Data-Smart City Solutions
@datasmartcities.bsky.social
Highlighting cities solving problems and engaging communities with data. Directed by Stephen Goldsmith @goldsmithongov.bsky.social at the Bloomberg Center for Cities at Harvard University. Listen: #DataSmartCityPod
https://datasmart.hks.harvard.edu/
https://datasmart.hks.harvard.edu/
"If I'm ordering something off of Amazon, I don't care which department does what, I just want my shoes on my porch by tomorrow afternoon. So that's the kind of expectation users have when they're interacting with government." Suma Nallapati
https://datasmart.hks.harvard.edu/personalizing-denver-ai
https://datasmart.hks.harvard.edu/personalizing-denver-ai
Personalizing Government at Scale: Denver's AI Strategy | Data-Smart City Solutions
ow.ly
February 11, 2026 at 3:40 PM
"If I'm ordering something off of Amazon, I don't care which department does what, I just want my shoes on my porch by tomorrow afternoon. So that's the kind of expectation users have when they're interacting with government." Suma Nallapati
https://datasmart.hks.harvard.edu/personalizing-denver-ai
https://datasmart.hks.harvard.edu/personalizing-denver-ai
"Singapore’s success shows how investing in in-house technical capacity can create a more coherent, coordinated digital infrastructure."
Check out our new piece by @goldsmithongov.bsky.social and Juncheng "Tony" Yang: datasmart.hks.harvard.edu/boosting-dig...
Check out our new piece by @goldsmithongov.bsky.social and Juncheng "Tony" Yang: datasmart.hks.harvard.edu/boosting-dig...
Boosting Digital Success with Cross-Agency Collaboration | Data-Smart City Solutions
datasmart.hks.harvard.edu
February 11, 2026 at 3:07 PM
"Singapore’s success shows how investing in in-house technical capacity can create a more coherent, coordinated digital infrastructure."
Check out our new piece by @goldsmithongov.bsky.social and Juncheng "Tony" Yang: datasmart.hks.harvard.edu/boosting-dig...
Check out our new piece by @goldsmithongov.bsky.social and Juncheng "Tony" Yang: datasmart.hks.harvard.edu/boosting-dig...
Not sure where to start to unlock the productivity of your team in order to be more responsive to your residents? Check out the advice Brian Elms shares with Stephen Goldsmith on the #DataSmartCityPod 🎧
https://datasmart.hks.harvard.edu/ai-agents-peak-brian-elms
https://datasmart.hks.harvard.edu/ai-agents-peak-brian-elms
AI Agents and Peak Academy: Brian Elms on Empowering Government Workers | Data-Smart City Solutions
We want to hear from you! Our listener survey takes 3 minutes to fill out and will help us bring you an even better Data-Smart City Pod in 2026.
datasmart.hks.harvard.edu
February 11, 2026 at 2:35 PM
Not sure where to start to unlock the productivity of your team in order to be more responsive to your residents? Check out the advice Brian Elms shares with Stephen Goldsmith on the #DataSmartCityPod 🎧
https://datasmart.hks.harvard.edu/ai-agents-peak-brian-elms
https://datasmart.hks.harvard.edu/ai-agents-peak-brian-elms
What if your city's data is missing an entire perspective? 📊
New research on smart city equity shows that when resident 311 reports meet computer vision data, the two systems see almost entirely different problems: less than 10% overlap.
Neither is wrong, just different.👉 https://ow.ly/939J50XXmLy
New research on smart city equity shows that when resident 311 reports meet computer vision data, the two systems see almost entirely different problems: less than 10% overlap.
Neither is wrong, just different.👉 https://ow.ly/939J50XXmLy
February 5, 2026 at 1:00 PM
What if your city's data is missing an entire perspective? 📊
New research on smart city equity shows that when resident 311 reports meet computer vision data, the two systems see almost entirely different problems: less than 10% overlap.
Neither is wrong, just different.👉 https://ow.ly/939J50XXmLy
New research on smart city equity shows that when resident 311 reports meet computer vision data, the two systems see almost entirely different problems: less than 10% overlap.
Neither is wrong, just different.👉 https://ow.ly/939J50XXmLy
Today's episode of the #DataSmartCityPod features Suma Nallapati, Denver's CAIO.
Nallapati and host Stephen Goldsmith discuss:
🌞Sunny the AI-powered chatbot
📃Freeing employees from tedious paperwork
🧰How #AI is just one tool in a bigger toolbox
datasmart.hks.harvard.edu/personalizin...
