How smart spaces drive better outcomes in local government

When offices take advantage of connectivity upgrades to improve how work gets done, they’re referred to as “smart spaces.” Whether it be the deployment of sensors to monitor foot traffic or AI analytic tools to better engage users, smart spaces redefine how businesses and their people stay connected.

In the private sector, the outcomes being driven by smart space deployment are well understood: speedier service, more reliable data capture and centralized control of workflows. For the public sector, smart spaces offer the same advantages, and something else, too: enhanced accountability to taxpayers and other stakeholders.

A Cisco Meraki white paper spotlights effective smart space use by governments: “Indeed, by building smart spaces that make use of Internet of Things (IoT) technologies like sensors that can collect data in conjunction with cloud-based networking, governments can inject greater visibility into operations.”

Serving digitally savvy populations where they live

From registering a pet dog to paying a parking ticket to getting a dumping permit, today’s citizens are more accustomed than ever to making online visits to town halls.

But the increased digitalization of daily life is raising expectations to a far higher level. The dawn of IoT-enabled technology combined with cameras, sensors and centralized control systems means more can be done to engage and enhance citizen experience, capturing use data that can be converted into better service solutions.

Consider the local public library. Today library books and journals can be accessed online, along with music and video, 24/7/365. Smart spaces can have other advantages for libraries, identifying what features interest visitors most and making them more accessible and available.

Smart space investment can also make libraries more inclusive by capturing at the door and checkout counter how different communities engage with their public library, and which services might best serve their needs.

“Smart library spaces are designed to meet the needs and desires of diverse communities. Smart spaces are where discovery and community intersect, fostering social connection among people of all ages by providing active learning that encourages exploration and play.”

Similar user-friendly access can be provided for municipal land records, minutes from public meetings, permitting and zoning enforcement decisions.

The applicability for smart space usage can include monitoring foot traffic and parking patterns at beaches and public parks to make sure all users are able to enjoy them safely and conveniently.

Unleashing the power of data-driven civil service

Data-driven insights can be gleaned by machine learning and AI, e.g. improving the safety and efficiency of public roads.

With the aid of cloud aggregation and analytics tools, data gathered from public spaces can be developed in a multitude of ways, building out hypothetical scenarios and comparisons with like-sized communities worldwide, to discover areas for improvements.

For example, a traffic engineer can use AI to determine if a specific turn is too tight to handle rainy conditions, or if traffic lights need to be more widely spaced out to avoid excessive congestion.

Many times, data needed to improve communities has already been collected, but in a disaggregated and bureaucratic fashion. A 2022 survey shows only 2% of government leaders report their data is fully accessible; 61% say it is either somewhat or completely siloed.

Being able to adjust service levels to public use patterns is a critical way of improving government service, both in terms of citizen experience and cost efficiency. 

A smart space approach to local government establishes centralized control with edge platform solutions that can draw information from across agencies. Enterprise Network Edge provides users with the ability to collect data and take informed, immediate action over a secure network with complete security and multi-cloud accessibility.

Improving quality of life for workers

Smart space office solutions not only connect citizens with their government but gives government employees the ability to work from anywhere. Allowing employees to work from anywhere can not only save money for the agency as well as the individual employee, but has been found to improve productivity.

Forbes suggests repurposing the office away from individual employee use: “Instead, the office will serve as a shared space for collaboration and team-building activities for the majority of the employees.”

The benefits of embracing a work-from-anywhere culture are many. Government workers are quicker to embrace technology when it allows them more flexibility in how they do their jobs. Productivity not only increases when workers have a WFH option, but so does recruitment.

“Studies show that putting these powers in workers’ hands can increase happiness, improve productivity, and reduce turnover, making it a win-win for everyone involved.”

Most significantly, smart spaces allow employees to become more mobile. Data gathered from any location can be used to inform better decision making, meeting citizens where they live and even facilitating shared-solution strategies between departments.

Enabling always-on solutions at Town Hall

Today’s citizen expects local government to better accommodate a busy lifestyle in a multitude of ways, from being virtually open on weekends and evenings to managing critical public safety needs. Maximizing the use of digital tools is a way to make local government more efficient and more responsive.

As local governments work to address growing concerns around better digital access, early adopters will enjoy the advantages of getting ahead of citizen expectations. In encouraging public adoption, these governments can unlock cost-effective ways of making themselves more open and responsive to the needs of its taxpayers.

Learn how your government organization can take the first steps to smart-space transformation, and other ways you can help your organization exceed its service goals today and tomorrow with Spectrum Enterprise solutions.