in Israel.
Further information can be found here.
NYC launches Smart City testbed
New York City has launched a testbed programme to develop new technologies for adoption by the City. Technology pilots will be developed by companies alongside City authorities and New York University, with feedback from local organisations and communities. Successful pilots will then be adopted by the City and scaled up across the metropolitan area.
More information on NYC’s testbed programme here.
Brazil launches $340bn Internet, 5G, Infrastructure and Smart City programme
The Brazilian Government has launched a $340 billion programme to expand and modernise the country’s infrastructure, transportation, healthcare, education, telecoms and cities. It includes plans to invest $5.6 billion in 5G, and $122 billion in Smart Cities, $94 billion in modernising transportation, as well as $9 billion for water modernisation and $108 billion on energy infrastructure modernisation
More information on Brazil’s infrastructure modernisation programme here.
