College Park is working with Comcast to tackle a big municipal problem and it has nothing to do with cable TV or high-speed Internet.
The southside city is using “smart city” technology from the cable giant that makes it easier to determine when trash cans need to be emptied. Sensors tucked under the lids scan the trash below, sending signals to Comcast’s MachineQ Gateway modems when the bins are near full.
The city launched the technology because of issues with overflowing trashcans and the challenge of staying on top of when the refuse needed to be collected, city leaders said.
“For College Park to achieve its goal of becoming a smart city, we must begin to take a more progressive approach to how we operate and manage our services,” College Park
Chief Information Officer Michael Hicks said.
“Our partnership with Comcast opens the door for us to begin using technology to support our daily operations, making us more efficient and effective in the long-run,” he said.
The sensors are just some of the “smart city” technology that College Park wants to roll out over the next decade. The city is exploring smart parking, smart traffic signals, smart pedestrian counters and smart self-service device, the city said.
“We applaud College Park’s vision to become a true smart city,” Comcast Regional Senior Vice President Jason Gumbs, who is based in Atlanta, said. “As the city explores additional options where technology can improve the user experience, Comcast will partner closely with College Park to deliver those advanced solutions.”
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