Smart City

Seven pillars of a Smarter Mesa

A Smart City is about people, not just tech!Smart City logo

In short, a Smart City is one in which the latest technologies and data-driven insights are leveraged to improve the quality of life, civic engagement, economic development, service delivery, and community vibrancy for its citizens, businesses and visitors.

  • Smart Downtown - Create a vibrant, attractive downtown that is thriving with live work and play activities by both residents and businesses
  • Smart Environment - Protect the environment and create sustainable options where possible
  • Smart Infrastructure - Modernize essential infrastructure to provide essential city services and preserve a high quality of life in Mesa
  • Smart Government - Create a responsive, engaged city that makes decisions based on data and understands the needs of its citizens
  • Smart Public Safety - Create a safe and secure environment for all citizens
  • Smart Transportation - Create accessible, equitable and safe multi-modal transit options along with creating the ability to move easily throughout Mesa
  • Smart Community - Create an engaged, inclusive and equitable community that can provide a high quality life to all Mesa citizens

Smart Priorities

Visit the below Smart City segments to view current initiatives.

Community

Smart Communities align policy, technology and programs to make sure the cultural heritage and forward-looking vision are inclusive, respond to social challenges and create widespread improvements throughout the greater Mesa community. A smart community is one that is safe, equitable, inclusive and provides a high quality of life for all citizens.

Library Expanded Access

The Bibliotheca open+ self-service library system is being implemented at the Dobson and Red Mountain Libraries to enable enhanced access to library patrons during extended, non-staffed hours. We are exploring specialized hardware and cloud-based software to interface with the Mesa’s current library system, controlling patron access using library card barcodes and PINs.  

Benefit to the City - Occupancy counters can relay the number of people entering and exiting the building to help control the number of people in the library. To help maintain a safe and healthy environment, we will provide a reservation system and camera monitoring of the buildings. 

Downtown

Downtown Mesa is the City's central business district in the original square-mile town site. It features boutiques, sidewalk cafés, salons and antique shops in addition to restaurants and other local businesses. A long-term goal is to support the retention and expansion of existing businesses and the attraction of new businesses throughout downtown Mesa.

Innovation District

Create a physical space and environment for entrepreneurs, academic innovators, city staff and citizens to work together to explore solutions for improving the quality of life for our community.

Benefit to the City - Downtown Mesa is on the cusp of an urban renewal that will bring exciting innovations with a trained workforce, new housing, collaborative work spaces and higher education opportunities. The City Center Design Concept is the first step in the design and development of a distinctive place which will capture and enhance the urbanizing momentum of Mesa's downtown.

Environment

Smart opportunities range from smart irrigation controls that impact water to environmental sensing that help improve the lives of Mesa citizens. Mesa (and Maricopa County’s) commitment to improving air quality and reducing air pollution can be enhanced through multi sensor nodes that detect a wide variety of conditions that can inform city leadership of adverse events that affect the environment. Additionally, smart Infrastructure sensors that produce data that inform advanced control systems can impact green buildings and energy efficiency programs that protect the natural environment.

Food Waste to Energy

We conducted a feasibility study to determine the benefits of a a food to energy Pilot. Anaerobic digestion is a natural process where organic materials break down in the absence of oxygen producing a substance known as biogas, which is made up of methane and carbon dioxide. A waste digester stimulates this process on waste products and traps the methane so it can be converted into clean energy. Food waste, according to the EPA,is the second largest category of municipal solid waste (MSW) sent to landfills in the United States. Food waste is easily biodegradable and food waste has up to three times as much energy potential as biosolids.

Benefit to the City  - Converting biogas will allow Mesa to mitigate negative climate change while producing a clean energy source. We will see a reduction in waste in our landfills and an economic benefit in reduced energy costs. 

Food Waste to Energy project details

Building Automation

Facility or building automation uses smart infrastructure to produce data that improves building operations, supports resiliency and realizes energy efficiency. Smart sensors, advanced controls and a robust energy management system (EMS) optimize equipment run times, temperature set points and performance. 

The EMS can monitor HVAC, lighting, security, life safety and other building functions. It also allows technicians to remotely check on equipment and manage performance so that problems can be diagnosed quickly. Engineers can analyze data in real-time to identify odd spikes in energy use and trends so they can implement energy conservation measures. 

