My View: Arizona emerges as national leader in smart cities and digital transformation

In recent days, our world has witnessed the results of advancements that can occur when complex systems work together to safely move people through an environment using real-time data.

As Arizonans, there is no need to think this level of events only occurs in space missions like the recently completed Artemis II. Instead I’m referring to what happens right outside our doors daily in an ecosystem shaped through digital transformation and smart cities.

If these terms are unfamiliar, think of digital transformation as the tools used to make life a little easier in your environment — a smart city, if you will. For example, Phoenix’s deployment of smart traffic systems with sensors installed on traffic signals can help make the commute to the office faster and safer.

Arizona is rapidly emerging as a national leader in smart cities and digital transformation, thanks to a combination of forward-thinking municipalities, world-class research universities and a growing base of technology companies.

Phoenix has demonstrated its commitment to data-driven city operations with the creation of the city’s Office of Innovation. To get a glimpse of progress, the City Manager’s Performance Dashboard offers residents a real-time look at city departments, programs and services.

Tempe has become a national leader in integrating micromobility (i.e., lightweight for-rent vehicles such as bikes and scooters) and smart infrastructure into an urban university environment. The goal is to identify data-driven ways that incorporate micromobility hubs and infrastructure to support transportation needs while aligning with Tempe’s goal of necessities being no farther than 20 minutes away.

Next door, Mesa is investing in smart grid technologies, advanced water systems and digital infrastructure to support its growing industrial base.

U of A, ASU help drive innovation

While each of these Valley cities is working on its own projects, they certainly aren’t operating in silos. They along with Scottsdale and other public, private, university and community partners are members of The Connective, whose goal is to build the nation’s largest, most connected smart region.

In Southern Arizona, Tucson is making its own contributions to Arizona’s smart cities and digital transformation efforts. The city has advanced smart water technologies, intelligent transportation systems and grid modernization initiatives to address the unique challenges of operating in a desert environment.

A major driver of Tucson’s innovation ecosystem is the University of Arizona, particularly through its leadership in optics, photonics and space research at the Wyant College of Optical Sciences that sustain next-generation sensing and communications systems.

Arizona State University has established itself in smart city research through initiatives like the Smart Cities Cloud Innovation Center and partnerships with key players in such fields as semiconductors and artificial intelligence (AI). One of the successes has been in producing digital twins, which are urban simulation models that integrate AI and real-time data to simulate transportation, energy, land use and community development.

Northern Arizona University has been called upon to contribute its expertise in informatics, environmental monitoring and rural connectivity — ensuring smart city solutions extend beyond urban cores into more remote communities.

The private sector is equally instrumental. Companies such as TSMC and Honeywell Aerospace in Phoenix, Intel in Chandler, and a growing number of startups are investing in technologies that power digital transformation — from AI and advanced manufacturing to Internet of Things (IoT) platforms and cybersecurity.

With industry leaders such as Raytheon and Hexagon Mining, Tucson is advancing technologies in sensing, autonomy and industrial IoT. Strength in mining innovation and aerospace further positions the region as a hub for advanced mobility and digital transformation.

Advanced mobility — both on the ground and in the air — is a defining element of Arizona’s smart city evolution. The state’s regulatory environment and favorable climate have made it a testing ground for autonomous vehicles and smart mobility pilots.

The next frontier: Advanced air mobility

The Phoenix area is one of the most advanced real-world testing grounds for autonomous transport. In fact, the Valley is now considered Waymo’s largest driverless service area in the nation. Adding to that is Zoox creating a Scottsdale-based fleet command facility for its robotaxis.

The state is also becoming a testing ground for next-gen freight and mobility. One entry is Aurora, which has announced it will launch a fleet of self-driving trucks to make runs between Phoenix and El Paso, as well as Fort Worth.

At the same time, Arizona is positioning itself at the forefront of advanced air mobility, with industry, academia and government collaborating on next-generation aviation technologies, urban air mobility systems and aerospace innovation hubs. A recent example is Joby Aviation including the state in its plans to begin test flights of its electric air taxis as soon as this summer.

To help keep everything powered up as the state boosts its use of electric vehicles and while handling population growth, utilities SRP and APS are modernizing the grid with advanced metering, distributed energy integration and battery storage.

Across the state, we are leveraging data, connectivity and advanced infrastructure to improve quality of life, optimize public services and support economic growth.

But what you’ve just read is scratching the surface. To learn more and see where you can fit it, join me at the 10th Annual Smart City + Digital Transformation Conference presented by the Arizona Technology Council and the Arizona Commerce Authority on April 27.

Steve Zylstra is president and CEO of the Arizona Technology Council and SciTech Institute.