MWCOG: Connected DMV brand unveiled, smart region work progresses

Article by: Steve Kania | (202) 962-3249 | skania@mwcog.org See original post from MWCOG here. The Greater Washington Board of Trade, the Metropolitan Washington Council of Governments (COG), and the Consortium of Universities of the Washington Metropolitan Area have unveiled Connected DMV, the official brand for their shared smart region program. Connected DMV will help communities, governments, and businesses work together on regional, digital technology solutions. The program had previously been referred to as the Greater Washington Smart Region Movement when it was created earlier this year. In addition to announcing the new brand, area officials participated at the Smart Cities Week Washington D.C. conference in a panel discussion on Connected DMV and its possibilities for the region. Board of Trade President and CEO Jack McDougle said Connected DMV’s longer-term objective isn’t about the deployment of a specific app, but about “how we, as a region, work together more effectively to solve problems” through technology. COG Executive Director Chuck Bean, Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority (WMATA) Vice President of Planning Shyam Kannan, and McDougle discussed how developing a framework for regional technology solutions could support various initiatives from bus priority projects to Next Generation 9-1-1.   While the region has already implemented smaller-scale smart initiatives, Connected DMV offers several opportunities for area governments. It aims to help them speed up bringing new technologies to their communities by cutting down on redundant work and streamlining processes, make tax dollars go further through large, joint contracts that bring down costs, and ensure that the technologies they pursue provide users with a seamless experience across jurisdictional borders. Since its launch in the spring, WMATA and the Military District of Washington/Joint Force Headquarters National Capital Region have joined Connected DMV as strategic partners. Over 150 organizations from a variety of sectors are also participating in the program and helping inform its work. Moving forward, the Connected DMV strategy team is completing the design of its model for regional collaboration to share with potential project stakeholders for input, including government officials and business leaders. With this foundation in place, the region can explore hundreds of smart applications that make daily life easier, safer, more sustainable, and more productive for the region’s citizens.