Intelligent Infrastructure

By Corey Piasecki, Associate Planner, New Jersey

The tri-state region is growing yet our critical infrastructure and service systems have been relatively unchanged in the last half century. Many systems provide user information that is unidirectional making these services slower, less efficient, and more costly then their updated counterparts. The size and quantity of the region's public services and infrastructure has made it increasingly difficult to provide meaningful input into the very systems that have the ability to adapt to situations in real-time. Undeniably, however, advances in technology such as smart phones have changed the way we interact with our physical environment and provided a situational awareness that is unparalleled to date.

The information technology revolution offers the promise to increase the accuracy, efficiency, capacity, and usability of many basic services in the urban setting in much the same way that the spread of the personal computer and the internet have resulted in a huge increase in productivity in the workplace. Systems can monitor and provide timely feedback on the consumption of basic services like electricity, water, gas, and waste collection, allowing consumers to make beneficial real-time usage decisions based on penalties or incentives. Sensor networks can monitor vehicle traffic, mass transit, or even gunshot activity, and provide feedback so the proper response or notification to the user can come quickly and effectively.

The Intelligent Infrastructure panel at RPA's 2010 Regional Assembly will examine existing and emerging technologies that provide real-time information and decision-making capabilities based on a bidirectional flow of information that will make both user and service more efficient. Dylan Hixon, RPA Board member and President of Arden Road Investments will moderate the discussion among four infrastructure technology innovators.

RecycleBank co-founder and CEO Ron Gonen is at the forefront of creating a 21st Century Green Economy. Through a network of tagged bins and integrated haulers, this intelligent infrastructure service is able to capture, analyze, and transmit real-time recycling data to individual households while measuring the waste stream diverted from landfill. To date, more than one million participants earning rewards toward food, clothing, travel, and more have contributed to saving more then 310 million gallons of oil.

Building on real-time information capture and analysis, GreenRoad CEO Dan Steere works to make vehicle travel safer and more efficient by providing an instant feedback loop for drivers and companies seeking to reduce costs and improve fuel efficiency. The GreenRoad technology, through a simplistic red, yellow, or green indicator helps drivers learn to drive more efficiently while tracking long-term improvements online. Fleets have recorded significant fuel savings and reductions in Greenhouse Gas emissions while minimizing insurance and fleet repair costs.

Leaving the pump behind completely, Houston, Texas is an unlikely contender in the race to become the nation's first electric vehicle capital. NRG Energy has been leading the charge, (pun intended) partnering with the City of Newark and Nissan Motors to create a comprehensive public infrastructure for charging electric vehicles beyond the home. Glen Stancil, Vice President of Strategy and Development, is responsible for leading the company's development and operation of electric vehicle ecosystems.


Reduce, reuse, and recycle isn't always about being green. Shotspotter provides an intelligent infrastructure service that is working to clean up our city streets in a different way. Reducing gun violence in cities has always been a difficult task for police. Gun shots are often hard to locate and typically occur where police are not. Shotspotter is a game changer. By using acoustic sensors and video surveillance, Shotspotter identifies shooters and transmits real time information allowing police to respond with greater accuracy. Shotspotter, President James Beldock has been implementing the system throughout the United States with successes ranging from a 40% homicide reduction in Redwood, CA, to a 43% reduction in Rochester, NY.

Outside of their proprietary systems, the Intelligent Infrastructure panelists will discuss emerging technologies that enhance the accuracy, efficiency, capacity, and usability of many basic services provided in the RPA region. How are intelligent infrastructure services implemented elsewhere? What will it take to implement the technologies in one of the world's biggest markets? What will they cost and how will we pay for them? How can we leverage the smart phone network to optimize our information consumption? Creating real-time intelligent infrastructure networks readily scalable to meet the needs of the RPA region requires sophistication and precision. Can you think of a better forum than the Regional Assembly to discuss how these innovations can change our lives?