We partnered with Trane to have the HVAC in 60 City buildings automated. Over 20 buildings are online and/or in process, including the Mesa Convention Center, City Council Chambers, Broadway Recreation Center and Mesa City Plaza.   

A lesson in savings

The cool air of the Red Mountain Branch Library's HVAC system, unbeknownst to most library guests, includes one of the key initiatives of the Mesa Smart City plan, building automation.

The library’s new Energy Management System (EMS) uses smart technology to improve energy efficiency and equipment performance. The system is demonstrating positive results, averaging about 22 percent saving. At about 0.085 cents per kWh (from SRP), the EMS at Red Mountain Library has saved more than $1,200 monthly. That trend only appears to be getting better! 

To expand the savings, the library just completed its chiller system replacement project. Wasteful, inefficient chillers that used 100’s of gallons of water to cool the Library were replaced by new air-cooled units that require no water and use significantly less energy. The result in less electrical usage throughout the day when electrical rates are the highest and less water usage.

The estimated potential for annual utility bill savings from this project is in the range of $10,000 to $15,000 per year with an estimated annual energy usage savings in the range from 125,000 kWh to 170,000 kWh per year. This project has the potential to reduce greenhouse gas emissions from 87 to 119 metric tons annually, which is equivalent to removing 19 to 25 passenger vehicles from the road. Saving both water and energy, the new systems installed provide a comfortable environment for people of all ages enjoying the library.

Government

Smart government requires transparency, accountability and a dynamic anticipation of the changing needs of the citizens, especially in light of advanced technology. Additionally, there’s an opportunity for citizen engagement to allow increased interaction between government officials and citizens.

Automated Vehicle Location (AVL)

AVL is a complete vehicle tracking solution providing departments with a host of detailed information about vehicle activity. The application provides visibility, history, and reporting needs with accurate real time data. AVL provides enhanced functionality including the ability to perform turn-by-turn routing, enter Commercial Driver’s License (CDL), pre and post-vehicle inspections information, and integration with Transportation’s work order management.

Benefit to the City - Automated Vehicle Location solutions are used by departments to track our vehicles using a GPS system and managing vehicles’ locations, speed, idle time, and other data. AVL is used to enhance routing and gain fuel savings and other efficiencies.

Chatbot

The project implements an automated ChatBot with artificial intelligence (AI).

Benefit to the City - The implementation of an automated ChatBot with artificial intelligence (AI) will alleviate staff providing information available elsewhere and often repeating the same information to multiple consumers. An automated chat system will handle many of the standard, straight-forward information requests and will interface to other applications, potentially automating even mid-level requests such as account balances, application status, etc. Only the most complicated requests would require human interaction. With AI functionality, the system will steadily build a knowledgebase and can take on more of the requests as the information store grows. This will reduce the number of phone calls and/or time on the phone for staff as well as in-person counter customer service. Residents will be provided information in a timelier fashion while still having access to human interaction at any time if needed.  

Smart Data

Open Data is digital data that is made available for it to be freely used, reused, and redistributed by anyone, anytime and anywhere. We upgraded and expanded the data available on our Open Data Portal, including Open Budget, Open Expenditures, City Council Strategic Priorities, Performance Dashboard, Capital Projects Explorer, and featured stories/highlights on key services.

Benefit to the City - Datasets are made freely available for anyone under the Terms of Use. This license allows worldwide, royalty-free, perpetual, non-exclusive license to use Mesa’s open datasets, for both commercial and non-commercial use. Data that contains personal identifying information, or information that may pose as a security or confidentiality concern, will not be released as open data. 

As part of Mesa’s Smart City initiative, we continue developing our data practices and better support efforts to be data informed. We recently launched the city data portal giving employees access to more data than ever before! Currently over 1,300 city data assets, such as datasets, performance measures, charts/graphs/maps, and performance stories inform managers about daily operations. 

We strive to be a data-informed local government, and leaders and staff at all levels are committed to using data to make decisions. Through this expanded effort we’ve also made more datasets available on the city’s public data portal. Nearly 30 department performance measures, aligned with Council Strategic Priorities are now available to the public on our open data portal at http://data.mesaaz.gov with more expected in the coming months.  

