Dallas' West End to See Free Public Wi-Fi, Smart Streetlights: Government Technology

After testing out the technology in the West End, one official would like to see similar projects across the city.

Government Technology Magazine

(TNS) -- One of Dallas’ oldest neighborhoods -- the West End -- will be home to some of the city's newest technology, including free public Wi-Fi, streetlights that measure air pollution and detect noise and an app that makes it easy to find an open parking spot.

The West End will serve as a testing ground for the Dallas Innovation Alliance, a public-private partnership that includes the city of Dallas and about two dozen large companies and local foundations.

Today, the Dallas Innovation Alliance announced the first projects that will turn the historic neighborhood into a "living laboratory" for ways that technology could cut costs, boost energy-efficiency and improve public health in the city.

In the West End, the projects will include:

• Intelligent streetlights powered by LED lights that can measure air quality and sensors that can detect crowds or noise.
• Interactive digital kiosks with features such as cellphone charging stations, touchscreen maps and public transit schedules.
• Network connectivity, such as fiber and cellular coverage.
• Public Wi-Fi.
• Smart parking infrastructure that allows people to easily locate available parking and reserve a parking spot ahead of time.
• A mobility app that allows people to search for transportation options, including public transit, ride-sharing, bike sharing, walking and smart parking.
• Solar-powered waste management with sensors that detect when trash cans need to be emptied.
• Open source software platform that aggregates data and provides opportunities for citizens, entrepreneurs and organizations to build smart city applications on top of the platform.

Jennifer Sanders, executive director of the Dallas Innovation Alliance, said she hopes to have some of the projects underway by the end of the year. She said intelligent streetlights, kiosks, public Wi-Fi and waste management have been slated to begin first.

After testing out the technology in the West End, Sanders said she'd like to see similar projects across the city.

Across the country and the world, cities have looked to technology as possible solutions to urban challenges. In New York City, city officials are replacing pay phones with kiosks that provide free high-speed internet, device charging and city maps. In Chicago, public health officials are using an algorithm from comments on social media and crowd-sourced reviews on sites like Yelp to predict if restaurants may have food safety violations. In Louisville, Ky., a team of medical researchers used "smart" inhalers to identify possible asthma hot spots and track local air quality.

Sanders said the effort to become a smart city is this generation’s “space race.”

Dallas Mayor Mike Rawlings said he looks forward to watching the West End project and seeing if it could be scaled to other parts of the city. He said he'll judge the project based on the money it saves and lives that it improves.

"I don't want to worship at the altar of technology for technology's sake," he said. "It all must be to provide a better quality of life for citizens and that's the direction I keep pushing us to."

Rawlings said the West End has always been an important part of Dallas. As the test market for the smart cities project, he said the historic neighborhood is reinventing itself.

He said he'd also like Dallas to adopt smarter approaches to everyday tasks, such as making it possible for people to pay every city fee or utility bill online.

Sanders said the Dallas Innovation Alliance chose the West End because of its downtown Dallas location, proximity to public transportation, distinct neighborhood boundaries and mix of residential and commercial buildings.

She co-founded the nonprofit organization with Trey Bowles, chief executive of the Dallas Entrepreneur Center. The DEC, a co-working space and startup hub, is also located in the West End. Sanders was hired in March to lead the initiative to turn Dallas into a high-tech, smart city.

©2016 The Dallas Morning News. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.

How Tech’s Allure is Reshaping Historic West End: Dallas Innovates

How Tech’s Allure is Reshaping Historic West End

Lance Murray, Dallas Innovates

August 23, 2016

Tech companies and their employees are drawn to the historic district in downtown Dallas, where 100-year-old buildings are finding new uses and new tenants.

Smart Cities. Living Lab. Innovation District. All are labels that describe the West End District in downtown Dallas.

But to that list, you can add such terms as unique, resurgent, vibrant, destination, a crown jewel.

Located on the northwest side of downtown Dallas, the West End District is transforming itself into a destination where tech-oriented people and companies want to come work, live and play amid 100-year-old buildings that are taking on a new life and a new look.

“Companies today fiercely compete for the best and brightest talent,” said Conrad Suszynski, co-CEO of Crescent Real Estate LLC, which has a portfolio of properties in the West End. “Although Dallas has a number of submarkets with high-quality Class A office space, the West End provides the only true creative style office settings that millennials desire, and the stock of historical brick-and-timber buildings is very limited, and mostly located in the West End.”

WEST END UNDERGOES REMARKABLE TURNAROUND

It’s a remarkable turnaround for a district that has seen more than a few ups and downs in the past 100 years.

Crescent began to acquire West End properties in 2015 and Suszynski, who was directly involved in acquiring the properties, said the company has had tremendous success in “creating value in those assets.” 

Earlier this year, billionaire John Goff’s investment firm, Goff Capital Partners LP, in partnership with Long Wharf Real Estate Partners, closed on three properties in the West End. Crescent Real Estate LLC is one of Goff’s companies.

