2nd Annual Smart Cities International Symposium and Exhibition Coming to Chicago

CHICAGO - Sept. 14, 2017 - PRLog -- The 2nd Annual Smart Cities International Symposium & Exhibition, January 17-18, 2018 in Chicago brings together thought leaders and practitioners from around the world to explore the most recent technology advances, business models, and lessons learned to date in making the Smart City a reality. Expert speakers will examine the experiences of municipal governments who are pushing the envelope and moving toward actual implementation of the Smart City vision. The emphasis is on implementation strategy, case studies, best practices and the development of compelling business models for transitioning to the 21st Century Smart City.

Topics to be addressed include:

• Leveraging the smart energy grid for other municipal applications
• Smart lighting advances, platforms and business models
• Smart transportation and parking
• Environmental monitoring and waste management
• IoT applications and communications networks for enabling the Smarter City
• Learning from the leaders: key smart city developments around the world
• Market trends and growth drivers: challenges and opportunities
• Phased, cost-effective approaches: efficiency measures that can fund additional steps
• Building a culture of performance via data analytics and benchmarking
• Enhancing sustainability, accessibility and livability
• Key emerging technologies and applications
• And more

Organizations who participated in the 2017 edition include:  Ascend Indiana, BioCrossroads, Black & Veatch, Bloomberg BNA, Bosch Software Innovations, British Consulate-General, Bronzeville Microgrid, BuildingIQ, CCJM Engineers, Ltd., Center for Technology in Government, University at Albany, Chicago Now, Chicago Transit Authority, CIDETEC-IPN, Cisco Systems, City Digital (UIL), City of Indianapolis, City of Kalamazoo, City of Kansas City, City of Milwaukee, City of Minneapolis, City of San Jose, City of Syracuse, City of Tucson, Cityzenith, ComEd, CompTIA, Copenhagen Capacity, Cornell University, Cubic Transportation Systems, Cushman & Wakefield, Deloitte, Drawbridge Solutions, Duncan, Weinberg, Genzer & Pembroke, P.C., EastBanc Technologies, The Japan Research Institute Ltd., Elevate Energy, Fujitsu, GPD Group, GreenPreneu, Grumman/Butkus Associates, HERE, HomeGrid Forum, IGS Energy, Illinois Institute of Technology, Illinois Science and Technology Coalition, Illinois.gov, Indy Chamber, Infobright, InformationWeek, INRIX, Institute for Market Transformation (IMT), IPgallery, ISEIF, Itron, Indiana University / Purdue University Indiana, Johnson Controls, Kollabio, McWane Ductile, Meeting of the Minds, Metropolitan Mayors Caucus, Microsoft, Mosaico Digitale U.S.A., Navigant, Nissan North America, Inc, Open Geospatial Consortium, Persistent Systems, POLCO, PowerSecure, University of Kansas, Scottish Development International, Silver Spring Networks, SJR Partners, Smart Grid Cluster, Smart Grid Consumers Collaborative, Smart Utility Systems, Society of Environmental Journalists, SPIDR Tech, The University of Chicago, Tucson Department of Transportation, U.S. Department of Commerce/U.S. Commercial Service, UI Labs, University of Illinois at Chicago, University of Minnesota | Regional Competitiveness Institute, Uptake, USGBC-Illinois, Vectren Corporation, Verizon Wireless, West Monroe Partners, Willdan/IIT, Zytronic, and others.

"The Symposium is a unique opportunity for thought leaders at the edge of Smart City innovation to network in a focused environment with fellow senior executives," says Daniel Coran, editor of the Smart Grid Observer and program manager for the 2018 event.  "The information-sharing and cross-silo interaction is of critical value for municipalities undertaking the Smart City transition."

"Lots of good and relevant information - very informative!" says Kevin Clements, Project Manager at GDP Group, of the 2017 edition. "I liked hearing from cities about how they are attacking the smart city initiative and seeing the different approaches. Also, very impressive and diverse crowd and panels."

Municipal and industry professionals interested in speaking at the 2018 Symposium are invited to review the preliminary agenda and submit a presentation proposal for review by the Program Advisory Group.  Sponsorship is not required in order to speak at the Symposium.

The 2018 Call for Speakers can be viewed here:   http://smartcities-symposium.com/speak.htm

"The Symposium provided great discussion of what 'smart city' means today, with important practitioner insight bringing recent advances to life." Says Matt Schmitt, Senior Research Fellow & Director, Regional Competitiveness Institute, University of Minnesota. "This was a great event!"

For full information on the Symposium, visit www.smartcities-symposium.com