Building US Smart Cities with Sand Technologies and National Smart Coalitions Partnership
As cities worldwide grapple with rapid urbanisation, environmental challenges, and growing infrastructure demands, smart-city initiatives are reshaping how they manage resources and serve citizens. In the United States, the National Smart Coalitions Partnership (NSCP) is at the forefront of this transformation.
Today, the NSCP welcomes Sand Technologies—a leader in enterprise artificial intelligence (AI) solutions—as a founding industry member. This partnership aims to deploy scalable, AI-driven applications that empower cities to build more resilient, efficient, and connected communities.
Pioneering Solutions for Smarter, Sustainable Cities
Sand Technologies’ expertise spans over a decade in delivering data-driven AI solutions tailored to the unique needs of government bodies and enterprises across telecom, utilities, healthcare, and insurance sectors. Now, in collaboration with NSCP, Sand Technologies seeks to apply its cutting-edge technology to public sector challenges.
From urban planning improvements to enhancing quality of life for underserved communities, Sand Technologies’ solutions hold vast potential. “Municipalities are in constant pursuit of systems and solutions that tangibly improve their citizens’ quality of life,” notes Fred Swaniker, CEO of Sand Technologies. “We’re honoured to partner with NSCP and its 100+ government members to explore how AI and data science can accelerate their progress and deliver real impact across the United States.”
As a new industry partner, Sand Technologies will work closely with NSCP’s expansive network, comprising local governments, universities, and companies, to prioritise innovation around:
- Sustainable Infrastructure: Leveraging AI to make cities more eco-conscious, addressing goals for energy efficiency and reduced emissions.
- Resource Efficiency: Improving how cities allocate and manage resources, optimising services such as public transport, water, and energy distribution.
- Community Inclusion: Developing equitable solutions for underserved communities to ensure technology benefits everyone.
Bridging Regional Gaps with Statewide Collaborations
A unique aspect of the NSCP’s approach is its commitment to breaking down silos that traditionally separate municipal and regional efforts. Rather than isolated innovation, the NSCP drives multi-state collaboration, creating a powerful model where multiple regions can pool resources, share best practices, and scale up impactful solutions.
The partnership spans five regional organisations across six states, including:
- Colorado Smart Cities Alliance
- The Connective (Arizona)
- Illinois Smart City & Region Association
- KC Digital Drive (Missouri and Kansas)
- North Texas Innovation Alliance (NTXIA)
This structure allows Sand Technologies to engage deeply with regional leaders, assess diverse urban challenges, and fine-tune AI solutions adaptable to varied city infrastructures. Tyler Svitak, Executive Director of the Colorado Smart Cities Alliance and Chairman of the NSCP Board, explains the importance of Sand Technologies’ involvement: “Collaboration is critical to really understanding and leveraging emerging technology like AI. We’re pleased to have Sand Technologies join NSCP as a founding industry member to help educate regional leaders on the art of the possible, learn from the civic challenges facing our regions, and help all of us achieve smarter, more sustainable communities.”
Bringing AI to the Heart of Municipal Innovation
As a cornerstone of smart-city evolution, AI has the potential to transform municipal operations from reactive to proactive. Through data analysis and predictive capabilities, Sand Technologies aims to address critical areas, including:
- Predictive Maintenance: Using AI to anticipate infrastructure issues before they occur, reducing costs and preventing service disruptions.
- Traffic Optimisation: Analysing data from roadways to alleviate congestion, improve road safety, and reduce emissions.
- Emergency Response: Enhancing public safety through AI-driven emergency response systems that provide real-time data and predictive insights.
Jennifer Sanders, Founder and Executive Director of NTXIA, speaks to the added value of Sand Technologies’ insights, sayin: “AI and data-based solutions are becoming more common across a variety of industries, with smart cities included. Sand Technologies brings key knowledge to NSCP that will help us disseminate this needed information to our organisations across the country. We are excited to have Sand Technologies as our first private sector member.”
A Strong Foundation for Smart City Growth
The NSCP’s role extends beyond just technological solutions—it is a platform for sharing knowledge, best practices, and building resilient partnerships. This holistic approach is what makes the NSCP stand out among smart city initiatives. By collaborating with industry leaders like Sand Technologies, the NSCP is poised to lower the barriers to adopting, scaling, and replicating smart solutions across states and regions, which creates a ripple effect of positive change.
The partnership offers a model for other smart-city initiatives, emphasising the importance of cross-industry collaboration in tackling urban challenges. Rather than piecemeal solutions, the NSCP fosters a systematic approach to smart technology, ensuring that the benefits of AI are realised on a broader scale.
Resilient Cities, Empowered Communities
The Sand Technologies-NSCP partnership marks a significant step towards creating cities that are not only smarter but also more inclusive and equitable. As AI continues to evolve, this collaboration could serve as a blueprint for public-private partnerships globally. By focusing on sustainable development, community inclusion, and the deployment of scalable AI solutions, NSCP and Sand Technologies are paving the way for cities that are truly equipped to face tomorrow’s challenges.
In bridging the divide between AI technology and municipal needs, this partnership brings AI’s transformative power directly to local governments, accelerating the journey toward smarter, safer, and more connected communities.
