“This partnership means a great deal to our city and its future,” said Mayor Lenny Curry. “It represents innovation, which leads to services and operations that improve the quality of life for residents and increase economic development opportunities in Jacksonville.”
 
MetroLab Network’s partnerships are collaborations where the universities lead research and development, and the city develops technologies and policies. Faculty members and students gain access to real-world laboratories to develop and test tools and programs that utilize information technology, data analytics and more. Cities benefit from their technical expertise, leading to solutions that reduce the cost of infrastructure and services, improve sustainability and resiliency, and support quality of life. MetroLab Network members are working on more than 100 “research, development and deployment” projects with broad impact on areas such as improving transportation and water systems, reducing the energy footprint in cities, and advancing health and public safety goals.
 
By becoming members of MetroLab Network, the City of Jacksonville, UNF and UF have signed a memorandum of understanding and agreed to undertake at least three research, development and deployment projects. The projects include Bicyclist/Pedestrian Behavior Analysis – determining the interactions between motorized vehicles, pedestrians, and cyclists that can lead to crashes in order to successfully install proven safety countermeasures; Emergency Response Mapping – tracking emergency response times allowing decision-makers to see if response times can be improved through enhanced data integration; and Neighborhood Connectivity Analysis – determining ways to connect neighborhoods, allowing residents easier access to services and amenities in their neighborhoods and communities.
 
MetroLab Network connects city-university partnerships via a national, collaborative platform that facilitates the sharing of information and the scaling of technology and solutions throughout the country. It is a research enterprise that uses data and information technologies to better understand how cities work and to improve the urban condition.
 
From May 9-11, representatives from Jacksonville, UNF and UF will participate in MetroLab Network’s Spring Summit, hosted by the City of San Diego and the University of California – San Diego.
 
“We are thrilled to welcome Jacksonville, UNF and UF to our network,” said Ben Levine, Interim Director of MetroLab Network. “Their focus on bicyclist and pedestrian behavior, emergency response mapping and neighborhood connectivity will help drive progress in the cities and regions that are addressing similar issues across the country. Furthermore, their collaboration with our extensive national network of cities and universities will accelerate progress in Jacksonville on many of its priorities.”
 
Launched in September 2015 as part of the Obama administration’s Smart Cities initiative, MetroLab Network is supported by a $1 million grant from the John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation. Carnegie Mellon University in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania is the fiduciary of MetroLab Network during its incubation period.