Honeywell-Backed Smart City Project Underway

A new smart city project by Atlanta BeltLine will redevelop 22 miles of abandoned railroad into a connected hub of public spaces including parks, multi-use trails and a light rail transit system.

The new connected space will leverage Honeywell’s City Suite Software to aggregate data from multiple points across the area (including emergency services, security and utilities) and display it in a single unified view.  

The AI-enabled platform will allow city developers to improve services, using the data collected to monitor user experience and enjoyment and adapt accordingly. 

The project marks the first U.S. deployment of Honeywell’s platform. 

Atlanta BeltLine is one of the largest urban redevelopment programs in the U.S., connecting 45 in-town neighborhoods through its rail transit system. Among the services on offer in Atlanta BeltLine are free public Wi-Fi, autonomous grocery stores and smart trash cans, with more announcements set to come in the coming months. 

It is hoped that by providing free public Wi-Fi, the space can act as an example of how smart infrastructure can bridge digital divides in cities and create a more connected community. 

“The Atlanta BeltLine uses public infrastructure as a vehicle for catalyzing economic growth and development,” said Clyde Higgs, Atlanta BeltLine’s CEO. “This digital inclusion and smart cities initiative will play a major role in defining our legacy and impact as an organization as we seek to leverage our telecommunication infrastructure to open up new economic opportunities to residents, students, business owners, seniors and the community at large. 

“The BeltLine itself is a testing ground for innovation. It’s a place where we can use technology to solve problems facing our communities that could be scaled city-wide and as a case study for cities across the country.”

Another partner, eX² Technology, designed and installed a 15.7-mile multi-duct, fiber-optic communication network on the Atlanta BeltLine in 2021. 

“Our dark fiber commercialization efforts have supported the development of this Smart City Pilot as well as promoted economic development and digital inclusivity,” said Jay Jorgensen, eX² Technology COO.