Smart City Challenge 2021
Finale & Winners

We will improve public safety response times, reduce use of force, and reduce officer and suspect casualties by providing earlier, advanced incident intelligence to responding public safety officers using drones, automation, and autonomy.

Minutes can be the difference between life and death. Our solution buys time for responding officers by getting “eyes on site” in advance of the arrival of the responding unit, feeding intelligence to the unit en route so that officers can plan en route, change approach, ask for additional resources, and change methods as needed. Capt Worcester, Stafford Sheriff’s Department, stated:

• The rapid response is a benefit because suspects are already fleeing or taking action as soon as the 911 call happens – “time is of the essence and seconds matter”

• This allows for better, faster intelligence which means public safety can respond more creatively and effectively – this will save lives of both officers and suspects

Using the geolocation functions of the municipal 911 system, we will push information through the Virginia Flight Information Exchange to an ATA system that automatically generates a Risk Based Trajectory for the Airgility autonomous drone. The Airgility drone deploys autonomously to the site and feeds intelligence to responding units within minutes.

Gun violence is a leading cause of death in the US and is an ever-growing concern for cities. The latest Shotpoint acoustic gunfire localization system built by Databuoy Corporation can help to mitigate this problem. Shotpoint works indoors and outdoors with sensors mounted to walls or utility poles that may also be integrated into smart lighting. Shotpoint is extremely accurate, reliable and has been deployed in a number of US cities. It is fully automated and integrates with 3rd party systems including a range of video surveillance systems providing instant shot reporting to responders with attached imagery from the exact moments of the shot, so the shooter identity and surrounding circumstances can be confirmed.

Databuoy’s Smart City Challenge proposal is to connect Shotpoint shooter localization with drones. A drone can travel quickly using a direct path to the location, so the time to be on scene can be much quicker. Once a drone arrives, “eyes on the suspect” is maintained so law enforcement can monitor the suspect before they arrive on scene. Combining Shotpoint with autonomous systems has the potential for decreasing response time and mitigating more gunfire incidents, resulting in safer environments.

TRAXyL is redefining the way communication networks are designed and will significantly help close the digital divide. The ability to connect to high-speed broadband provides people with equal access to information – offering more choices, improved lifestyles, and fair opportunity. This is why TRAXyL developed FiberTRAX, a new and simple way to install high-speed data links in hard-to-reach areas, by essentially “painting” optical fiber onto hard surfaces. FiberTRAX utilizes existing pavement like roads, paths, and sidewalks to efficiently extend high-speed broadband into all communities, without the need to trench cables underground or string along utility poles. FiberTRAX seamlessly integrates with conventional methods and can be installed at rates up to 1,000 feet per hour. TRAXyL provides the equipment, training, and materials to contractors, so they can install for the end-user. FiberTRAX is the only on-demand solution for fiberoptic cable installation and provides installers a new technique to help make access to information simple and efficient for everyone.

We are Haven, a data analytics consultancy on a mission to solve health challenges and ensure equity in health outcomes. We are developing an innovative methodology that combines geospatial analysis and wastewater-based epidemiology to improve nutrition and alleviate food insecurity in urban environments.

11% of D.C. households are in food deserts where people struggle to find healthy foods, and the city anticipates spending $3.8B each year on medical costs associated with preventable, nutrition related chronic diseases. Using our data insights, we will develop an optimization strategy to improve the programs that DC is currently using to combat food insecurity.

Key policymakers at the Office of Urban Agriculture and the DC Food Policy Council have already indicated interest in or system and support for a workable solution. We will work closely with these two groups to accomplish the goals outlined in “Sustainable DC 2.0” by increasing the impact of existing urban agriculture programs and by optimizing the siting of new farms.

We will seek sustainable funding streams through long-term corporate relationships and national or local government contracts for outsourced community health analysis. To develop and implement our wastewater analysis system, we will partner with universities and Water-and-Sewage Authorities like DC Water.

In the United States, approximately two million people suffer from low vision. When taking into account the global population, that number jumps to approximately 285 million people who suffer from vision impairment. And the numbers keep rising due to an aging population.

The simple act of crossing the street, which most of us take for granted, can be difficult at best for people with low vision. The world around them is designed for the sighted, with visual references the standard. This creates an invisible barrier. Via is designed for people who are diagnosed with vision loss. While there will be value for people who are fully blind, users who have not completely lost their vision will benefit the most. This product will benefit people who have been born with low-vision ailments or who become low-vision later in life. Via is helpful regardless if a person’s condition is temporary or permanent.

