The Start to Smart: Cities Planning Tool for Wireless Maturity Assessment

-By Michelle James, Vice President, Strategic Industry Programs

In smart cities projects, one of the biggest questions is, “Where do I start?” Wireless infrastructure is a big part of the answer. But it’s a complicated area to understand and keep up with—even if you work in the industry.

The CTIA Smart Cities Working Group develops resources to make the journey easier, especially for communities without a CTO, CIO, or wireless expert on staff. One example is the Smart Cities Wireless Maturity Model Assessment. Over the past year, communities have already started using this tool to assess the wireless technologies they are utilizing today and plan where they want to be tomorrow.  

Welcome to the next step: the Digital Wireless Maturity Assessment

With the new digital Smart Cities Wireless Maturity Model, these assessment tools move from facilitated sessions to an online, “anywhere, anytime” experience.

Accessible online, the new application is designed to make the assessment easier to use while giving more communities access. In terms of convenience, for example, users can easily save or pause the assessment, enabling them to tackle questions on their own time. Team collaboration is also a perk, requiring knowledgeable members to complete the questionnaire and receive the final report.

Digitalization of the assessment means that once you complete the questionnaire you will receive a custom smart cities report complete with wireless maturity “scores,” providing a snapshot of wireless-readiness and how you’re tracking in terms of deploying the technologies of “Yesterday, Today, or Tomorrow.”

To help the smart cities journey feel more manageable and accessible, the new digital assessment offers a choice as to where to focus first. Communities can concentrate on a specific area—utilities, transportation, or public services—or get a comprehensive view of all three.  The cities’ maturity scores are only visible to the stakeholders taking the assessment and are not stored or published anywhere.  The assessment is a complimentary tool to aid cities in their journey to becoming smarter through the lens of wireless solutions.  “We fully understand cities are solving for many different priorities in adopting technologies that offer greater efficiencies for those who live, work and play in their cities.  The wireless industry and its subject matter experts stand ready to help serve community leaders and their agency partners in shaping the possibilities for leveraging greater wireless connectivity,” added Michelle James.    

Throughout, the foundation of the comprehensive model remains the same: 84 in-depth questions developed by wireless industry subject matter experts. Through the report, and the process of tracking down and filling out the answers, communities can assess their wireless infrastructure, data communications and connectivity and where they are today in their ability to deliver resilient, secure, equitable solutions.

How completing the assessment can help

Whether bringing renewable energy to the grid, mapping out a sensor network, or building out charging stations for electric vehicles, the Digital Wireless Maturity Assessment moves communities one step closer to their action plan.

City stakeholders can put it to work to:

• Identify strengths, weaknesses, gaps, and needs in their current wireless infrastructure
• Figure out what initiatives to prioritize and support tangible action plans
• Make the case for a specific project
• Help identify procurement considerations for improving wireless-readiness
• Conduct informed conversations with vendors and subject matter experts
• Educate the public on smart cities solutions overall and their benefits  
• Utilize as a resource to help with funding requests
• See where wireless technology is going next—track answers from Yesterday, Today, and Tomorrow to see how wireless technologies are evolving

What’s more, with the ease and convenience of the online assessment, a community can re-take the assessment after updates to your wireless infrastructure are in effect and receive a score that reflects your current state of smart cities readiness.

What’s new and what’s next?

The Digital Maturity Model Assessment is available today on the Town Square smart cities website, learn more at Smart Cities Wireless Maturity Model | Town Square (ctia.org)