​The purpose of a City of Ann Arbor Smart City Strategic Plan is to provide an organizational framework to guide and direct staff when the city replaces, upgrades, or remediates key city infrastructure and systems, such as roads, water and sewer pipes, lighting, conduit and fiber, asset tracking, etc.

The goal of the plan is to define what a Smart City is to Ann Arbor via a public engagement process with the public, key stakeholders, community partners, and city staff, and to align the plan with city goals in order to build an equitable and sustainable foundation to accommodate future service delivery, operational efficiencies and improvements, cost savings, and innovation to enhance the quality of life for the Ann Arbor community.

The evolution of information technology coupled with Smart City concepts and the Internet of Things (IoT) allow organizations to approach improving business operations and city services in a more comprehensive and intelligent manner. A Smart City in not just technology or connecting devices, it goes much deeper. Basic elements of a Smart City are: 

Depending on the opportunity or problem the city is trying to solve depends on which elements should be utilized. There are numerous ways to approach an opportunity or problem and each element will be selected depending on the scope, unique requirements, and needs.

Our Planning Approach / Next Steps

The city will be taking an organic planning approach by developing and utilizing a mission, vision, core values, goals, and feedback from the Analysis & Assessment Phase. Every opportunity in the city has different requirements and no two opportunities are the same. Therefore, the city will be developing the plan at a visionary level, as opposed to an individual project level, in order to comprehensively address all future opportunities.

The Analysis & Assessment Phase was recently completed by conducting four meetings with key internal city executives and departments, community stakeholders (SPARK, DDA, Washtenaw Community College, AAATA, LDFA, and the University of Michigan), and community meetings. The presentations, as well as the documented feedback is published here. Additional relevant information will be published as it is made available.

An internal team will be assembled to review all input and begin to formulate the plan with a completion goal of June 2020. Prior to completion, additional input and review will be sought before it is presented to the Ann Arbor City Council.

The city would like to thank all that have participated in this process. We are very fortunate to have engaged citizens that are passionate for the quality of life in our community. Feedback and questions should be directed to Tom Shewchuk at [email protected].