Nallapati and host Stephen Goldsmith discuss:
🌞Sunny the AI-powered chatbot
📃Freeing employees from tedious paperwork
🧰How #AI is just one tool in a bigger toolbox
datasmart.hks.harvard.edu/personalizin...
Personalizing Government at Scale: Denver's AI Strategy | Data-Smart City Solutions
datasmart.hks.harvard.edu
February 4, 2026 at 6:10 PM
Today's episode of the #DataSmartCityPod features Suma Nallapati, Denver's CAIO.
Nallapati and host Stephen Goldsmith discuss:
🌞Sunny the AI-powered chatbot
📃Freeing employees from tedious paperwork
🧰How #AI is just one tool in a bigger toolbox
datasmart.hks.harvard.edu/personalizin...
Nallapati and host Stephen Goldsmith discuss:
🌞Sunny the AI-powered chatbot
📃Freeing employees from tedious paperwork
🧰How #AI is just one tool in a bigger toolbox
datasmart.hks.harvard.edu/personalizin...
"The mid-level management...is one of the hardest jobs to be in, you get pressure from the people below you and you get a ton of pressure from the people above you....[knowing] how to calm those two pressure valves is a tremendous asset." https://datasmart.hks.harvard.edu/ai-agents-peak-brian-elms
AI Agents and Peak Academy: Brian Elms on Empowering Government Workers | Data-Smart City Solutions
We want to hear from you! Our listener survey takes 3 minutes to fill out and will help us bring you an even better Data-Smart City Pod in 2026.
datasmart.hks.harvard.edu
January 28, 2026 at 1:30 PM
"The mid-level management...is one of the hardest jobs to be in, you get pressure from the people below you and you get a ton of pressure from the people above you....[knowing] how to calm those two pressure valves is a tremendous asset." https://datasmart.hks.harvard.edu/ai-agents-peak-brian-elms
Congrats to our colleagues at the Center on the Developing Child! They recently hosted an Extreme Heat & Early Childhood roundtable in Baltimore, exploring actions that align w/ the city goal of reducing infant mortality. ow.ly/Zulp50Y1mjG
Learn more about our joint partnership: ow.ly/1gmE50Y1mib
Learn more about our joint partnership: ow.ly/1gmE50Y1mib
The Community Data Health Initiative | Data-Smart City Solutions
ow.ly
January 22, 2026 at 6:33 PM
Congrats to our colleagues at the Center on the Developing Child! They recently hosted an Extreme Heat & Early Childhood roundtable in Baltimore, exploring actions that align w/ the city goal of reducing infant mortality. ow.ly/Zulp50Y1mjG
Learn more about our joint partnership: ow.ly/1gmE50Y1mib
Learn more about our joint partnership: ow.ly/1gmE50Y1mib
New research shows only 7.9% overlap between neighborhood 311 reports & computer vision detections. Residents see acute daily problems. Algorithms see technical deterioration. Together they reveal a new equity dimension. https://datasmart.hks.harvard.edu/residents-algorithms-see-different-problems
January 22, 2026 at 11:40 AM
New research shows only 7.9% overlap between neighborhood 311 reports & computer vision detections. Residents see acute daily problems. Algorithms see technical deterioration. Together they reveal a new equity dimension. https://datasmart.hks.harvard.edu/residents-algorithms-see-different-problems
We have Brian Elms on the #DataSmartCityPod!
Hear directly from the former director of the @cityofdenver.bsky.social's famous Peak Academy, a program that host @goldsmithongov.bsky.social considers one of the most effective initiatives in government. datasmart.hks.harvard.edu/ai-agents-pe...
Hear directly from the former director of the @cityofdenver.bsky.social's famous Peak Academy, a program that host @goldsmithongov.bsky.social considers one of the most effective initiatives in government. datasmart.hks.harvard.edu/ai-agents-pe...
AI Agents and Peak Academy: Brian Elms on Empowering Government Workers | Data-Smart City Solutions
datasmart.hks.harvard.edu
January 21, 2026 at 9:29 PM
We have Brian Elms on the #DataSmartCityPod!
Hear directly from the former director of the @cityofdenver.bsky.social's famous Peak Academy, a program that host @goldsmithongov.bsky.social considers one of the most effective initiatives in government. datasmart.hks.harvard.edu/ai-agents-pe...
Hear directly from the former director of the @cityofdenver.bsky.social's famous Peak Academy, a program that host @goldsmithongov.bsky.social considers one of the most effective initiatives in government. datasmart.hks.harvard.edu/ai-agents-pe...
3/🧵
This has implications far beyond potholes: think air quality, extreme heat, or any diffuse urban health challenge where harms are invisible in day-to-day experience.
