Smart city
Saratoga's Smart City Commission -- seeking to leverage fiber-optic, cable, and wi-fi infrastructure to expand “smart” services all across the city -- got help from a Skidmore business course this summer. Under Professor Azita Hirsa, students Nicole Bennett '17, Denis Biglin '18, Spencer Lowry '18, and Joseph Stagliano '18, presented results from a citizens' survey that they devised and analyzed. The project gathered information about Saratogians' hopes and needs for amenities like free downtown wi-fi, extensive broadband, and parking-finder apps -- expressions of interest that can help the commission as it shapes "intelligent community" development across Saratoga.
The commission includes representatives from Skidmore and Empire State College as well as the school district, public library, local utility company, and chamber of commerce and is working with a technology consulting firm.