The concept of smart cities, urban areas where technology and data collection help improve quality of life as well as the sustainability and efficiency of city operations, was initially led by large cities.

But smaller municipalities, like the City of Syracuse, have also welcomed the approach, initiating smart city projects over the past decade.

Despite its size, Syracuse asserts “a larger dreaming of possibilities, punching above their weight, acting like a bigger city,” says Austin Zwick, associate teaching professor of policy studies. A key factor behind this ambitious approach is strong collaboration between different levels of government that has allowed access to financing.

“[There's been] a real alignment and agreement between multiple levels of government…for the last 10 years or so,” explains Zwick. This includes city, county, state and federal involvement in the U.S. through a recent bipartisan infrastructure law.

Read more in the Nature Cities article, “How small but smart cities are changing the way data and decisions are influencing urban life.”