The city of Dallas has been awarded the 2023 Smart 50 Award, for its work on the Red Cloud Neighborhood Smart Cities Pilot Project, Dallas’ first smart community located in Southeast Dallas.

The Smart 50 Award recognizes cities implementing innovative projects to create smart city infrastructure. 

Homes in the neighborhood are fitted with free Wi-Fi, air quality environmental monitors and AI-enabled situational awareness cameras at select locations that connect to LED streetlights integrated with wireless access points, creating a controlled lighting network.

This sensor network is hoped to make the area smarter and more sustainable, as well as provide actionable, neighborhood-specific insights to inform future infrastructure projects or city services.

Given the success of the Red Cloud neighborhood, the city has spoken of the possibility of expanding the services to the rest of the city.

This year’s Smart 50 Award is the seventh iteration of the award. Established and judged by Smart Cities Connect Media & Research, the award looks at areas using tech such as AI, sensors, cybersecurity, autonomous transit and 5G.  

"Each project showcases unique elements in unique communities, and that's what makes it all so fascinating,” said Laura Murphree, Smart Cities Connect Media & Research’s managing editor. “But what they have in common is a commitment to utilize data in meaningful ways that improve quality of life for residents."