Executive Summary: City of Edmonton, Alberta

This page has been archived on the Web

Information identified as archived is provided for reference, research or recordkeeping purposes. It is not subject to the Government of Canada Web Standards and has not been altered or updated since it was archived.

Archived

This page has been archived on the Web.

Modern municipalities operate in a period marked by a rapidly changing business environment, a call for more open and interactive government and an ever-increasing need to work collaboratively to address the complex challenges of today and tomorrow. As a world leader in leveraging data, technology and innovation, the City of Edmonton recognizes the need for an approach that is community-driven, evidence-based and delivered through partnerships in order to achieve sustainable solutions. This proposal highlights Edmonton's ability to lead the transformation of healthcare in Canada through the use of municipal-level interventions and a focus on building a stronger, more connected city, region and nation for all.

According to the World Health Organization, urban populations experience some of the world's most prominent health disparities. Residents are faced with increasing urban health hazards resulting from inadequate housing, transportation, food and environmental systems including air pollution, unhealthy diets, physical inactivity and isolation. Now, in the midst of the digital revolution that is transforming how individuals interact, communicate and connect, cities are also faced with understanding the technological challenges affecting the health of residents and how to lessen the impact of the digital divide.

Although technology is an integral part of building a smart and connected city, there are several non-technical components that work together to complete a Smart City ecosystem and become catalysts for innovation. These components range from the creation of public spaces where residents can come together to gain a sense of community belonging to the partnerships that will continue to drive the transformation of today's urban physical and digital environments. The City of Edmonton actively creates opportunities for diverse input and participation by inviting residents to play a larger role in shaping their community to enable social and economic growth and impact environmental and health outcomes.

Smart Cities hold the promise to create healthier urban environments where residents can live their best lives.

An open, inclusive and collaborative community is foundational to success. This means reducing socio- economic, physical and technical barriers, and creating accessible channels for delivery of effective programs and services. Edmonton's Open City Initiative strives to transform the City into a more transparent, open and accessible organization; one that is connected to the public and responsive to their vision for the future.

Edmonton proposes that municipal-level interventions guided by residents will have a significant impact on building healthier cities and will improve the quality of life for residents today and into the future.

Edmonton's innovative Smart City approach to improve health through preventative measures addresses the true needs of the community through a collaboration between public and private sector organizations and residents. This approach, enabled by technology, analytics and data, will ensure Edmonton is a place where all residents have equitable opportunity for healthy, safe and joyful lives.

EDMONTON'S APPROACH

Edmonton's Smart Cities Challenge proposal encompasses the development and phased implementation of a Healthy City program. In this Healthy City program, municipal levers to improving the quality of life and well-being of residents are identified and changes to programs, policies and services will be implemented. Fundamental to the success of this program is partnering with residents, other levels of  government, community organizations, educational institutions and businesses. The City of Edmonton will continue to evolve existing relationships with residents and partners, leveraging connected technology and data to understand the challenges in the community and create sustainable solutions that are scalable across Canada.

Additionally, the City of Edmonton not only recognizes the importance of privacy to residents as technology advances and the use of big data increases, but also the importance of developing mitigating controls in partnership with residents as this field evolves.

By investing funds and resources in specific, purposeful steps that enable early adoption, measurement, refinement and expansion of projects, the Healthy City program will transform the health of cities across Canada, starting with Edmonton. In collaboration with residents and partners, the program will lead projects to address the specific needs of diverse populations, evaluate with communities and then scale solutions appropriately.

In addition, the City of Edmonton believes a collaborative partnership with the Government of Canada is a critical component in the success of Canada's urban digital transformation. Through focused efforts to share knowledge, ideas and learnings, Edmonton's Smart City approach will contribute to the advancement of objectives and outcomes at a national level. This will result in a greater benefit for all residents across Canada.

SMART CITY GUIDING PRINCIPLES

The principles listed in Figure A will guide the development and implementation of Edmonton's Healthy City program. These principles emphasize the City of Edmonton's commitment to building a healthier, more connected city with residents and partners, inciting innovation within the region and beyond.

These guiding principles are directly aligned with the foundational principles of the City of Edmonton's Business Technology Strategy - a City Council-approved strategy that enables a fully integrated approach to managing information, data and technology. The City has a significant amount of valuable data, business solutions and diverse technologies. To better leverage these assets, the application of the Business Technology Strategy increases internal and external data sharing, optimizes processes and delivers quality service while managing costs effectively—all in partnership with stakeholders and residents.

FIGURE A: Smart City Guiding Principles - Text version:

A description of five Smart City principles: Resident Focused, Partnerships, Useable Information, Privacy & Security, and Innovation. The principles are accompanied respectively by the following symbols: silhouette of an individual, the world, a cloud with an arrow pointing upwards, a lock and a lightbulb.

RESIDENT FOCUSED
Residents and community are the driving force behind transformative change in cities. City-building is rooted in the engagement and empowerment of residents.

PARTNERSHIPS
Multi-sector collaboration results in sustainable systems change. Collective impact is achieved through a shared vision for a vibrant and healthy community.

USEABLE INFORMATION
Decision-making is driven by relevant information that is inclusive. Information and data gaps and biases are acknowledged and steps are taken to ensure they are addressed.

