IDC’s Ruthbea Clarke: Transportation, Energy to See Gov’t IoT Spend Increase in Next 2 Years

A recent International Data Corp. report predicts government spending worldwide on Internet of Things platforms to hit $1.2 trillion in the next two years, according to an article published Monday on Cisco‘s website.

Ruthbea Clarke, smart cities research director at IDC, said transportation, energy, environment and tourism, and public safety are the four public sector divisions that will see an increase in IoT spending.

Clarke also cited the adoption of sensors by cities to carry out data collection and analysis as part of their IoT initiatives.

“The question a lot of cities have is which physical assets get sensors and why,” Clarke said.

“But I expect we’ll be seeing them on everything from light poles to trash cans to park benches.”

Tom Kerber, an analyst at Parks Associates, said the government sector faces challenges in its work to secure funds for IoT efforts.

“Many different verticals within the public sector such as water and electricity can benefit from a combined infrastructure but are used to working independently,” Kerber said.

“The very bureaucratic process has to be adjusted to take advantage of the opportunities that present themselves.”