Who gets heard—and who stays invisible—is a question of equity.
Full article: datasmart.hks.harvard.edu/residents-al...
This has implications far beyond potholes: think air quality, extreme heat, or any diffuse urban health challenge where harms are invisible in day-to-day experience.
Who gets heard—and who stays invisible—is a question of equity.
Full article: datasmart.hks.harvard.edu/residents-al...
January 15, 2026 at 5:14 PM
3/🧵
This has implications far beyond potholes: think air quality, extreme heat, or any diffuse urban health challenge where harms are invisible in day-to-day experience.
Who gets heard—and who stays invisible—is a question of equity.
Full article: datasmart.hks.harvard.edu/residents-al...
This has implications far beyond potholes: think air quality, extreme heat, or any diffuse urban health challenge where harms are invisible in day-to-day experience.
Who gets heard—and who stays invisible—is a question of equity.
Full article: datasmart.hks.harvard.edu/residents-al...
2/ 🧵
🔎: Residents and algorithms are looking at fundamentally different problems.
⚖️: 311 data can show biased inputs, but algorithms are disconnected from residents' lived experiences.
💡: Neither reactive resident reporting nor systematic monitoring is sufficient alone.
🔎: Residents and algorithms are looking at fundamentally different problems.
⚖️: 311 data can show biased inputs, but algorithms are disconnected from residents' lived experiences.
💡: Neither reactive resident reporting nor systematic monitoring is sufficient alone.
1/🧵 New research from @khahlil.bsky.social compares 187,000+ 311 reports with 4,856 pavement defects detected by Cyvl computer vision, uncovering a critical challenge for cities, & an opportunity to use technology to complement civic inputs. datasmart.hks.harvard.edu/residents-al...
When Residents and Algorithms See Different Problems | Data-Smart City Solutions
datasmart.hks.harvard.edu
January 15, 2026 at 5:13 PM
2/ 🧵
🔎: Residents and algorithms are looking at fundamentally different problems.
⚖️: 311 data can show biased inputs, but algorithms are disconnected from residents' lived experiences.
💡: Neither reactive resident reporting nor systematic monitoring is sufficient alone.
🔎: Residents and algorithms are looking at fundamentally different problems.
⚖️: 311 data can show biased inputs, but algorithms are disconnected from residents' lived experiences.
💡: Neither reactive resident reporting nor systematic monitoring is sufficient alone.
1/🧵 New research from @khahlil.bsky.social compares 187,000+ 311 reports with 4,856 pavement defects detected by Cyvl computer vision, uncovering a critical challenge for cities, & an opportunity to use technology to complement civic inputs. datasmart.hks.harvard.edu/residents-al...
When Residents and Algorithms See Different Problems | Data-Smart City Solutions
datasmart.hks.harvard.edu
January 15, 2026 at 5:13 PM
1/🧵 New research from @khahlil.bsky.social compares 187,000+ 311 reports with 4,856 pavement defects detected by Cyvl computer vision, uncovering a critical challenge for cities, & an opportunity to use technology to complement civic inputs. datasmart.hks.harvard.edu/residents-al...
Can historical data help identify & prepare for days w/ a high likelihood of asthma attacks?
See how the Houston Health Department is helping at-risk residents by sending messages that alert them to days w/ a higher risk of asthma attacks.
https://datasmart.hks.harvard.edu/local-tools-healthy-air
See how the Houston Health Department is helping at-risk residents by sending messages that alert them to days w/ a higher risk of asthma attacks.
https://datasmart.hks.harvard.edu/local-tools-healthy-air
January 13, 2026 at 1:35 PM
Can historical data help identify & prepare for days w/ a high likelihood of asthma attacks?
See how the Houston Health Department is helping at-risk residents by sending messages that alert them to days w/ a higher risk of asthma attacks.
https://datasmart.hks.harvard.edu/local-tools-healthy-air
See how the Houston Health Department is helping at-risk residents by sending messages that alert them to days w/ a higher risk of asthma attacks.
