What Are Smarter Cities?

About Smarter Cities

When thinking about the urban environment, more often than not problems come first to mind.  Less commonly thought about is the potential presented by cities, potential to rethink and reshape their environments responsibly.  Today urban leaders—mayors, businesses and community organizations—are in the environmental vanguard, making upgrades to transportation infrastructure, zoning, building codes, and waste management programs as well as improving access to open space, green jobs, affordable efficient housing and more. If they succeed in making their cities more efficient, responsible and sustainable, what will result will be smarter places for business and healthier places to live.

Smarter Cities, a project of the Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC), a non-profit 501(c)(3), is a multimedia web initiative whose mission is to foster a little friendly competition (see Annual Cities Research and Rankings below) as well as provide a forum for exploring the progress American cities are making in environmental stewardship and sustainable growth. As a new media resource, Smarter Cities is a destination site for all who have a stake in their city's future—from students to policy makers and city planners, from business leaders to community groups and urban dwellers—to learn about best practices and initiatives, share ideas and innovative solutions, and post news, events and opportunities. The site offers many tools (including Citizen Reporting as described below) by which to bring us together in dialogue and collective pursuit of our goal—locally, regionally and nationally—of supporting smart, efficient, and livable cities.

Annual Cities Research and Rankings

Annual research and analysis of factors of environmental sustainability and livability in cities is the cornerstone of the Smarter Cities Project. The 2008 Smarter Cities Study marks the fourth round of an independent investigation of cities first initiated by Green Guide, now part of National Geographic. The original Smarter Cities study was undertaken in 2005, using an interview format and online data collection. In 2006, we brought on Sara Smiley Smith, a graduate student from the Yale School of Forestry and Environmental Studies to help us create a comprehensive online survey to assess factors of environmental sustainability and livability in all cities with more than 100,000 people in the United States. No study was undertaken in 2007, the year Green Guide merged with National Geographic.

In 2008 with Ms. Smiley-Smith's help, we greatly expanded the scope to include all cities in the United States with populations larger than 50,000 to allow a more comprehensive and detailed analysis. We grouped cities into three size categories to enable comparison between those with similar environmental challenges and constraints on social and financial resources. By expanding the scope and refining the analysis, we have compiled one of the nation's most comprehensive and robust database of U.S. urban progress toward sustainability. The Smarter Cities research team is releasing its independent 2008 study findings (and the findings from future research rounds) on this new NRDC web site.

The Scoring/Criteria page provides a description of the sustainability and livability criteria used to compare and rank cities. Please note that the information contained in this publication is intended for general use, to assist public knowledge and discussion and to help improve the sustainability of urban environments. It includes general statements based on scientific research. Readers are advised and need to be aware that this information may be incomplete or unsuitable for use in specific situations. NRDC is continually working to improve this research tool and welcomes comments on the methodology as well as recommendations for additional data sources at smartercities@nrdc.org. 

Cities interested in taking part of the next research round are encouraged to contact us for information. 

Join us in the dialogue as a Citizen Reporter

Though the research and rankings may be its cornerstone, Smarter Cities aims to be a dynamic and engaging new media resource, thanks in no small part to you. We want you—policy makers, business leaders, activists, students and interested urban dwellers—to join us in an ongoing dialogue about cities. We ask you to share what's happening in your city, the challenges your town faces and the new initiatives that are being tried. We seek committed reporters to video interview community leaders,  create photo galleries of neighborhood improvements, and post news and events. Your work will provide opportunities for each of us to participate at all levels—local to national—in making our cities more efficient, more responsible, smarter, healthier and saner. Your stories, photos and videos will appear alongside ours in the central editorial "well" of the home page and be reachable from every page on the site. We hope you will join us. Here's more about the Citizen Reporter program and its quick and easy sign up process.