Suszynski said, that like other property owners in the district, Crescent is targeting tech companies.

“We are working with the other new institutional owners in the West End to rebrand and market the district to innovative and cutting-edge industries and new concept retailers.” 
Conrad Suszynski

“We are working with the other new institutional owners in the West End to rebrand and market the district to innovative and cutting-edge industries and new concept retailers,” Suszynski told me.

“We acquired our portfolio with the intention of marketing the assets to predominantly tech companies,” he said. “For example, we are in negotiations with a customer that created one of the most commonly used apps in the market today.”

Suszynski said that Crescent likes the plans for the Smart Cities initiative in the West End and sees them as conducive to growth.

“We are thrilled about the Dallas Innovations Alliance’s vision for the district, and we will gladly work together with them to make the West End a successful Smart City,” Suszynski said. “We look forward to to the new ideas they are planning to develop innovative and creative districts.”

The Dallas Innovation Alliance is the driving force behind the district’s resurgence, in great part because of its involvement in the Smart Cities initiative, which has spawned the DIA’s vision of a living lab in the district.

“We are delighted about the Smart Cities initiative in the West End, and absolutely believe it will not only create value for our portfolio but for the district as a whole,” Suszynski said. “Although the West End is an urban district today, creating better modal transit, bike lanes, walkability, and Wi-Fi access across the district will make it much more attractive to office users, retailers, local residents, and visitors.”

Jeffrey Eiting, vice president of CBRE, said that the West End is well situated near all the development going on it Uptown, West Dallas, the Cedars, and other areas in and around the urban center.

“The one thing that remains is that the West End is in the middle of that,” Eiting said. “The West End has always been a good location and will continue to be so.”

He said that all the good things happening in the West End have been brewing for awhile, with companies such as CBRE, Crescent Real Estate, and Granite Properties strategically taking on properties in the area.

THE TIME IS NOW FOR THE WEST END

Granite recently acquired the West End Marketplace, which had been vacant for 16 years.

“The actuality is it’s been brewing for three to four years, and it takes a while for these pieces to be put in motion,” Eiting said.

For the West End, “the time is now,” he said.

Eiting said that the district is nearing a point where nearly tapped out in terms of office space, “and it’s getting really expensive.”

He said, for example, that West End residents Ambit Energy has about 50,000 square feet of space, and that Corrigan has roughly 60,000 square feet.

“It’s great to see people at all times of the day and night.” 
Jeffrey Eiting

Most buildings in the district are well leased, he said, but the Marketplace building will add a new dynamic.

“The office space will continue to thrive, and with the new Marketplace coming on line, that’s another 230,000 square feet, and I see it filling,” Eiting said.

The Marketplace will be a destination for retail or restaurant tenants that could attract additional visitors to the district in the evenings.

“It’s great to see people at all times of the day and night,” he said.

Eiting said he sees additional corporate relocations from out-of-town companies and from area suburbs that will head to the urban center, “and they will select the West End.”

He said all the investment from major real estate players “activates this type of real estate that doesn’t exist anywhere else.”

ATTRACTION TO THE WEST END

But, what is it about the real estate that attracts tech companies and millennials looking for a place to live?

In short, it’s bricks and timber and trees.

“All across the country, these districts that have prewar buildings have thrived, candidly, and have achieved some of the highest pricing,” Eiting said.

It has to do with people “connecting” with the space they are in, he said.

“You’ll see some of the new development will be as new additions — base of an older building with a new glass rooftop piece,” Eiting said.

“Ten years from now, most of the buildings will over 125 years old and will have been renovated, sold, and brought back to a crown jewel of our city,” Eiting said.

The age of the buildings gives the district character.

“We are a relatively young city, but you look up and there are buildings that are 125 years old,” he said.

That’s a good thing, Eiting said.

“As we become an international city, you look around there are people who’ve just come to Dallas and bring the perspectives of where they’ve lived,” he said. “They bring an urban attitude, and they bring with them that loud voice.”

"Building a City of Innovation" A Conversation with Mayors Rawlings and Daley

On June 21st, Dallas Innovation Alliance was privileged to welcome Mayor Mike Rawlings and former Chicago Mayor Richard M. Daley, for a conversation on the importance of building cities with an eye, and a focus, on innovation. Over 230 Dallas leaders across industry, civic and government sectors were in attendance. At the event, the Dallas Innovation Alliance provided an overview of our organization and the vision for the living lab pilot in the West End, and unveiled conceptual drawings from BOKA Powell and virtual reality experience from 900lbs of Creative, effectively bringing the DIA vision to life. Many thanks to our presenting sponsor Universal Mind for supporting this fantastic program.

We invite you to explore and enjoy some photos from the event and program.

