Hexagon’s Robert Jastram: Smart Cities Should Utilize Data Analytics, Visualization Tools

Robert Jastram, senior vice president of sales for North America at Hexagon’s geospatial division, said city leaders who are planning for smart cities should consider adopting data analytics and visualization tools designed to combine location-based data and business intelligence from multiple sources. 

Jastram wrote in a GCN guest piece posted Thursday a city should deploy technology to accelerate process for acquiring huge amounts of data and delivering the information in real time.

"From smart monitoring of power and water systems to quick identification of disruptions that can help get public utilities back online, bridging the geospatial and operational worlds will drive efficient infrastructure planning and management," he added.

A 2018 United Nations report projected 68 percent of the global population will live in urban areas by 2050. Jastram noted he believes new strategies can help cities accommodate such demographic shift.

He cited Baton Rouge, La., as an example of a city that uses a suite of applications to examine data on "blighted properties" and determine revenue loss by location.