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Metro21: Smart Cities Institute
Metro21: Smart Cities Institute
› news › news-articles › Metro21 News 2020
The Future of Transportation
Metro21 Executive Director sat down with Bill Flanagan and Congressman Mike Doyle to discuss the future of transportation in the region on Our Region's Business.
World Economic Forum Global Showcase
The World Economic Forum held their Future of the Connected World: Global Showcase Event on Thursday, December 10, 2020. Metro21 Executive Director Karen Lightman participated as part of the Trustworthy IoT Coalition.
Connecting Public Servants Around the World - A Virtual Workshop
You’re invited to attend “Connecting Public Servants around the World,” a virtual workshop with Apolitical, on January 12, 2021, at 12 p.m. EST. The event will feature Lisa Witter, the co-founder and executive chairperson and Nitika Agarwal, chief operating officer of Apolitical—both former public servants.
National Science Foundation Smart & Connected Communities
The National Science Foundation (NSF) Smart and Connected Communities (S&CC) program solicitation has been issued for the FY 2021 competition. Full proposal deadline is February 24, 2021 at 5pm.
TRB Magazine Features Chris Hendrickson
Chris Hendrickson, Director of Traffic21 (a Metro21 partner), has had his article titled "Technology Revolutions: Bringing Tomorrow Here Today" featured in TRB Magazine.
Matching Students to Careers in Public Health and Social Services
Metro21 and the Volcker Alliance hosted the second webinar on Thursday, December 3, 2020 for G2U PGH , "Matching Students to Careers in Public Health and Social Services."
Metro21 Discusses IoT with Evolving Technologies
Metro21 Discusses IoT with Evolving Technologies
Metro21 has been featured by Engineering & Technology to discuss the relationship between IoT and evolving technologies and how they have been able to make things happen to advance the development of smart projects.
Are You Smart Than a City? Integrating the IoT to Build Smart Cities
Are You Smart Than a City? Integrating the IoT to Build Smart Cities
On October 27, 2020, Executive Director Karen Lightman presented at the ACT-IAC ReImagine Nation ELC 2020 alongside Ken Leonard, Director of the U.S. Department of Transportation, Sokwoo Rhee, Associate Director of the National Institute of Standards and Technology, and Samara Schulman, Director of Business Operations at OnPoint Consulting.
Rising to the Challenge: Connected Communities
Rising to the Challenge: Connected Communities
Join Qualcomm's Smart Cities Accelerate event on Wednesday, December 9, 2020 to hear Metro21 Executive Director speak on the "Rising to the Challenge: Connected Cities" panel.
Metro21 Featured as Top Story in CMU News Headline
Metro21 Featured as Top Story in CMU News Headline
Carnegie Mellon’s Metro21: Smart City Institute leads the project with Allies for Children, United Way of Southwestern Pennsylvania and the Greater Pittsburgh Community Food Bank, seeded with funding from Mobility21, CMU’s University Transportation Center.
Local Government Academy Names Karen Lightman to Board
Local Government Academy Names Karen Lightman to Board
Local Government Academy, an independent, non-profit, non-partisan organization, promoting excellence in local government, has elected Metro21 Executive Director Karen Lightman to serve on their Board of Directors.
Feeding Families in Need Featured by Mobility21
Feeding Families in Need Featured by Mobility21
Mobility21 UTC released its latest “Research Recap” for the project “Utilizing School Bus Meals to Deliver Meals to Families in Need.” The recaps are one-page overviews of the UTC funded research that describe the research project’s purpose, approach, key findings, conclusions, contact information for the research team and a link to the final research report.
Lunch and Learn with Haiyi Zhu
Lunch and Learn with Haiyi Zhu
On Wednesday, November 11, 2020, Metro21 hosted Dr. Haiyi Zhu for a Lunch and Learn on her project, "From Discovery to Design: Creating AI Technologies to Support Massive-Scale Online Collaboration."
G2U Network Conversation
G2U Network Conversation
We invite you to join us for a G2U Network Conversation on Thursday, October 29, 2020 at 12:00 p.m. EDT: Opening the Doors to Technology Careers. G2U Network Conversations provide initiative partners an opportunity to connect with innovative national leaders and one another on topics relevant to the network.
October 27th Newsletter Release
October 27th Newsletter Release
This week's newsletter features award-winning news, project expansion and more.
December 22nd Newsletter Release
December 22nd Newsletter Release
This week's newsletter features the future of the connected world, transportation and more...
December 8th Newsletter Release
December 8th Newsletter Release
This week's newsletter features public health in the age of COVID, GIG Economy, Female Industry Leaders and more.