DALLAS INNOVATION ALLIANCE UNVEILS VISION FOR WEST END LIVING LAB

DALLAS INNOVATION ALLIANCE UNVEILS VISION FOR WEST END LIVING LAB

Projects are focused on smart infrastructure, mobility and connected living

DALLAS, TX, June 29, 2016 — Today, the Dallas Innovation Alliance (DIA), a 501c(3) Public-Private Partnership dedicated to the development and execution of a multi-phased smart city strategy for Dallas, publicly unveiled its vision for its living lab in the West End, as part of the burgeoning Dallas Innovation District. The vision was revealed via concept renderings from BOKA Powell, and a virtual reality experience from Dallas-based 900lbs of Creative. These visual and immersive tools provide a view into what the West End looks like today, and what it will look like with smart elements incorporated into the living lab in the coming months.

The DIA will address key challenges faced by Dallas, and cities around the world, around aging infrastructure, strained natural and fiscal resources, and increased density in the urban core, while providing the technology and connectivity needed to power the future for all Dallasites. The DIA operates from the definition that a smart city is one where technological and social infrastructures accelerate sustainable economic development, conserves resources and improves the quality of life for its citizens.

The West End living lab will include smart city elements including:

1.    Intelligent LED Lighting: Street lights in the living lab along Market Street will be converted to LED, and sensors measuring environmental levels, including air quality, and crowd/noise detection will be installed.

2.    Interactive Digital Kiosks: a series of kiosks will be deployed in the West End, which will provide a key focal point for citizen engagement, alongside delivery of public services, provision of public Wi-Fi, USB charging stations, emergency services, and wayfinding /transit options. Additional open source platform possible to provide a key application allowing for direct engagement with the city, events and services. Exact components of the hardware, and of the internal software can be customized to fit Dallas’ needs.

3.    Network Connectivity: Fiber and cellular networks will provide full coverage, powering the living lab.

4.    Public Wi-Fi will be available in the West End living lab.

5.    Smart Parking: Infrastructure will be installed allowing for monitoring and visibility into available parking options, with the potential to locate and reserve parking ahead of time. Benefits include an improved citizen experience, increased parking utilization rates and decreased traffic congestion/CO2 emissions. A large proportion of urban congestion is directly related to cars looking for parking.

6.    End-to-End Mobility App: Working with key partners, the Dallas Innovation Alliance will facilitate an end-to-end mobility application, allowing citizens a single point solution, incorporating all modes of transit, including: mass transit, car, rideshare, bike sharing, walking and smart parking solutions. Benefits include ability to weigh mixed modes of transit, choose your journey based on user priority including length of trip, cost of trip or taking the greenest possible option.

7.    Waste Management: Solar-powered waste management system increases capacity and productivity, with sensors providing data so that trashcans are only emptied when they are full, decreasing CO2 emissions and overall cost.

8.    Open Source Platform: A open source software platform will aggregate data and provide opportunities for citizens, entrepreneurs and organizations to build smart city applications on top of the platform.

“The Dallas Innovation Alliance is thrilled to share its vision and projects for the living lab in the West End District in downtown Dallas,” commented Jennifer Sanders, Executive Director of the Dallas Innovation Alliance. “Through a best minds approach and collaboration with our partners, we believe these elements, and others to come, provide a strong proof of concept in addressing the challenges that Dallas, and cities around the world, are facing. We are grateful to the City of Dallas, our partners, and to BOKA Powell and 900lbs of Creative for giving their time and talents to bring this vision to life.”

In the coming months, the DIA will begin implementation of initial projects in the West End Historic District in Dallas’ central business district, focused on smart infrastructure, smart mobility and connected living. The West End living lab will help anchor the Dallas Innovation District, providing a critical mass of the resources, infrastructure and creative talent that accelerates entrepreneurship, economic development and research & development. In December 2015, Dallas was selected as one of 10 cities in the inaugural Envision America program, which was announced at the White House in September 2015.

Earlier this month, the Dallas Innovation Alliance received a $205,000 grant from the United Way of Metropolitan Dallas (UWMD) supporting the organization, the first social innovation grant made in the United Way of Metropolitan Dallas’ history. These funds will be utilized to support the DIA’s 2016 operations, project management, community engagement, outreach initiatives and research.

Through the support and collaboration of its members, the DIA is committed to advancing transformative change in the city of Dallas while increasing the domestic and global profile of the great innovators and ideas that reside in Dallas. The Dallas Innovation Alliance’s key partners have shown forward-thinking leadership and dedication to the mission of the DIA, led by Foundational Partner AT&T, Pivotal Partner Cisco, Lead Partner Current, Powered by GE, Partners AECOM and Universal Mind, and Lead Community Partner United Way of Metropolitan Dallas.

