Get smart! San Antonio’s $7.9 million ‘smart city’ investment

​​​​SAN ANTONIO – The city’s $2.5 billion budget that was approved this week includes $7.​9 million for "smart city" initiatives.

Free wireless internet in parks, solar benches with charging docks, community kiosks, and app development are some of the projects now in the works.

Another planned project is a parks app that would provide a map of linear creek ways and, initially, the city’s ten largest parks. Another app would create an improved 3-1-1 system to help citizens interact with government through a smart phone.

The city will now be able to match a grant from the U.S. Department of Transportation for the San Antonio Traveler Real-time Information Portal (SATRIP). The project would gather real-time traffic data, incorporate the high-water detection system, include a pedestrian detection system in pedestrian crosswalks and incorporate traffic data into a mobile app for travelers.

Benches with solar panels will allow people to charge their electronic devices. The benches will also have sensors to collect information on pedestrian traffic and function as Wi-Fi hot spots.

Community kiosks would provide information on city services, current events, transportation services, local business information, local history and entertainment. They could also serve as Wi-Fi hotspots and charging stations.