Karen Lightman Provides Her Insights to Smart Cities Dive
Karen Lightman Provides Her Insights to Smart Cities Dive
Metro21 Executive Director recently discussed Toyota's Woven City plan with Smart Cities Dive to provide her thoughts on autonomous vehicles being connected to everything.
Feeding Families in Need Expands to McKeesport
Feeding Families in Need Expands to McKeesport
Metro21's collaborative project, "Delivering Meals to Families in Need", will begin delivering meals to the McKeesport School District, which includes McKeesport, White Oak, and Dravosburg.
Executive Director Karen Lightman Inducted into SEMI MSIG Hall of Fame
Executive Director Karen Lightman Inducted into SEMI MSIG Hall of Fame
Karen Lightman, Executive Director of Metro21, has been inducted into the MEMS & Sensors Industry Group Hall of Fame for her outstanding contributions to SEMI-MSIG.
CMU Spinout Roadbotics Nominated for Two Awards
CMU Spinout Roadbotics Nominated for Two Awards
Roadbotics, a CMU spin-out company co-founded by Metro21 faculty member Christoph Mertz has been nominated for two awards.
How Remote Work is Changing the Dynamic of Central Business Districts
How Remote Work is Changing the Dynamic of Central Business Districts
Metro21's Karen Lightman recently discussed the impacts of remote work on central business districts.
Algorithms, Smart Cities, and How to Make Them Better for Everyone
Algorithms, Smart Cities, and How to Make Them Better for Everyone
Carnegie Mellon Professor Alexandra Chouldechova virtually sits down with Karen Lightman on the Metro21 podcast to discuss her work on algorithmic risk assessment tools and how to make them better for everyone.
G2U Network Conversation
G2U Network Conversation
We invite you to join us for a G2U Network Conversation on Tuesday, October 6, 2020 at 12:00 p.m. EDT: NC COVID-19 Student Response Corps: Government-University Collaboration in Action. G2U Network Conversations provide initiative partners an opportunity to connect with innovative national leaders and one another on topics relevant to the network.
CMU and Pgh Water & Sewer Authority Sign MOU
CMU and Pgh Water & Sewer Authority Sign MOU
Pittsburgh Water & Sewer Authority and Carnegie Mellon University are pursuing their mutual interest to expand current research and educational collaboration by providing opportunities to explore solutions to the problems facing municipal water utilities.
CMU Completes Voluntary Review of Sustainable Development Goals
CMU Completes Voluntary Review of Sustainable Development Goals
Carnegie Mellon completes the first-of-its-kind voluntary review of Sustainable Development Goals, highlighting Metro21's commitment to sustainable cities and communities.
Government-to-University Inaugural Webinar
Government-to-University Inaugural Webinar
Metro21 and the Volcker Alliance hosted the G2U Inaugural Webinar, "Matching High-Need Government Jobs with Highly Skilled Students" on October 1, 2020.
August 25th Newsletter Release
August 25th Newsletter Release
This week's newsletter features the World Economic Forum, Machine Learning and more.
October 13th Newsletter Release
October 13th Newsletter Release
This week's newsletter features an all-new episode of the Metro21 podcast, a new webinar, and more.
September 15th Newsletter Release
September 15th Newsletter Release
This week's newsletter features a Metro21's latest Lunch and Learn, more about the Innovation of the Month award, a guest lecture on connected communities and more.
Connected Communities Guest Lecturer Karen Lightman
Connected Communities Guest Lecturer Karen Lightman
Metro21 Executive Director Karen Lightman was invited as a guest lecturer by Prof. Daragh Byrne of the CMU School of Architecture to discuss connected communities. This graduate seminar examines the space between the smart city and smart home. It asks what are the ways in which hyperlocal systems and information can reveal and engage communities?
G2U Network Conversations
G2U Network Conversations
We invite you to join us for our next G2U Network Conversation on Wednesday, September 9, 2020 at 12:00 p.m. EDT: Strengthening the Talent Pipeline into State Government: A Conversation with Govern for America. G2U Network Conversations provide initiative partners an opportunity to connect with innovative national leaders and one another on topics relevant to the network.
World Economic Forum Global IoT Action Plan Workshop
World Economic Forum Global IoT Action Plan Workshop
Metro21’s Karen Lightman represented Carnegie Mellon University as the co-leader of the World Economic Forum’s Global IoT Action Plan Workshop on Awareness and Understanding on Tuesday, August 18.
Smart Mobility Connection
Smart Mobility Connection
Mobility21 continues the Smart Mobility Connection series with Carnegie Mellon University professor Jon Peha on Friday, October 9 at 12:00pm.
MetroLab to Host First Ever Student Cup
MetroLab to Host First Ever Student Cup
MetroLab, an international collaborative of cities and universities, is hosting its first ever MetroLab Student Cup. Students at MetroLab’s member universities will submit completed civic research projects for the chance to win one of five $1,000 prizes and to be featured as the MetroLab Innovation of the Month.