About the Dallas Innovation Alliance

The Dallas Innovation Alliance (DIA) is a public-private partnership dedicated to the design and execution of a smart cities plan for the City of Dallas, leveraging social and technological infrastructures to accelerate sustainable economic growth, resource efficiency, and importantly, improve the quality of life for its citizens. DIA’s overarching goal is to elevate Dallas as a city that is not only prepared for, but a driving force in shaping, the future of cities, and providing opportunities for prosperity for its citizens. Its mission is to develop a scalable smart cities model for the City of Dallas that leverages the region’s distinctive strengths and leaves a legacy of innovation, sustainability and collaboration for future generations. DIA support is led by Foundational Partner AT&T, Pivotal Partner Cisco, Lead Partner Current, Powered by GE, Partners AECOM and Universal Mind, and Lead Community Partner United Way of Metropolitan Dallas. Partners of the Dallas Innovation Alliance include: City of Dallas, Dallas Area Rapid Transit (DART), Dallas Convention and Visitors Bureau, Dallas Entrepreneur Center (DEC), Dallas Regional Chamber, Dallas 2030 District, Downtown Dallas Inc., The Real Estate Council (TREC), Texas Research Alliance, United Way of Metropolitan Dallas, CIVIQ Streetscapes, Deloitte, Ericsson, IBM, Microsoft, Schneider Electric, Xerox, and World Wide Technology. For more information, please visit www.DallasInnovationAlliance.com.  

DALLAS INNOVATION ALLIANCE ANNOUNCES $205,000 Investment from United Way of Metropolitan Dallas

DALLAS INNOVATION ALLIANCE ANNOUNCES $205,000 Investment from United Way of Metropolitan Dallas

Funding will provide operational capital as the DIA builds its West End living lab

DALLAS, TX, June 17, 2016 — Today, the Dallas Innovation Alliance (DIA), a 501c(3) Public-Private Partnership dedicated to the development and execution of a multi-phased smart city strategy for Dallas, announced a $205,000 social innovation grant from United Way of Metropolitan Dallas. This is the first investment of its kind from United Way, advancing its commitment to social innovation.  United Way partners with innovative programs that seek to transform our city, improving quality of life and services for its citizens.

The DIA will address key challenges faced by Dallas, and cities around the world, around aging infrastructure, strained natural and fiscal resources, and increased density in the urban core, while providing the technology and connectivity needed to power the future for all Dallasites. The DIA operates from the definition that a smart city is one where technological and social infrastructures accelerate sustainable economic development, conserves resources and improves the quality of life for its citizens.

Through smart city solutions, cost and resource efficiencies can be achieved, public health and safety outcomes improved via LED lighting, air quality and crowd sensors; public Wi-Fi provides equity through connectivity, and associated STEM and workforce development initiatives prepare future workforce readiness.

 United Way focuses its work around changing lives forever in North Texas, particularly in the areas of education, impact and health. A 2011 Blue Ribbon Commission study recognized the need for investments in new and innovative ideas to reach community goals. United Way’s GroundFloor mentor-driven social innovation fund and impact accelerator program was launched in 2013 as a response, investing seed funding and resources into promising social ventures focused on solutions. This new partnership with DIA expands United Way’s social innovation work, taking a forward-thinking approach to how smart cities’ infrastructure can potentially further its mission.

The United Way funds will be utilized to support the DIA’s 2016 operations, project management, community engagement, outreach initiatives and research.

“We are so grateful for the support of United Way, and for its work to provide investment into social innovation in Dallas,” commented Jennifer Sanders, Executive Director of the Dallas Innovation Alliance. “It is through the vision and commitment of organizations like United Way that entrepreneurial, innovative organizations are able to convert ideas to action, and the DIA will be able to accelerate its work thanks to the generosity of the organization.”

“United Way is focused on changing lives in our community and building a more secure future for Dallas by improving education, access to jobs and quality health care,” said Susan Hoff, Chief Impact, Strategy and Operations Officer, United Way of Metropolitan Dallas. “As these issues become increasingly complex, we must seek innovative solutions.  The Dallas Innovation Alliance is a prime example of an organization testing and implementing promising results.”

Through the support and collaboration of its members like United Way, the DIA is committed to advancing transformative change in the city of Dallas while increasing the domestic and global profile of the great innovators and ideas that reside in Dallas. Some of DIA’s public, private and nonprofit sector members include the City of Dallas, Dallas Regional Chamber, Downtown Dallas Inc., Dallas Area Rapid Transit (DART), AT&T, Cisco, Ericsson, Current, powered by GE, AECOM, Universal Mind, Dallas 2030 District, Dallas Convention and Visitors Bureau, the Real Estate Council, and the Texas Research Alliance.

In the coming months, the DIA will finalize its strategic priorities and begin implementation of initial projects in the West End Historic District in Dallas’ central business district, focused on smart infrastructure, smart mobility and connected living. The West End living lab will help anchor the Dallas Innovation District, providing a critical mass of the resources, infrastructure and creative talent that accelerates entrepreneurship, economic development and research & development. In December 2015, Dallas was selected as one of 10 cities in the inaugural Envision America program, which was announced at the White House in September 2015.