https://datasmart.hks.harvard.edu/local-tools-healthy-air
"The city officials have lots of data and very little context, and the community has a lot of context and very little access to the data; put them together, we should have a better solution." Stephen Goldsmith on the #DataSmartCityPod https://datasmart.hks.harvard.edu/rethinking-gov-2026
Rethinking Government in 2026 | Data-Smart City Solutions
Rethinking Government in 2026 Episode 84 December 17, 2025 Betsy Gardner In our end-of-year episode, host Stephen Goldsmith reflect on 2025's most promising advancements in local government and shares his vision for how cities can harness generative AI to drive real change. Goldsmith discusses why a…
datasmart.hks.harvard.edu
January 7, 2026 at 11:30 AM
"The city officials have lots of data and very little context, and the community has a lot of context and very little access to the data; put them together, we should have a better solution." Stephen Goldsmith on the #DataSmartCityPod https://datasmart.hks.harvard.edu/rethinking-gov-2026
We'd love to hear from you! 👉👉bit.ly/datasmartpod
Please check out our listener survey for the #DataSmartCityPod and take a couple minutes to let us know what you like, who you want to hear, and how we can bring you an even better podcast in 2026 ⚡
Please check out our listener survey for the #DataSmartCityPod and take a couple minutes to let us know what you like, who you want to hear, and how we can bring you an even better podcast in 2026 ⚡
We've launched our 1st listener survey: bit.ly/datasmartpod.
Our goal w/ the #DataSmartCityPod is to provide you w/ the best info we can on how to innovate in government through creative & impactful applications of data & tech. Please take 5 mins to fill out this out, and thanks for listening!
Our goal w/ the #DataSmartCityPod is to provide you w/ the best info we can on how to innovate in government through creative & impactful applications of data & tech. Please take 5 mins to fill out this out, and thanks for listening!
January 6, 2026 at 5:40 PM
We'd love to hear from you! 👉👉bit.ly/datasmartpod
Please check out our listener survey for the #DataSmartCityPod and take a couple minutes to let us know what you like, who you want to hear, and how we can bring you an even better podcast in 2026 ⚡
Please check out our listener survey for the #DataSmartCityPod and take a couple minutes to let us know what you like, who you want to hear, and how we can bring you an even better podcast in 2026 ⚡
“When it comes to children and the effects of air pollution, the timing really matters.”
See how cities are meeting this challenge head-on, even with limited federal funding, to protect communities. https://datasmart.hks.harvard.edu/local-tools-healthy-air
See how cities are meeting this challenge head-on, even with limited federal funding, to protect communities. https://datasmart.hks.harvard.edu/local-tools-healthy-air
December 30, 2025 at 3:10 PM
“When it comes to children and the effects of air pollution, the timing really matters.”
See how cities are meeting this challenge head-on, even with limited federal funding, to protect communities. https://datasmart.hks.harvard.edu/local-tools-healthy-air
See how cities are meeting this challenge head-on, even with limited federal funding, to protect communities. https://datasmart.hks.harvard.edu/local-tools-healthy-air
"These digital tools can't be cute things that we use on top of a legacy government. We need to change the legacy government dramatically..." Stephen Goldsmith on the #DataSmartCityPod https://datasmart.hks.harvard.edu/rethinking-gov-2026
Rethinking Government in 2026 | Data-Smart City Solutions
Rethinking Government in 2026 Episode 84 December 17, 2025 Betsy Gardner In our end-of-year episode, host Stephen Goldsmith reflect on 2025's most promising advancements in local government and shares his vision for how cities can harness generative AI to drive real change. Goldsmith discusses why a…
datasmart.hks.harvard.edu
December 23, 2025 at 8:10 PM
"These digital tools can't be cute things that we use on top of a legacy government. We need to change the legacy government dramatically..." Stephen Goldsmith on the #DataSmartCityPod https://datasmart.hks.harvard.edu/rethinking-gov-2026
We're sharing 3 key takeaways from our recent Community Data Health Initiative's Air Quality Learning Cohort meeting! datasmart.hks.harvard.edu/local-tools-...
Participants came together to share how local leaders are leveraging existing power and innovative mechanisms to protect residents.
Participants came together to share how local leaders are leveraging existing power and innovative mechanisms to protect residents.
Maximizing Local Tools for Cleaner, Healthier Air | Data-Smart City Solutions
datasmart.hks.harvard.edu
December 23, 2025 at 8:04 PM
We're sharing 3 key takeaways from our recent Community Data Health Initiative's Air Quality Learning Cohort meeting! datasmart.hks.harvard.edu/local-tools-...
Participants came together to share how local leaders are leveraging existing power and innovative mechanisms to protect residents.
Participants came together to share how local leaders are leveraging existing power and innovative mechanisms to protect residents.
As we close out 2025, we're sharing our most popular articles and episodes from the last year. datasmart.hks.harvard.edu/the-top-ten-...
We're honored to serve as the central resources for city leaders, especially during challenging times, as these are also moments of great promise and potential.
