San Diego Sees Big Benefits in Becoming a Smart City

Austin Ashe

San Diego is significantly investing in technology that will make it a leading smart city in the US. Last week, the city announced plans to expand its partnership with Current, Powered by GE to install 1,000 CityIQ sensor nodes and a pioneering lighting controls utility interface. San Diego believes that Smart Cities are a way of the future, and that they will create more efficiency—saving costs for the city that ultimately pay for the technology—and stimulate economic growth.

“San Diego’s smart city goals are encapsulated in a bold Climate Action Plan that includes reducing greenhouse gas emissions, using infrastructure more efficiently, improving transportation efficiency and fostering economic growth,” Austin Ashe, co-founder and general manager of Intelligent Cities at Current Powered by GE. By building data-collecting solutions on top of existing city infrastructure cities save energy and resources. The program pays for itself, and from there, provides returns on the investment for years to come.”