August 11th Newsletter Release
August 11th Newsletter Release
This week's newsletter features Karen Lightman's talk at Oak Ridge National Laboratory, and a new Lunch and Learn.
July 28th Newsletter Release
July 28th Newsletter Release
Learn more about our new Lunch and Learn, food delivery, and outdoor seating for social distancing.
Leading the Way: A National Task Force on Connected Vehicles
Leading the Way: A National Task Force on Connected Vehicles
Metro21 partner Professor Jon Peha was recently invited to be part of the Day One Project and provide his expertise in determining policies to move connected vehicles forward.
Metro21 Lunch and Learn - Machine Learning to Help Families in Need
Metro21 Lunch and Learn - Machine Learning to Help Families in Need
Watch the full video from the Metro21 Lunch and Learn: Machine Learning to Help Families in Need from September 2 with panelists Dr. David Brock, Julie DeSeyn, Patrick Dowd, Nancy Hines and Stephen Smith.
Impact, Resiliency, Energy, and Sustainability for Connected Communities
Impact, Resiliency, Energy, and Sustainability for Connected Communities
Executive Director Karen Lightman joins Oak Ridge National Laboratory to discuss connected communities and what Metro21's role is to make an impact.
Destenie Nock Discusses Power System Planning in Disparate Systems: Modeling Sustainability and Electricity Access
Destenie Nock Discusses Power System Planning in Disparate Systems: Modeling Sustainability and Electricity Access
Metro21 had the pleasure of hosting Dr. Destenie Nock, Adjunct Professor in Civil & Environmental Engineering (CEE), and a Presidential Post-Doctoral Fellow in the Department of Engineering and Public Policy (EPP). During this lunch and learn, Destenie discussed her project, "Power System Planning in Disparate Systems: Modeling Sustainability and Electricity Access".
Traffic21 Director Featured in ASCE SmartBrief
Traffic21 Director Featured in ASCE SmartBrief
Chris Hendrickson, director of Traffic21, wrote a featured editorial for ASCE SmartBrief which discussed COVID-19 and the ways that transportation engineering can mitigate the effects of the pandemic, in addition to what we can learn from the current disruption.
Waynesburg University Center for Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) Expands Relationship with CMU
Waynesburg University Center for Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) Expands Relationship with CMU
In a time of uncertainty, Carnegie Mellon University is expanding their relationship with Waynesburg University to continue to work within local communities to make impactful change. The Center for Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR Center) at Waynesburg University will work with CMU Robotics to work on critical social issues including poverty, food insecurity, and economic development.
New Road Salt Method Saves City of Pittsburgh $1 Million
New Road Salt Method Saves City of Pittsburgh $1 Million
The city of Pittsburgh has announced that they have saved $1 million with new methods of salting roads last year. With the use of technology developed in collaboration with researchers at Carnegie Mellon University, as well as a new salt mixture, the Department of Public Works has been able to expand city services, improve transparency, and save the city money.
Metro21 Awarded a National Science Foundation Grant for COVID-19 Relief
Metro21 Awarded a National Science Foundation Grant for COVID-19 Relief
Metro21 was awarded a $100,000 grant to help fund and continue research on our current meal delivery project that was developed to ensure children receive the food they need despite the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.
Lunch and Learn: Power System Planning in Disparate Systems: Modeling Sustainability and Electricity Access with Destenie Nock
Lunch and Learn: Power System Planning in Disparate Systems: Modeling Sustainability and Electricity Access with Destenie Nock
Join us Wednesday, July 15, 2020 to hear from Destenie Nock, CMU Assistant Professor in Engineering and Public Policy, as well as Civil and Environmental Engineering.
Developing a Meal Delivery System for Children: A Chat with Patrick Dowd of Allies for Children
Developing a Meal Delivery System for Children: A Chat with Patrick Dowd of Allies for Children
This episode of Metro21's podcast features the inaugural Executive Director of Allies for Children, Patrick Dowd. Host Karen Lightman and Dowd sit down to talk about child equity, COVID-19, and the current civil unrest flooding the nation.
The Challenge of Turning Down the Lights to Turn Up the Stars
The Challenge of Turning Down the Lights to Turn Up the Stars
Researchers at Carnegie Mellon have teamed up with the City of Pittsburgh to install special types of LED streetlights to mitigate light pollution while maintaining the night sky.
Smoky Mountains Mobility Conference Rescheduled for 2021
Smoky Mountains Mobility Conference Rescheduled for 2021
Due to COVID-19 travel restrictions and concerns, ORNL’s Smoky Mountains Mobility Conference 2020 scheduled for August 31-September 3 in Chattanooga has been postponed until 2021.
