November 21 ANSI Workshop to Explore Standards for Smart and Sustainable Cities

With more than half the world's population now living in urban areas - a number that is projected to reach seventy percent by mid-century - governments are seeking new ways to adapt to the social, economic, and environmental challenges that accompany such growth. Innovations in information and communications technology, and the capacity to gather and analyze urban infrastructure data, are driving improvements in the ability of cities to deliver services in areas such as smart grid, green building, energy and water use, waste management, and transportation.

To assist with this important work, the American National Standards Institute (ANSI) will convene a workshop on November 21, 2013 to explore the role that standards and conformance solutions can play in contributing to the development of smart, sustainable, and resilient cities. The workshop builds on discussions held at the April 2013 ANSI Joint Member Forum (JMF) [see related news item] and new initiatives by the International Organization for Standardization (ISO), the International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC), the International Telecommunication Union (ITU), and other organizations to define the standards and conformance programs needed to achieve the vision of a smart and sustainable city.

The event will be held at the Ronald Reagan Building and International Trade Center in Washington, DC. Participants will discuss coordination among various recent smart cities initiatives, as well as priority areas for standards development and which organizations should be involved in this important effort. The recommendations from the workshop will be compiled in a report. A draft agenda for the event is available online.

"The development of smart cities is a global priority that requires a coordinated approach to standards and conformance," said S. Joe Bhatia, ANSI president and CEO. "ANSI has a long track record of bringing stakeholders together from government and industry to effectively facilitate this type of dialogue in a neutral forum."

Sponsorship and exhibitor packages are available at various levels, offering organizations valuable benefits and the opportunity for first-hand involvement. Online sponsorship registration is available.

Advance registration is required at a fee of $95 for ANSI members and $125 for non-members. Registration includes all workshop materials, continental breakfast, networking breaks, lunch, and an evening reception. The registration deadline is November 13, 2013.

For more information, visit the event page on ANSI Online.