About the Dallas Innovation Alliance

The Dallas Innovation Alliance (DIA) is a public-private partnership dedicated to the design and execution of a smart cities plan for the City of Dallas, leveraging social and technological infrastructures to accelerate sustainable economic growth, resource efficiency, and importantly, improve the quality of life for its citizens. DIA’s overarching goal is to elevate Dallas as a city that is not only prepared for, but a driving force in shaping, the future of cities, and providing opportunities for prosperity for its citizens. Its mission is to develop a scalable smart cities model for the City of Dallas that leverages the region’s distinctive strengths and leaves a legacy of innovation, sustainability and collaboration for future generations. For more information, please visit www.DallasInnovationAlliance.com.  

About the United Way of Metropolitan Dallas

United Way of Metropolitan Dallas brings people together to improve lives and create lasting change here in North Texas by focusing on education, income, and health – the building blocks for strong families and thriving communities. We galvanize and connect all sectors of society – individuals, businesses, non-profits, and government – to create long-term change through investing in solutions that produce healthy, well-educated and financially stable individuals and families. We raise, invest and leverage more than $50 million annually in community-focused solutions serving Dallas, Collin, Rockwall and southern Denton counties. We do more than help one person beat the odds – we are changing the odds for entire communities. To learn more, please visit UnitedWayDallas.org.

900LBS TO BRING SMART CITY EXPERIENCE TO LIFE FOR DALLAS INNOVATION ALLIANCE THROUGH VIRTUAL REALITY

900LBS TO BRING SMART CITY EXPERIENCE TO LIFE FOR DALLAS INNOVATION ALLIANCE THROUGH VIRTUAL REALITY

900lbs of Creative, an innovation lab that utilizes emerging technology to create one-of-a-kind experiences, announced a strategic partnership with the Dallas Innovation Alliance (DIA) to bring the vision for Dallas’ West End District to life. The DIA is a 501C(3) Public-Private Partnership dedicated to the design and execution of a smart city strategy for Dallas, with initial efforts focused on building a living lab in the West End District of downtown Dallas.

“Innovation is at the core of what 900lbs does, as is giving back to our community, so partnering with the Dallas Innovation Alliance is a perfect fit for us,” states Steve Deitz, CEO, 900lbs of Creative. “We truly care about Dallas, its citizens, and the future of our city, and we see this as an opportunity to bring the Dallas Innovation Alliance’s vision to life using virtual reality. We are honored and excited to be collaborating with the DIA to help make Dallas the smartest city in the world.”

“The Dallas Innovation Alliance is so grateful to 900lbs for bringing its team’s talent, technology and creative vision to support the work of our organization,” stated Jennifer Sanders, Executive Director, Dallas Innovation Alliance. “Supportive community partnerships and investment that draw upon the vast talent within Dallas’ ecosystem is an essential catalyst that helps ensure that today’s vision becomes tomorrow’s reality for Dallas. We can’t wait to share the fruits of this collaboration with the community while highlighting the work of an innovative, homegrown Dallas company.”

Inspiring organizations to innovate, 900lbs’ projects span from projection mapping, and touch screen displays, to racing a T-Rex, and joining Tony Hawk on the halfpipe in 360 degree virtual reality. Clients include Activision, Bank of America, Boy Scouts of America, Dallas Cowboys, Dallas Museum of Art, Frito Lay, Pepsico, the Perot Museum of Nature and Science, Shell Oil Company, ZTE, and many others. The company plans to utilize their expertise in helping Dallas become the smartest and safest city in the world.

About 900lbs of Creative

To brands seeking to stand out from the crowd, 900lbs of Creative is an innovation lab and marketing studio that utilizes emerging technology to create one-of-a-kind wow experiences. The team is a collective of experiential designers, interactive artists and visual content developers who continually test new technologies and bring experience design to life through a variety of services including: interactive installations, exhibits, UI/UX design, visual content, virtual reality, and augmented reality. 900lbs is on a mission to inform, educate, and entertain the world through technology. For more information, visit www.900lbs.com.

About the Dallas Innovation Alliance

The Dallas Innovation Alliance (DIA) is a public-private partnership dedicated to the execution of a smart cities plan for the City of Dallas, defined as a city where social and technological solutions facilitate sustainable economic growth, resource efficiency, and importantly, improves the quality of life in the city for its citizens. DIA’s overarching goal is to elevate Dallas as a city that is not only prepared for – but a driving force in shaping – the future of cities, and providing opportunities for prosperity for its citizens. Its mission is to develop a scalable smart cities model for the City of Dallas that leverages the region’s distinctive strengths and leaves a legacy of innovation, sustainability and collaboration for future generations. For more information please visit www.DallasInnovationAlliance.com.

DALLAS IS GETTING SMARTER EVERY DAY AS SMART CITIES INITIATIVE ANNOUNCES KEY SUPPORT FROM AT&T AND LEAD PARTNERS

DALLAS IS GETTING SMARTER EVERY DAY AS SMART CITIES INITIATIVE ANNOUNCES KEY SUPPORT FROM AT&T AND LEAD PARTNERS

The Dallas Innovation Alliance collaborates with technology leaders in the public and private sectors

DALLAS, TX, April 13, 2016 — When it comes to smart and digital cities, the Dallas business community is working hard to stay ahead of the game. Through organizations such as the Dallas Innovation Alliance (DIA), public and private sectors are teaming to create and deploy smart cities solutions, fueled by Internet of Things (IoT) innovations, in an effort to accelerate sustainable economic growth and improve quality of life.

