Next week, the City of Richmond and Kwantlen Polytechnic University will co-host an “ideas fair” to showcase collaboration between businesses, governments and academia on connected technology.
This connected technology is at the heart of Richmond’s Smart Cities vision, where the city is vying for one of two $10 million prizes in a national competition to use data and technology to improve residents’ lives. Richmond is one of 10 finalists in its category.
“Around the world there’s literally billions of different devices that are connected to the internet and are producing different types of data. All that data potentially is valuable information, particularly to a local government in terms of how we manage the city,” Ted Townsend, city spokesperson and a co-lead of the City’s Smart Cities Project Team, told the Richmond News last month.
“The challenge is, many of those devices don’t speak to each other. They’re not interconnected.”
On Thursday, the Smart Cities Ideas Fair will feature displays, demonstrations, presentations and hands-on activities at KPU’s Richmond campus – all with a focus on the city’s bid to create an “Intelligent Operations Hub” through the Smart Cities challenge.
“Richmond has long been home to some of the world’s leading technology companies and many of our local government agencies and academic institutions are leading the way in embracing Smart Cities thinking,” said Mayor Malcolm Brodie in a press release.
“The Smart Cities Ideas Fair is a great opportunity for the public to learn more about the exciting advances being made right here in Richmond and our province.”
During the fair, KPU will also highlight programs that support the Smart Cities vision, such as a video demonstration of a self-driving vehicle project and wearable technology.
“KPU is proud to partner with City of Richmond on the Smart Cities initiative, which aligns completely with our polytechnic university mandate,” said Alan Davis, KPU president.
“Participating in the Smart Cities Challenge will provide our students with the opportunity to explore learning beyond the classroom, in settings that will allow them to participate in a real way in the creation of an Intelligent Operations Hub.”
The Smart Cities Ideas Fair will take place from 2 to 6 p.m. on Thursday, Jan. 17 at KPU’s Richmond campus, 8771 Lansdowne Road.
