Denver taps Panasonic for smart city plans

Denver is turning to smart city technologies to increase efficiency and give residents better access to energy efficiency, water conservation, public safety and health care services.

By teaming up with Panasonic Corp. and a number of other private-sector partners, the city is piloting a number of smart city initiatives that leverage Panasonic’s CityNOW approach to integrating smart city technology.

Panasonic’s CityNOW approach is based on its experience building a sustainable smart city in Fujisawa, Japan. Built on the site of an old factory, the town is now a thriving community with renewable energy systems that can provide off-grid power for up to three days, the company said. Panasonic plans to bring a number of similar solutions to the 400-acre development project near Peña Station, as well as to Denver International Airport.

The city and its partners plan to leverage smart technologies to provide the community with real-time information on city services like mass transit and available utilities, and to deploy street lighting and energy systems capable of sensing people and responding with necessary services.

A pilot system of solar cell-powered smart LED streetlights at the Denver airport, for example, aims to conserve energy by brightening when it detects foot traffic and dimming with lack of activity. The project includes HD security cameras for commuter safety, allowing the city to test new street video analytics technology that can later carry into parking management, traffic analysis and security, according to Panasonic

At the city’s Peña Station NEXT Health and Wellness Center, meanwhile, Panasonic's On4Care Remote Health Care solution will give patients with chronic illnesses access to in-home biometric readings and advanced, real-time, patient-doctor interactions.