These solutions include enhancing transportation by alerting commuters in near real-time when the next bus or train will arrive; improving public safety by more effectively managing traffic patterns; increasing efficiency via smart streetlights and use of sensors to help monitor crowds and air quality; and enhancing connectivity via small cell technology in interactive kiosks and waste management solutions.

Through the support and collaboration of its members, the DIA is committed to advancing transformative change in the city of Dallas. Some of DIA’s public and nonprofit sector members include the City of Dallas, Dallas Regional Chamber, Downtown Dallas Inc., Dallas Area Rapid Transit (DART), Dallas 2030 District, the Dallas Convention and Visitors Bureau, the Real Estate Council, and the Texas Research Alliance.

Today, the Dallas Innovation Alliance would like to recognize its key collaborators who have shown forward-thinking leadership and dedication to the mission of the DIA, and the Dallas community:

·       Foundational Partner: AT&T

·       Lead Partner: Cisco

·       Pivotal Partner: Current, powered by GE

·       Partner: AECOM

·       Community Impact Partner: IBM

The DIA has a mission to develop a scalable smart cities model for the City of Dallas that utilizes the region’s distinctive strengths and leaves a legacy of innovation, sustainability and collaboration for future generations. AT&T’s support of the DIA is part of their national effort in building a smart cities framework to help cities better serve their citizens.

“Dallas is a clear choice for our involvement,” said Mike Zeto, general manager, Smart Cities, AT&T. “The region shows promise across the board, with a heavy presence of cutting-edge technology companies, forward-thinking leadership at the city and county level, and a driven entrepreneurial community. The Dallas Innovation Alliance brings these key stakeholders together to achieve collective impact, and we are thrilled to strengthen and support the alliance in the city that we call home.”

“AT&T has shown remarkable leadership in its support of smart cities and the Dallas Innovation Alliance; it is only through the commitment of our community collaborators that true transformation can occur that helps to set the future course for our city,” commented Jennifer Sanders, who joined the Dallas Innovation Alliance as executive director last month. “The DIA is grateful to its collaborators for their support in Dallas and, more broadly, for their continued commitment to leaving a lasting impact on Dallas through innovative technology and civic engagement.”

In the coming months, the DIA will finalize its strategic priorities and begin implementation of initial projects in the West End Historic District in Dallas’ central business district, focused on smart infrastructure, smart mobility and connected living. In December, Dallas was selected as one of 10 cities in the inaugural Envision America program, which was announced at the White House in September 2015.

About the Dallas Innovation Alliance

The Dallas Innovation Alliance (DIA) is a public-private partnership dedicated to the design and execution of a smart cities plan for the City of Dallas, leveraging social and technological infrastructures to accelerate sustainable economic growth, resource efficiency, and importantly, improve the quality of life for its citizens. DIA’s overarching goal is to elevate Dallas as a city that is not only prepared for, but a driving force in shaping, the future of cities, and providing opportunities for prosperity for its citizens. Its mission is to develop a scalable smart cities model for the City of Dallas that leverages the region’s distinctive strengths and leaves a legacy of innovation, sustainability and collaboration for future generations. For more information, please visit www.DallasInnovationAlliance.com.  

Press Release: Dallas Innovation Alliance Announces Senior Hire

Dallas Innovation Alliance Announces Senior Hire

Organization Names Co-Founder Jennifer Sanders as Executive Director

DALLAS, TX – March 29, 2016 – Today, the Dallas Innovation Alliance (DIA), a 501c(3) public-private partnership dedicated to the design and execution of a smart cities strategy for Dallas, announced the hiring of its first Executive Director, co-founder Jennifer Sanders.

Jen brings over 12 years of expertise across a broad array of industries, including energy, technology, economic development, nonprofit and finance, serving in functions including communications, stakeholder and community relations, strategic counsel and operations. She joins the Dallas Innovation Alliance from Perry Street Communications, a financial and strategic communications firm.

“I am honored to serve the Dallas Innovation Alliance as Executive Director, and continue to drive the organization’s mission to create technology and social infrastructures that drive sustainable economic development and improve quality of life for the citizens of Dallas,” commented Ms. Sanders. “There is tremendous energy and momentum surrounding DIA’s work from our partners, community organizations and citizens. I look forward to harnessing this enthusiasm and working with our partners to build out our projects in the West End and across the city.”

Trey Bowles, cofounder and Chairman of the DIA stated “We are thrilled to bring on Jen Sanders as our Executive Director of the Dallas Innovation Alliance. Her passion for creating sustainable cities combined with her experience and knowledge on how this has worked in other cities across the world make her the best possible choice for this role. We are excited to see Dallas become a leader in implementing Smart Cities solutions and showcasing the innovative spirit of our region.”