PRIVACY & SECURITY
Clear and transparent processes for gathering and using data and technology aligns with the highest privacy and security standards and the expectations of residents.

INNOVATION
Disruptive technology is embraced through a flexible and adaptable approach to doing business. Challenges transform into opportunities through an open and collaborative working environment.

SMART CITY FRAMEWORK

Edmonton's Smart City Framework (Figure B) is a holistic approach to working collaboratively with residents and partners to optimize the use of data and technology, and influence the development of policies, programs, services and innovative funding models. Working with residents and partners, the City of Edmonton developed this approach to leveraging data, technology and innovation in order to provide an exceptional quality of life for residents. This framework is the foundation for Edmonton's phased approach to the building of a Healthy City program and ultimately healthier, more connected communities across the country.

FIGURE B: Smart City Framework - Text version:

A depiction of the steps in the Smart City Framework: Develop Partnerships, Assess Privacy & Security, Collect Data, Perform Analysis & Storytelling, Take Action and Feedback Loop. The steps are represented respectively by multiple symbols: two people walking/shaking hands, street lights/lock, cityscape/cylindrical layers, ferris wheel/play button, hot air balloon/upward pointing arrows, dotted line.

Building Community

DEVELOP PARTNERSHIPS
Partners across the public, private and non-profit sectors and residents will join together.

Securing Data

ASSESS PRIVACY & SECURITY
The privacy and security of our residents is top of mind. Data is securely managed between partners.

Collecting Data

COLLECT DATA
As determined by each project, data will be gathered and secured.

Making Data-Driven Decisions

PERFORM ANALYSIS & STORYTELLING
Analysis and storytelling will transform raw data to identify changes to policies, programs and/or services.

Improving Lives of Residents

TAKE ACTION
Actions to improve policies, programs and/or services will impact the quality of life of residents.

TRANSFORMATION: EDMONTON'S PHASED APPROACH TO BUILDING SMARTER CITIES ACROSS CANADA

Edmonton's program methodology is broken down into three distinct phases: Initiate, Innovate and Embrace. The proposed approach demonstrates the City's commitment to investing funds and resources in the advancement of partnerships, processes and projects that will transform the municipal approach to solving complex problems across Canada.

Figure C demonstrates how the City of Edmonton plans to invest a total of $60 million over three phases and the impact it will have over time. This $60 million investment is a combination of $50 million through Infrastructure Canada, $5 million from the City of Edmonton and $5 million through in-kind and other private or community investments. Through the creation of scalable and transferable tools and technology, Edmonton will provide opportunities for all municipalities to leverage this investment of funds and resources, resulting in the transformation of how Canadian communities work with residents and partners to achieve excellence in data and technology.

CONNECTED CITIES FOR ALL RESIDENTS

Connected cities have vibrant public spaces, creative and diverse residents, opportunities for economic development and smart technologies. Connected cities have inclusive and innovative spirits that challenge the status quo and overcome barriers collaboratively. They are the cities that are transforming the regions they occupy and influencing community development at a national and global level. Edmonton is one of those cities and recognizes the importance connected communities play in building connected regions and ultimately a connected nation. In Edmonton, progress is linked to and driven by community for community. Connecting with others – across cultures, age groups, geography and communities of interest – is seen as essential for creating a vibrant, connected, engaged and healthy community for all.

WHY EDMONTON?

Edmonton is Canada's Most Open City (Public Sector Digest, 2015, 2016 and 2017) and a Top 7 Intelligent Community (Intelligent Community Forum, 2017). It is a place where the community leverages data and connected technology to become more engaged with one another through social interactions such as volunteering, celebrating or just being together in the neighbourhood.

Edmonton is in an advantageous position to positively impact health outcomes for residents. The City has an outstanding network of academic, health, government  and industry partners eager to work together on this initiative. Additionally, as a global leader in open data, open government, digital innovation and being a Smart City, Edmonton demonstrates an unwavering commitment to being a progressive and collaborative learning organization.

Edmonton was also recently named the best city in Canada for youth to work in 2019 from the YouthfulCities Urban Work Index. The index used an expansive, youth-driven definition for work that includes four thematic areas: education, entrepreneurship, affordability and employment. Creating vibrant, dynamic and open places for youth to work, live and play establishes a foundation for a Smart City to continue to grow.

The City of Edmonton has a world-class team with experience managing complex, multi-stakeholder and multi-dimensional projects in partnership with all levels of government, industry and residents. The City will continue to use proven mechanisms and processes to deliver project excellence and share learnings with the Government of Canada to help advance Smart City goals and priorities.

FIGURE C: Phased Approach to Building Smarter Cities - Text version:

Overview of the investment (time and resources) and impact as the program grows. Initiate Phase takes place over 1.5 years with an overall investment of $10 million and expected low to moderate impact. Innovate Phase takes place over 2 years with an overall investment of $31 million and expected moderate impact. Embrace Phase takes place over 1.5 years with an overall investment of $19 million and expected high to transformative impact. This will lead the program into sustaining mode to carry forward on transformative impact.

Connected cities have inclusive and innovative spirits that challenge the status quo and overcome barriers collaboratively.