Robert Fischer writes about sustainable development, focusing on technology, economic growth, and policies that build resilient and equitable communities worldwide. Most recently, Robert served as a Public Diplomacy Associate for the U.S. Department of State at the U.S. Embassy in Port Louis, Mauritius, where among other things he reported on human rights, digital authoritarianism, and smart cities in East Africa. Prior, Robert spent nearly a decade working as a policy, technology, and communications advisor at Mandli Communications Inc. Mandli works with national, international, and regional authorities to advance smart city standards, policies, and best practices. Robert holds a master’s degree in urban and regional planning from the University of Wisconsin in Madison and a master’s in software engineering from Cal State Fullerton.
2019 Already a Big Year For 'Smart City' Evolution
While 2019 doesn’t scream smart city revolution, we are seeing signs of significant smart city evolution.
Let's Hope Trump Considers Infrastructure a National Security Issue Too
Maybe, just maybe, Trump might also be willing to consider the decaying condition of U.S. infrastructure a matter of national security. And if Congress played along, perhaps we'd get a 2019 Infrastructure bill. That's how Eisenhower did it.
Keeping An Open Mind: How Some Cities Are Reducing Emissions While Supporting Economic Vitality
As cities swell and car use soars, U.S. cities should take note of some bold, even radical, emissions-reducing policies being deployed around Europe.
Autonomous Vehicles: Planners Aren’t Planning, Just Reacting
When it comes to planning for transformative technologies like autonomous vehicles, urban planners – whose job it is to project and prioritize transportation investments – have fallen behind and the consequences could be severe.