City Club of Central Oregon November 17 Forum: Smart Cities, Is Central Oregon Ready to Harness Tech to Make Our Lives Better?

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(Photo Above Courtesy of City Club of Central Oregon) 

Whether a bustling metropolis or a mid-size burg in the middle of the High Desert—smart cities are the way of the future. Across the world and here in Oregon, cities are harnessing technology and data to offer new ways to solve real world problems.

Imagine using sensors in a roadway and cameras overhead to create a smart parking service that can direct drivers to open parking spots efficiently, reducing emissions, travel times, and stress for the driver. Think of the savings if public trash receptacles could send an alert when full instead of requiring a daily check-in by maintenance staff. Or picture a police department being able to predict crime based on data analysis. These kinds of smart city projects are fast becoming reality and not just in major cities.

Come to the forum and hear our panelists discuss lessons learned so far from preparing Smart City proposals and implementing pilot projects in Portland and the rest of Oregon. Learn how smart cities create opportunity for the private sector. And explore how universities and cities can collaborate in national networks to help facilitate urban innovation and applications. The discussion will be followed by a question and answer session that is sure to include possible Smart City applications for Central Oregon.

Panelists:

Christine Kendrick is the Air Quality Lead and Smart Cities Project Manager for the City of Portland Bureau of Planning and Sustainability. She also works closely with the Portland Bureau of Transportation’s Signals, Street Lighting, and ITS Division developing research objectives related to the deployment of low-cost air quality sensors. Christine has a PhD in Environmental Science and Resources with a focus on urban air quality from Portland State University. Her work investigates how the roadside environment can be improved through the use of air quality and traffic-related data. As part of her research she helped develop a research grade roadside air quality station at the intersection of one of Portland’s major arterial roadways and conducted pilot studies to assess low-cost sensor performance and utility. Christine also has a background in toxicology research characterizing inhalation exposures to jet propulsion fuel and trichloroethylene air sampling in industrial and residential areas. She completed her BS in Environmental Health Science from the College of Public Health at the University of Georgia.

Skip Newberry, President of Technology Association of Oregon (TAO). Skip is a frequent speaker on technology trends and topics, economic development, public-private partnerships and civic innovation. Before joining the TAO, Skip served as an economic development policy advisor to Portland Mayor Sam Adams, where he helped create Portland’s first comprehensive economic development strategy in 16 years, recognizing software as a key industry cluster. While at the City of Portland, Skip’s projects included the adoption of the nation’s first open source software procurement policy at the municipal level, an award-winning regional open data initiative and the development of resources to support entrepreneurship, like the Portland Seed Fund. Previously, Skip was a corporate and IP attorney and entrepreneur. Skip is the Chairman of the Board of Directors of TECNA, Technology Councils of North America, which is a global network of technology and entrepreneurship associations, and he serves on advisory boards for Wells Fargo and Worksystems, Inc. Skip is also a 2012 recipient of the Portland Business Journal’s 40 Under 40 award.

Jonathan Fink is Professor of Geology and Senior Advisor to the President at Portland State University (PSU), where he studies natural hazards and urban sustainability with a particular emphasis on smart cities. He served as VP for Research and as Sustainability Institute Director at both PSU and Arizona State University. He has a B.A. from Colby College in Maine and a Ph.D. from Stanford University, both in geology. He is a board member of the Smithsonian Institution’s National Museum of Natural History, The Nature Conservancy’s Oregon Chapter, the Oregon Museum of Science and Industry, and KB Home.

Moderator:
Scott Steele, AIA, LEED AP, NCARB, Steele Associates Architects

When?  Thursday, November 17, 11:3am – 1pm at the Riverhouse on the Deschutes Convention Center. To register, please visit  or call 541-633-7163.  Registration (closes at noon on Monday, November 14) is only $25 for members and $40 for non-members. Plated lunch is included.

About City Club of Central Oregon

City Club of Central Oregon exists to be the top-of-mind hub for citizens and community leaders. We intentionally shape our community and influence public policy while preserving our uniquely warm and connected culture. We champion “passionately non-partisan” discussion between diverse perspectives.

Contact:
Joey Drucker, Executive Director
541-633-7163
info@CityClubCO.com

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