# How is IoT Improving Transparency Between Smart Cities and Citizens? | Austin Ashe, GM of Current, Powered by GE

- Show: [IoT For All Podcast](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/iot-for-all-podcast)
- Published: 2019-05-29
- Length: 59m
- Page: https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/iot-for-all-podcast/2019-05-29-how-is-iot-improving-transparency-between-smart-cities-and-citizens-austin-ashe
- Listen: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/iot-for-all/episodes/How-is-IoT-Improving-Transparency-Between-Smart-Cities-and-Citizens---Austin-Ashe--GM-of-Current--Powered-by-GE-e28bms2

## Summary

Austin Ashe, General Manager of Intelligent Cities at Current (Powered by GE), explains how the company evolved from lighting to a full IoT platform called City IQ, using light poles as ubiquitous, powered, and elevated 'iPhone on a pole' hubs for data collection. He details the San Diego deployment, which installed 14,000 LEDs and ~4,200 sensors to achieve energy savings that funded the project, while providing real-time data on parking, traffic, and bicycling to improve urban transparency and public safety. Ashe addresses security concerns through hardware encryption, dedicated AT&T tunnels, and privacy filters that block views of private property, and advises cities to find strong internal champions to navigate complex stakeholder buy-in and avoid 'smart washing.'

## Chapters

- [0:00](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/iot-for-all-podcast/2019-05-29-how-is-iot-improving-transparency-between-smart-cities-and-citizens-austin-ashe#t=0) Introduction: Austin Ashe and Current's Evolution from Lighting to IoT
- [5:11](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/iot-for-all-podcast/2019-05-29-how-is-iot-improving-transparency-between-smart-cities-and-citizens-austin-ashe#t=311) The Strategy: Why Light Poles are the Perfect IoT Incubation Bed
- [9:49](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/iot-for-all-podcast/2019-05-29-how-is-iot-improving-transparency-between-smart-cities-and-citizens-austin-ashe#t=589) City IQ Platform: Sensors, Computer Vision, and the 'iPhone on a Pole' Analogy
- [15:53](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/iot-for-all-podcast/2019-05-29-how-is-iot-improving-transparency-between-smart-cities-and-citizens-austin-ashe#t=953) Civic Engagement: Hackathons, Open Data APIs, and Citizen Solutions
- [20:00](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/iot-for-all-podcast/2019-05-29-how-is-iot-improving-transparency-between-smart-cities-and-citizens-austin-ashe#t=1200) Security Architecture: Hardware Encryption, AT&T Tunnels, and Privacy Filters
- [28:02](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/iot-for-all-podcast/2019-05-29-how-is-iot-improving-transparency-between-smart-cities-and-citizens-austin-ashe#t=1682) San Diego Case Study: 14,000 LEDs, 4,200 Sensors, and Energy-Funded ROI
- [32:48](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/iot-for-all-podcast/2019-05-29-how-is-iot-improving-transparency-between-smart-cities-and-citizens-austin-ashe#t=1968) Government Roadblocks: Stakeholder Management and Privacy Concerns
- [44:37](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/iot-for-all-podcast/2019-05-29-how-is-iot-improving-transparency-between-smart-cities-and-citizens-austin-ashe#t=2677) Defining Smart Cities: Moving Beyond 'Smart Washing' to Dynamic Platforms
- [52:05](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/iot-for-all-podcast/2019-05-29-how-is-iot-improving-transparency-between-smart-cities-and-citizens-austin-ashe#t=3125) Advice for Cities: Finding Champions and Leveraging Utility Partnerships

## Topics

- [Connected products & IoT](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/connected-products-and-iot)
- [Security & privacy](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/security-and-privacy)
- [Policy, trade & tariffs](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/policy-trade-and-tariffs)
- [Validation & product-market fit](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/validation-and-product-market-fit)
- [Pricing, margins & unit economics](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/pricing-and-unit-economics)

## Most relevant to

large enterprises

## Mentioned

- Current (company)
- GE (company)
- City IQ (product)
- San Diego (other)
- AT&T (company)
- Georgia Power (company)
- IBM (company)
- Hue (product)
- Light Grid (product)

## Related episodes from other shows

- [Living in the Future: Smart Cities](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/ee-times-current/2021-05-07-living-in-the-future-smart-cities) (EE Times Current)
- [The Future of Smart Cities: Lighting, Parking, and Much More](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/over-the-air/2024-01-04-the-future-of-smart-cities-lighting-parking-and-much-more) (Over the Air)
- [Smart Cities: Part 1](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/ee-times-current/2018-08-09-smart-cities-part-1) (EE Times Current)
- [Ep. 21 | Carnegie Mellon's Karen Lightman on the Intersection of Tech and Policy for Smart Cities](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/moores-lobby/2021-04-01-ep-21-carnegie-mellons-karen-lightman-on-the-intersection-of-tech-and-policy-for) (Moore's Lobby)
- [Smart Cities: Part 2](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/ee-times-current/2018-08-09-smart-cities-part-2) (EE Times Current)

## Citing this page

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