Urbanova Teams Up with Gallup to Identify Meaningful Smart City Projects

People-Centered Analysis Informs the Role of Smart Cities in
Addressing Public Priorities

SPOKANE, Wash.–(BUSINESS WIRE)–#LivingLab–Urbanova, a smart city living lab in Spokane, Washington’s University
District, is collaborating with Gallup, the global analytics and
advisory company, to identify Urbanova projects that matter to citizens
based on analysis of public sentiment and other available data. Gallup
will conduct qualitative in-depth interviews with key stakeholders and a
comprehensive data review to uncover public priorities that smart city
projects can address.

“As cities grow and adapt, they will be more connected – people to
places and to each other. Neighborhoods and communities are defined by
those who live there,” said Kim Zentz, managing director, Urbanova, and
co-director, Washington State University smart cities initiatives.
“Urbanova is focused on harnessing data to gain insights, empower people
and solve urban challenges. By collaborating with Gallup, we are
delivering on our commitment to identify citizen-driven applications
that matter to people and that strive for social, environmental and
economic resiliency and equity. Ultimately, we expect to develop a
process that is replicable and scalable for other communities to use.”

Stakeholder interviews will help to identify and define problems or
“pain points” in the community that Urbanova projects can address.
Interviews also will ensure that Urbanova projects align with key issues
related to public health, infrastructure, economic development,
government, transportation and social issues. Gallup will simultaneously
conduct a comprehensive review of existing data sources – including
public and private data that is local, regional and national in scope –
that provide insights for monitoring, analyzing and assessing citizens’
concerns.

“At Gallup, we are committed to helping leaders and organizations solve
their most pressing problems by understanding the attitudes and
behaviors of employees, customers, students and citizens,” said Justin
Bibb, Gallup senior adviser and project lead. “We have an opportunity to
help Urbanova ensure its projects are aligned with the priorities of
Spokane’s citizens. Ultimately, we will help Urbanova leverage the
citizen voice to identify smart city solutions that matter.”

About Urbanova

Urbanova is a living laboratory to design cities for the future. Located
in the University District near downtown Spokane, Washington, we harness
data to gain insights, empower people and solve urban challenges in new
ways. We enable healthier citizens, safer neighborhoods, smarter
infrastructure, a more sustainable environment and a stronger economy.
Urbanova, a nonprofit organization, was founded by Avista, the City of
Spokane, Itron, Washington State University, McKinstry and the
University District Development Association.

Interested in learning more? Join us. We’d like to continue the
conversation. Visit www.urbanova.org.

About Gallup

Gallup delivers analytics and advice to help leaders and organizations
solve their most pressing problems. Combining more than 80 years of
experience with its global reach, Gallup knows more about the attitudes
and behaviors of employees, customers, students and citizens than any
other organization in the world.

Contacts

Itron, Inc.
Alison Mallahan, 509-891-3802
Senior Public
Relations Specialist
[email protected]
or
Avista
Debbie
Simock, 509-495-8031
Senior Communications Manager
[email protected]