Mesa was recognized in 2020 for achieving What Works Cities Certification, for our investment in data and transparency and for putting data and evidence at the center of our decision-making. Mesa earned the 2020 What Works Cities Silver Level Certification, one of only 16 cities in the United States to earn silver status. What Works Cities Certification evaluates how effectively cities are managed by measuring the extent to which city leaders incorporate data and evidence in their decision-making against a national standard of excellence.

Infrastructure

Smart Infrastructure  is essential for every smart city. The modernization of infrastructure can help enhance the quality of life for citizens while producing significant cost savings for cities.

Communications Infrastructure 

Almost every project relies on connected infrastructure, fiber optic or wireless connectivity, to provide the Smart City functions.  A key focal area for the next 12 to 18 months is the foundational infrastructure, including additional fiber and Wi-Fi, to provision the robust, scalable communications and data infrastructure needed to enable other smart initiatives and services, including advanced metering, Broadband and Sensor.  Strategy development is underway, and advanced metering and Broadband are in the procurement phase. 

Broadband and WIFI Expansion

The City has approximately 110 miles of fiber optic cable installed, much of which is currently in use. A Public Safety bond approved by the voters in November 2018, will add an additional 37 miles of fiber optic cable and enable completion of the downtown fiber ring architecture over the next three years. The Downtown broadband service will provide 1 Gigabit per second speeds to subscribers to enable high technology connected businesses to thrive in downtown Mesa, as well as providing added reliability to the network in support of police and fire.  It will also support other smart projects, such as the Downtown digital kiosks, downtown LED light smart nodes and leveraging installed closed-circuit television cameras for Smart Cities parking.

@Mesa Free WiFi

Smart Metering

Advanced Metering Infrastructure (AMI) is automated metering for the water, electric and natural gas utilities. Advanced meters allow the city to get real-time consumption with two-way communication. 

Benefit to the City - The benefits of real-time reporting include immediate outage notification, consumption monitoring, and improved customer engagement. This will help Mesa detect electrical outages and water leaks more quickly. Daily consumption data will also allow Mesa to offer rates for electrical time-of-use and electric vehicle charging. Studies have shown when households can see their daily usage, they are better informed and able to engage in conservation practices if desired.

Smart Meter project details

Public Safety

Smart Public Safety is a growing concern in smart cities. Between cyber threats, an increase in domestic terrorism and new threats emerging every day from old sources and new unintended consequences from technology, public safety in the smart city space is taken very seriously. We are looking for ways to leverage new emerging technologies to provide a safer physical, as well as cyber, environment for Mesa's citizens, businesses and visitors.

Real Time Public Safety Operations Center

The Real Time Public Safety Operations Center will include state of the art software and mapping systems that integrate multiple public safety information systems and link these systems in real time with varied video camera systems throughout Mesa.

Benefit to the City - The Real Time Public Safety Operations Center allows for critical information and intelligence to be gathered, quickly assessed, and disseminated in real time back to first responders and public safety supervisors responsible for the management of public safety emergencies. These emergencies will include such things as in progress violent crimes and serious traffic accidents. The Real Time Public Safety Operations Center will also be able to support public safety response to large scale special events throughout the City of Mesa including such events as the Mesa Marathon, Celebration of Freedom, Merry Main Street, and other downtown special events.

Transportation & Mobility

Transportation is the life blood of every community, and Mesa is no different. Valley Metro rail is a26.3-mile light rail line that serves Phoenix, Tempe and Mesa and is used by residents, tourists, and students. With autonomous vehicles coming, transit will be redefined and the quality of time in transit will become equally as important as cost and miles traveled.

LED Light Smart Nodes

Upgrades to LED streetlights with smart node capability.  Smart nodes can include cameras/optical sensors, as well as provide Wi-Fi expansion opportunities. We will explore strategic use of these devices in support of other smart initiatives. They may also provide critical infrastructure for communications and automated metering infrastructure. 

Benefit to the City - The LED lights will provide energy-savings as lights are automatically adjusted based on pedestrian and traffic volume. Renting access to the nodes can be lucrative as mobile carriers deploy 5G networks. 

Over 15,800 streetlights have been replaced with energy efficient LED technology. Over 2000 Philips City Touch nodes are deployed; more are slated in the coming months.