Jennifer Sanders, Executive Director

Jen actively serves the community through roles including President of the Mayor’s Star Council, a group of culturally and professionally diverse young leaders who are empowered to impact the city through its mission to learn, serve and connect. She serves on the board of the Suicide & Crisis Center of North Texas as well as the advisory board for Dallas startup Need Edition. She serves as an Ambassador for the Dallas Entrepreneur Center, working to advocate for and mentor those in the startup community, and regularly volunteers with community organizations including Hunger Busters, who provides food-insecure DISD students with a crucial third meal of the day, Capes 4 Kids, which makes superhero capes for critically ill children, and Feed the City. Jen received a bachelor’s degree in psychology with a minor concentration in economics from the University of Virginia.

The Dallas Innovation Alliance (DIA) is a coalition of stakeholders from the City of Dallas, corporations, civic and NGO organizations, academia and private individuals who are invested in Dallas’ continued evolution as a forward-thinking city where social and technological infrastructures and solutions facilitate and accelerate sustainable economic growth, resource efficiency, and importantly, improves the quality of life in the city for its citizens. Operating from a foundational vision that smart cities are about people – and not just technology – DIA is focused on the end user, and building a critical mass of the most highly-engaged citizens in the country.

Led by the Dallas Entrepreneur Center (The DEC), founding members of the Dallas Innovation Alliance include: Mayor Mike Rawlings and the City of Dallas, AECOM, AT&T, Cisco, Dallas 2030 District, Dallas Area Rapid Transit (DART), Dallas Regional Chamber, Dallas Convention and Visitors Bureau, Deloitte, Downtown Dallas Inc., Ericsson, GE, IBM, Microsoft, Schneider Electric, Texas Research Alliance and The Real Estate Council (TREC).

For more information on the initiative and to get involved, please visit www.DallasInnovationAlliance.com.

About the Dallas Innovation Alliance

The Dallas Innovation Alliance (DIA) is a public-private partnership dedicated to the execution of a smart cities plan for the City of Dallas, defined as a city where social and technological infrastructures and solutions facilitate and accelerate sustainable economic growth, resource efficiency, and importantly, improves the quality of life in the city for its citizens. DIA’s overarching goal is to elevate Dallas as a city that is not only prepared for – but a driving force in shaping – the future of cities, and providing opportunities for prosperity for its citizens. Its mission is to develop a scalable smart cities model for the City of Dallas that leverages the region’s distinctive strengths and leaves a legacy of innovation, sustainability and collaboration for future generations. For more information please visit www.DallasInnovationAlliance.com.

O'Reilly Report: Are Your Networks Ready for the IoT?

The DIA was thrilled to be included in a recent O'Reilly report on IoT and Smart Cities, sneak peek below, check it out (and download full report for free) at http://oreil.ly/21l44Yu

The smart city movement has emerged as the unofficial test bed for IoT development on a grand scale. Since smart city projects are often combinations of new and old technologies, they offer unique opportunities for exploring the potential of IoT ecosystems. The Dallas Innovation Alliance is a public-private partnership driving smart city initiatives for the City of Dallas. Alliance cofounders Jennifer Sanders and Trey Bowles emphasized the foundational value of creating strong network infrastructures.

“Our vision is to execute a multi-phased strategy, with its pilot phase focused in a downtown district called the West End,” Bowles says. The West End is already equipped with optical fiber, making it an ideal area for beginning smart cities initiatives and “eliminating project delays based on the need for initial infrastructure develop‐ ment of the backbone of the network.” The city also plans to con‐ tinue improving networks across Dallas and will roll out best practices, developed in the West End, to other parts of the city, he says.

“Most cities are at varying points of ‘network readiness’ across a spectrum,” says Bowles. Handling the massive amounts of data pro‐ duced by citizens on a daily basis—independent of a robust smart cities initiative—requires solid partnerships with experienced ser‐ vice providers. Conducting a thorough audit of existing network capabilities and comparing them with projected needs are necessary steps in the evolution of smart cities.

“We believe most cities will need to take a close look at (their) existing network infrastructure and capacity,” says Bowles. “We have learned from the experts that without a smart infrastructure as a foundation, a smart city initiative will not be successful. It is enormously important to learn from those who have walked this path before ... there are clear best practices and lessons learned to be utilized as a foundation for new efforts.”

DIA in Inc. Magazine: What Corporate America Doesn't Understand About Big Data

Big Data is changing fast, and what companies don't know could hurt them - and the data they're collecting.

BY LISA ABEYTA Founder and CEO, APPCityLife

I recently had the privilege of moderating the Smart Cities panel during the Big Data, Open Data: Inspiring Corporate & Civic Innovation Conference hosted by the University of Phoenix. The idea for the conference came up in a conversation I had almost a year ago with Dennis Bonilla, the Executive Dean - College of Information Systems and Technology at University of Phoenix - Apollo Education Group, who has spent the majority of his career driving technology innovation and strategies for corporations like Microsoft and previously serving as Vice President of Oracle.

