SmartCityPHL is the City of Philadelphia’s initiative for using data and technology to improve life for people who live, work, and visit the city. It was established by the Office of Innovation and Technology in 2017 to develop a coordinated approach to smart-technology investment and public-service innovation; the city formally launched the program in February 2019 alongside its roadmap and a mayoral executive order. 11812
Based in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, SmartCityPHL works across city government and with external partners to test technology in public services. Its approach has included inviting proposals for possible solutions and piloting them with city departments, rather than prescribing a technology in advance. 6 The initiative’s work is local in scope, focused on Philadelphia neighborhoods and municipal services. 812
Projects have addressed both city operations and residents’ access to services. The Smart Loading Zones pilot tested a reservation and payment system for 20 curbside loading spaces in Center City, aiming to make deliveries safer and reduce illegal parking; the pilot concluded in April 2023. 45 SmartBlockPHL tested 14 sensor-equipped streetlights in Midtown Village to measure pedestrian, vehicle and bicycle activity, as well as environmental conditions, with the stated aim of protecting privacy by collecting aggregated metadata rather than personally identifiable information. 7 The Permit Navigator is an informational pilot that helps residents and businesses identify permits and approximate costs for selected projects; it does not replace the City’s existing permitting process. 29
The program’s leadership has included Ellen Hwang, the first Smart City director, and Emily Yates, who led the team from 2019 to 2022. 1314 The City’s program page also lists SmartBlockPHL and Smart Loading Zones among its projects. 13