We're honored to serve as the central resources for city leaders, especially during challenging times, as these are also moments of great promise and potential.
December 22, 2025 at 7:23 PM
As we close out 2025, we're sharing our most popular articles and episodes from the last year. datasmart.hks.harvard.edu/the-top-ten-...
We're honored to serve as the central resources for city leaders, especially during challenging times, as these are also moments of great promise and potential.
We're honored to serve as the central resources for city leaders, especially during challenging times, as these are also moments of great promise and potential.
“Buildings form the foundations of cities, and how well the buildings perform will determine how well a city performs.”
https://datasmart.hks.harvard.edu/indoor-air-mayors
https://datasmart.hks.harvard.edu/indoor-air-mayors
December 18, 2025 at 12:00 PM
“Buildings form the foundations of cities, and how well the buildings perform will determine how well a city performs.”
https://datasmart.hks.harvard.edu/indoor-air-mayors
https://datasmart.hks.harvard.edu/indoor-air-mayors
New EOY ep! @goldsmithongov.bsky.social talks 2025's most promising advancements & how cities can harness tools like GenAI for real change in 2026. He also shares his hopes for next year: difficulties ahead, but also the potential for groundbreaking change. datasmart.hks.harvard.edu/rethinking-g...
Rethinking Government in 2026 | Data-Smart City Solutions
datasmart.hks.harvard.edu
December 17, 2025 at 6:50 PM
New EOY ep! @goldsmithongov.bsky.social talks 2025's most promising advancements & how cities can harness tools like GenAI for real change in 2026. He also shares his hopes for next year: difficulties ahead, but also the potential for groundbreaking change. datasmart.hks.harvard.edu/rethinking-g...
ICYMI @goldsmithongov.bsky.social wrote about how new technologies like #GenAI are shaping the future of parks and recreation!
datasmart.hks.harvard.edu/shaping-futu...
datasmart.hks.harvard.edu/shaping-futu...
Shaping the Future: How Digital Tools Transform Parks and Greenways | Data-Smart City Solutions
datasmart.hks.harvard.edu
December 16, 2025 at 6:40 PM
ICYMI @goldsmithongov.bsky.social wrote about how new technologies like #GenAI are shaping the future of parks and recreation!
datasmart.hks.harvard.edu/shaping-futu...
datasmart.hks.harvard.edu/shaping-futu...
Most air pollution exposure happens indoors, not outside - and kids in older, underfunded schools pay the price. datasmart.hks.harvard.edu/indoor-air-m...
Local leaders can support better ventilation, filtration, & monitoring to protect health & support learning.
#IndoorAirQuality #HealthySchool
Local leaders can support better ventilation, filtration, & monitoring to protect health & support learning.
#IndoorAirQuality #HealthySchool
Why Indoor Air Quality Matters for Mayors | Data-Smart City Solutions
Most air pollution exposure actually happens indoors, where Americans spend 90% of their time, making indoor air quality a critical but often overlooked public health issue. By treating clean indoor a...
datasmart.hks.harvard.edu
December 10, 2025 at 7:10 PM
Most air pollution exposure happens indoors, not outside - and kids in older, underfunded schools pay the price. datasmart.hks.harvard.edu/indoor-air-m...
Local leaders can support better ventilation, filtration, & monitoring to protect health & support learning.
#IndoorAirQuality #HealthySchool
Local leaders can support better ventilation, filtration, & monitoring to protect health & support learning.
#IndoorAirQuality #HealthySchool
“Good data practices lead to accessible data,” Keegan Clifford, GIS Coordinator, Montgomery Parks https://datasmart.hks.harvard.edu/digital-accessibility-mont-parks
Trailblazing Digital Accessibility with Montgomery Parks | Data-Smart City Solutions
datasmart.hks.harvard.edu
December 10, 2025 at 4:10 PM
“Good data practices lead to accessible data,” Keegan Clifford, GIS Coordinator, Montgomery Parks https://datasmart.hks.harvard.edu/digital-accessibility-mont-parks
“Previously, only one person could review physical plans at a time; now all 10 team members can review the digital submission simultaneously.” Michael Shannon, city of San Antonio
https://datasmart.hks.harvard.edu/san-antonio-permitting-service
https://datasmart.hks.harvard.edu/san-antonio-permitting-service
December 4, 2025 at 3:35 PM
“Previously, only one person could review physical plans at a time; now all 10 team members can review the digital submission simultaneously.” Michael Shannon, city of San Antonio
https://datasmart.hks.harvard.edu/san-antonio-permitting-service
https://datasmart.hks.harvard.edu/san-antonio-permitting-service