Our Virtual Intelligent Assistant (VIA) is an AI-enabled assistant designed for users who are diagnosed with low-vision. The assistant consists of an augmented reality headset, smartphone application, beacon device, and supported by the cloud to allow users to navigate cities independently.With VIA, we aim to make the invisible, visible.

Engage ARt is an Augmented Reality (AR) technology unlocking the past, present and future of cities. Smartphones become portals to a new digital world, filled with interactive storytelling and adventure that connects people with the local community. Stories of heritage, arts, culture, and history come to life in 3D – and spatial audio guides you through large interactive scenes with lots to explore. Tying in local attractions like restaurants and shopping, a digital art walk becomes a curated multisensory experience. Watch as luminescence blooms around you in response to your engagement, using IoT technology to mix the digital and physical worlds for maximum immersion.

Engage is a smart tourism technology for accelerating local attractions and business. Our partner BIDs, destination marketing organizations, and municipalities gain access to an advanced analytics dashboard – an interactive map showcasing how tourists and citizens move around a city, interact with attractions, and shop local. Data is anonymized, protecting the user’s privacy, while offering real-time information. Engage is a hub where data becomes meaning through visualization. Climate action, mental health, and equity, diversity, and inclusion are all being advanced through the digital world Engage can bring – so we can together envision a brighter future in our cities.

As the age pyramid trends towards a greater elderly population, communities must adapt to reflect the needs of seniors. A worsening problem is the isolation and inactivity experienced by seniors, associated with depression and other long-term health problems. This is even more clear in cases of preexisting disability. Governments feel the effects of these health crises caused by a lack of emphasis on providing seniors with preventative resources. WISE cities will address a dual set of problems: those felt by individuals and their families, and those experienced by the government as a result of tremendous healthcare costs. Smart cities should not only incorporate smart technologies, but also make it a priority to apply them to wise solutions that can make a difference for their most vulnerable residents. Our WISE app and physical interactive city space will be targeted to the elderly. The app will include several realms including exercise, social interaction, and health. It will feature an intuitive user interface, and be available in various languages so non-English speaking seniors can meet others locally. We propose designing interactive city spaces similar to “senior playgrounds”, integrating the digital space and the physical world.

In the United States, approximately two million people suffer from low vision. When taking into account the global population, that number jumps to approximately 285 million people who suffer from vision impairment. And the numbers keep rising due to an aging population. The simple act of crossing the street, which most of us take for granted, can be difficult at best for people with low vision. The world around them is designed for the sighted, with visual references the standard. This creates an invisible barrier. Via is designed for people who are diagnosed with vision loss. While there will be value for people who are fully blind, users who have not completely lost their vision will benefit the most. This product will benefit people who have been born with low-vision ailments or who become low-vision later in life. Via is helpful regardless if a person’s condition is temporary or permanent.

Our Virtual Intelligent Assistant (VIA) is an AI-enabled assistant designed for users who are diagnosed with low-vision. The assistant consists of an augmented reality headset, smartphone application, beacon device, and supported by the cloud to allow users to navigate cities independently.With VIA, we aim to make the invisible, visible.

We are Haven, a data analytics consultancy on a mission to solve health challenges and ensure equity in health outcomes. We are developing an innovative methodology that combines geospatial analysis and wastewater-based epidemiology to improve nutrition and alleviate food insecurity in urban environments.

11% of D.C. households are in food deserts where people struggle to find healthy foods, and the city anticipates spending $3.8B each year on medical costs associated with preventable, nutrition related chronic diseases. Using our data insights, we will develop an optimization strategy to improve the programs that DC is currently using to combat food insecurity.

Key policymakers at the Office of Urban Agriculture and the DC Food Policy Council have already indicated interest in or system and support for a workable solution. We will work closely with these two groups to accomplish the goals outlined in “Sustainable DC 2.0” by increasing the impact of existing urban agriculture programs and by optimizing the siting of new farms.

We will seek sustainable funding streams through long-term corporate relationships and national or local government contracts for outsourced community health analysis. To develop and implement our wastewater analysis system, we will partner with universities and Water-and-Sewage Authorities like DC Water.