Tracking smoke, plugging leaks in "Smarter Cities"
Computing giant IBM announced in advance of a company-sponsored "Smarter Cities" forum here that it was helping researchers at the University of Maryland Baltimore County analyze smoke patterns in wildfires.
Catonsville-based UMBC is using IBM technology to help track wildfires in real time and make predictions about the spread of the blaze and health-threatening smoke. Such up-to-the-minute information would be useful to emergency responders in making decisions about evacuating people or issuing health warnings, according to the announcement.
What that has to do with "Smarter Cities," though, I'm not exactly sure - maybe an example of how business ties can keep university researchers employed?
In any case, the Smarter Cities forum, also at UMBC, brings together local government and business leaders to brainstorm about how to improve the economy and quality of life in Baltimore. It's the latest in a series of such forums the company has held in cities across North America. Besides talking about how to enhance health care, education and safety, they're scheduled to look at boosting green building and public transportation.
While ruminating over making Baltimore smarter, participants will hear about an IBM-assisted effort in neighboring Washington to improve the upkeep of its aging, leaky water and sewer infrastructure. Automated meter reading enabled by IBM technology has already reduced customer complaints about their bills, IBM reports in a press release.
The remote monitoring technology also should help the District water and sewer authority spot sewage leaks sooner after they happen and get them repaired more quickly, an IBM spokesman assured me. That's a plus for DC's degraded urban and suburban streams. Here's hoping IBM can perfect the system and offer it to Baltimore soon, since our city's streams and harbor are plagued as well by sewage leaks and overflows.
Comments
MD will become smarter when we as citizens become smarter, stop complaining about traffic while objecting to moves to increase public transpor options.
Posted by: BMG | November 20, 2009 4:19 PM