By: Dr. Amen Ra Mashariki, Blaise Backer, Robinson Hernandez

Learn about the emerging role of data in the most data transparent city in the world - New York. Speakers will present how data-driven approaches are successfully being leveraged by the city and other stakeholders, how district-level organizations can leverage data to improve their communities, and about a whole new class of local technology companies are being incubated to transform our communities with data.

By: Walei Sabry, Quemuel Arroyo, Ron Espinosa

The NYC Mayor’s Office for People with Disabilities (MOPD) and NYC Department of Transportation (DOT) have come together with the Madison Square Park Conservancy and Click&Go Maps to pilot advanced wayfinding and orientation services throughout Madison Square Park and Plaza, starting from the surrounding streets and in the park itself. The pilot seeks to deliver real-time spatial information to low vision and blind pedestrians as they walk through these spaces. Hear from ConnectThings about beacon technology and its’ potential for leveling the playing field with situational awareness and increased independence by providing visually impaired pedestrians with newfound equity and accessibility.

By: Elizabeth Lusskin, Starling Childs

Elizabeth Lusskin and her team at the Long Island City Partnership track and manage information about real estate, local businesses, and development activity in the area within the BID and beyond as the Local Development Corporation. Joined by technology partner Citiesense, Elizabeth will discuss benefits and challenges of providing the most accurate information about individual properties in relation to the neighborhood back to real estate brokers, owners, and operators, as well as current and prospective tenants. Citiesense provides a map-based platform that brings together information from government open data, survey data, and local stakeholders for LICP.

By: Charles Kelley, Dr. Rimas Gulbinas

Over Kashiwa-no-ha Smart District’s evolution as Japan’s signature sustainable neighborhood, technology systems have been fashioned and optimized by a unique public, private, and academic partnership entity; Urban Design Center Kashiwa-no-ha. As the largest Smart City LEED ND Plan Platinum Certified Project in the world, it has given purpose to an innovative area energy management system and real-time display of occupant resource use in a mixed use district. This supports efficient operations during normal times and adaptation to unplanned catastrophes for the community. ZGF Principal Charles Kelley and Maalka CEO Rimas Gulbinas will explain how Maalka and ZGF are incubating technology to replicate and scale lessons from Kashiwa-no-ha to other districts and cities around the world.

By: Matthew Bauer, PhD, Michael Brady, Laurel Brown, Lauren Danziger and Kris Goddard (Moderator)

A panel that includes BIDs from across New York City to explore the greatest challenges facing district-level organizations and how technology partners might help. The discussion will cover a broad range of topics related to the scale and scope of policy and district management challenges facing district-level organizations and their stakeholders, the struggle they face in searching for solution providers, and the need to leverage available public and private resources.

Host: Gregg Bishop, Commissioner, NYC Department of Small Business Services

Join us for an announcement from NYC Small Business Services Commissioner Gregg Bishop of this year’s Neighborhood Challenge innovation competition focusing on Smart Districts. Interact with district and technology leaders to identify opportunities for collaboration and partnerships.

Refreshments will be served