Parking Sensors

Smart Parking can include multiple options including in-ground parking sensors, cameras or counting sensors. These devices can be embedded into spots or positioned close to detect whether parking is free or filled. This is a real-time data collection that is transferred to a mobile application or website for the public to view. Mesa will conduct a pilot with three potential options for parking downtown, including using Mesa owned cameras.  

Benefit to the City  - The benefits of smart parking are numerous. There will be reduced traffic as less cars are driving around looking for spaces. Less traffic means less pollution and less driving means less fuel consumption, saving drivers money. Smart parking will save drivers' time and reduce drivers' stress. The roads will be safer as drivers are not distracted looking for a spot. The application will provide data that allows the City to find trends in users and lots to make more informed decisions for future parking. 

We partnered with different vendors to explore parking location sensors for Downtown Mesa. Multiple separate trials are in place to explore options to help residents who want to visit downtown stores, restaurants, museums, art programs, and Mesa offices. Piloted lots include MAC parking, as well as Drew Street Lot and Pepper Street garage. Cameras will watch traffic and public safety, while monitoring parking turnover in lots and garages.

 

Accomplishments

The following Smart City or Internet of Things (IoT) technology solutions are in place. All align with the City Council Strategic Priorities that provide the blueprint for building a Smarter Mesa!

NextGen 911 – Improving upon the systems to take and respond to emergencies with Text to 911 and new ways to get data from mobile users with E911. The new CAD system under construction will allow emergency dispatch to use all the data we can give them to direct help where it’s needed.

Intelligent Traffic Systems
 – The deployment of sensors and data networking to every traffic signal in Mesa making traffic studies quicker, allowing the collection and analysis of traffic information, and giving emergency dispatch camera views of accident scenes at Mesa intersections. In two pilot areas on Dobson and Superstition cameras and sensors at the streetlights automatically adjust the light timing in response to traffic.

Smart Irrigation Controllers in Parks – In monsoon season Parks employees no longer need to travel to every facility to stop the sprinklers. We save over 80 trips every time it rains by managing the watering centrally. The controllers also alarm if a sprinkler head breaks or a leak is detected, saving water, time and valuable parks greenery.

WiFi in Parks – Broadband access in public spaces helps bridge the digital divide, giving all residents access to the internet, and gives us a backbone for deployments of sensors and controllers like the Parks irrigation controllers.

Launchpoint - LaunchPoint, our technology accelerator, provides entrepreneurs and small companies business development assistance, networking and training opportunities.

Mesa K Ready - Mesa K-Ready helps children, and parents, prepare for kindergarten. Using a tablet device, educational app, and learning activities at City museums, parks and libraries, Mesa K-Ready helps children in our community start kindergarten ready to learn.

Hacktivate Mesa - Hacktivate Mesa is a two-day experience for local area high school students to discover, study, analyze and present data about an issue or challenge facing our community. Data science experts from local colleges, businesses, and the community will mentor teams of students as they learn how to access Mesa open data, develop skills in analyzing data, and explore solutions to community issues. At the end of the event, students present their discoveries and awards for best presentations will be given.

Thinkspot – Mini-makerspaces in all of our library branches allowing innovative citizens free or inexpensive access to the tools of creation.

Shared Active Transportation Vehicle (SATV) -City Council approved a pilot period of one year starting on February 1, 2020, to allow licensed providers of Shared Active Transportation Vehicles (SATV), including shared bicycles, e-bikes and scooters, to operate in Mesa if they abide by the Terms and Conditions. 

FirstNet - FirstNet is a dedicated high-speed, nationwide communications network that provides first responders exclusive access to bandwidth and prioritized connectivity during emergency situations. This dedicated network ensures that our first responders will not be impacted by high cellular volume during large events or critical incidents. 

NFORS - National Fire Operations Reporting System, NFORS, helps our public safety departments to gather, organize, and translate data to improve how we evaluate risks, deploy resources, and respond to emergencies. Firefighter and civilian safety is improved through consistent and quality data.

Automated Vehicle Location (AVL) - Automated Vehicle Location solutions are used by departments to track vehicles using a GPS system and managing vehicles’ locations, speed, idle time, and other data. AVL is used to enhance routing and gain fuel savings and other efficiencies.