I first met Dennis when I responded to his post on Twitter sharing a column I had written about some of the reasons girls didn't like to code. The ensuing exchange led to a series of emails and phone calls, and within a few weeks, he invited me and our COO to join him at the university's headquarters in Arizona where he had also assembled some of his team from across the country to begin a dialogue about the university's role in training a workforce for the new digital age.

For Dennis, the conference in Dallas was really a continuation of that same conversation, but this time with some of the movers and shakers within the corporate world. "I wanted to bring industry leaders together to explore the challenges for preparing tomorrow's workforce as well as the opportunities surrounding data for both business growth and solving problems in our cities."

From the opening keynote delivered by Dr. Erica Groshen, Commissioner of the Bureau of Labor Statistics, to the final presentation by Joe Hill, Hewlett Packard Enterprise Fellow and Chief Technologist for Analytics, who took us on a deep dive into best practices for managing data, it was enlightening to hear the perspectives on the future of data from leaders within major corporations like IBM, KPMG, Walmart, At&T, Verizon, Cognizant and Sabre as well as government.

A few of the more interesting nuggets of insight I took away

Privacy Paramount for Volunteer Participation in Data Gathering

Despite the Bureau of Labor Statistics falling within the Department of Labor, one thing that Dr. Erica Groshen wants to make abundantly clear is that the data submitted to their department is not shared with other agencies for enforcement purposes. 

"The American people entrust us with sensitive data because they know that confidentiality is of the utmost importance to BLS. They understand that we use these data only to produce key economic statistics that help companies, policymakers and family members make smart decisions," she says. "The information respondents give to us is protected by law and is not shared with anyone, including other government agencies."

Big Data is Changing More Than Just the Bottom Line for Corporations

IBM's Emerging Roles and Markets Leader, Cortnie Abercrombie, says big data is about so much more that just financial gains,"... changing every aspect of life, not just corporate bottom lines. I'm watching data and analytics being used to solve for everything from cancer to adaptive learning to farming."

She adds that for some, data and analytics bring fear of being disrupted and the need to catch up quickly while others see it as a huge opportunity to do new innovative initiatives that can change the future. "No matter the side, data and analytics are bringing with it a whole new inquisitive fail-fast culture (vs. 100 percent risk averse), new tools and techniques, and the need for a whole new set of skills and multi-faceted talent."

For some corporations, big data isn't a side-effect of doing business but the main product.

"We've evolved from the 'Big' in 'Big Data' and now we just call it 'data' at Progressive... it's kind of understood," says Progressive's Data & Analytics Business Leader Pawan Divakarla. "We don't sell something tangible, so data is really our product when you think about it. The challenge for companies is no longer 'how do we secure data about our customers?' which is a given, but rather 'how do we utilize it to give them a unique experience that builds trust and loyalty?' Our Snapshot program is one example of how we answered that question."

Zulfikar Sidi, Vice President, Enterprise Data and Analytics at Sabre Corporation, had some great advice for companies wanting to leverage data:

"To be successful, you have to make it easy for people to access data without cumbersome processes," he said, adding that the most successful are "those who know how to use the data to tell stories."

We're Creating a Boatload of Data ... And It's Hard to Protect

Well, to be accurate, it's a lot more than a boatload - we're talking data lakes.

While the spirited discussion among panelists covered everything from the legal side of security - such as the need for agreements that clearly define who owns the data - and best practices for using, developing and storing data,  one of the more interesting nuggets to emerge from the session was that the amount of data being captured by the tools we use to protect our data are creating additional challenges. 

"The growing sophistication of hackers is making it more difficult to identify attacks with point solution security tools that utilize filters, policies, or signature-based detection methods," says Jim Covington, Chief Technologist at Booz Allen Hamilton. "Aggravating the issue is the overwhelming amount of data captured by these tools and the inability of security teams to synthesize the data into meaningful and actionable information." 

But there was good news. Covington says that the current challenges are "leading to the increased use of Data Lakes where data scientists can apply predictive analytics to identify attack patterns that may have otherwise gone undetected."

Big Data Can Open the Door to New Opportunities

With the explosion of corporations, organizations and government agencies focusing not only on the internal value of big data but the bigger value to society, the opportunities to make significant impact has also increased. Finding ways to identify, track and harness all of this activity is no easy task. 

One newly-formed agency hoping to make leverage big data from both the public and private sectors is DIA - Dallas Innovation Alliance. Jennifer Sanders, Executive Director, says that big data presents in implementing smart city initiatives are immense. 

"Data provides visibility, connection points and analytics that drive results," she says. "We are focused on the integration of public and private data formats and creation of an open platform that allows DIA to maximize insights while allowing citizens and startups to build off of that data and provide transparency. Dallas has made great initial strides through it's open data platform, and we want to leverage and build on that progress."