Carnegie Mellon Aids in the Equitable Development of Smart Cities
Carnegie Mellon Aids in the Equitable Development of Smart Cities
Developing technologies that increase the efficiency of cities can be challenging but developing them to be equitable is even harder ever harder. Carnegie Mellon has teamed up with the City of Pittsburgh to tackle these problems and effect meaningful change.
Our June Newsletter is Here
Our June Newsletter is Here
During the COVID-19 pandemic, Metro21: Smart Cities Institute is working with our partners to deploy smart solutions within our community to address their real-world problems. Here's what we have been doing to help.
Research Article: A Path Forward for Smart Cities and IoT Devices
Research Article: A Path Forward for Smart Cities and IoT Devices
With many of the world's cities moving towards the ideals of a "smart city," it is crucial for city stakeholders to consider all facets of developing policy regulations. Mario Berges and Constantine Samaras' research paper explores current IoT policy and regulatory efforts.
Pittsburgh Task Force Assesses the City's Street Climate during COVID-19
Pittsburgh Task Force Assesses the City's Street Climate during COVID-19
Metro21 joined the PGH Streets and Mobility Task Force to explore ways in which we can redesign our city streets and reconceive transportation.
CMU Hosts Inaugural Flagship Sustainability Talks
CMU Hosts Inaugural Flagship Sustainability Talks
Metro21 Executive Director, Karen Lightman, will share her expertise on Sustainable Cities and Communities at CMU’s flagship 17 Rooms event – a series of deep dive discussions based off of the U.N. General Assembly’s 17 Global Goals adapted to the university context.
Metro21 Featured in AI Magazine
Metro21 Featured in AI Magazine
The latest issue of AI Magazine includes a cover story on Surtrac smart traffic technology and features Metro21 Executive Director, Karen Lightman’s lecture from the 2018 Association for the Advancement of Artificial Intelligence Conference.
Using Technology to Help People Facing Food Insecurity
Using Technology to Help People Facing Food Insecurity
Pittsburgh start-up, Food Rescue Hero, was selected as a winner of Fast Company’s 2020 World Changing Ideas Awards! The article highlights Metro21's role in helping the organization optimize the app to make sure every food-insecure community is being served at an equal rate.
Metro21 Contributes to Code4America’s Digital Library
Metro21 Contributes to Code4America’s Digital Library
With shelter-in-place orders in effect, Metro21 Executive Director, Karen Lightman submits a digital version of her presentation on Smart Traffic Lights in Pittsburgh to the Code for America Summit Library.
Metro21 Faculty Member Honored as One of Carlow University’s Six Women of Spirit
Metro21 Faculty Member Honored as One of Carlow University’s Six Women of Spirit
Kristen Kurland was chosen by Carlow University as one of their Six Women of Spirit® for 2020. This award is based on professional and personal leadership and service to others.
COVID-19 is Creating the Largest Telecommunity – but not for Everyone
COVID-19 is Creating the Largest Telecommunity – but not for Everyone
Due to the COVID-19 global pandemic, we are experiencing the largest telecommunity of all time.
Our Spring Newsletter is Here
Our Spring Newsletter is Here
From hosting a World Economic Forum workshop to presenting at the Consumer Electronics Show, Metro21 is recognized world-wide as a key influencer in smart cities. Here's a highlight of what we've been up to lately...
Moving the Pittsburgh Region Forward
Moving the Pittsburgh Region Forward
As the Allegheny Conference begins the new decade with the ambitious Next Is Now 10-year plan, tune in for the first Regional Investors Council meeting of 2020 where panelists will delve into the strategies and plans to move the Pittsburgh region forward.
Putting AI to Use Predicting Urban Landslides
Putting AI to Use Predicting Urban Landslides
Soon we could have an indicator that will throw up a red flag for municipal partners to know that if a cracks develops further, then action must be taken.
Catalyzing Bottom-Up Transformation by Commoning the City
Catalyzing Bottom-Up Transformation by Commoning the City
The creative insights emerging from these practices of commoning offer an entry point for refuting the neoliberal mantra “there is no alternative,” and spurring the imagination of other possible worlds.
Can a win-win partnership exist?
Can a win-win partnership exist?
Yes! Carnegie Mellon University’s research partnership with the Allegheny County Airport Authority began six years ago where most trips start: in the parking lot. Now Pittsburgh is set to be the world's smartest airport.
Metro21 2019-2020 Academic Year Impact
Metro21 2019-2020 Academic Year Impact
In the past academic year, Metro21 strengthened its role as a trusted partner and collaborator, through the research, development and deployment of 21st century solutions to address our region's real-world problems. See the scope of our impact this past year.
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