For the more than 40 million people who travel to Las Vegas each year, the city is a place of entertainment ranging from shopping and gambling to sports and nightlife to world-famous restaurants. But for the 650,000 people who call Las Vegas home, the reality can be more routine than glamour. These people live and work here, their children go to school, they walk their dogs and shop for groceries. And according to Michael Sherwood, the city’s CIO, the challenge is serving the city’s visitors while also providing for the locals, which is why he makes sure the city runs as efficiently as possible.
As part of that effort, he and his team are focused on using data and the right digital technologies to improve things like traffic management. “Although new technologies come out every year, you can’t focus too much on the technology,” he explains, pointing out that CIOs need to look at their goals and problems and then figure out how connectivity, data and technology can help.
No wrong turns
For example, when city officials began receiving reports of wrong-way drivers and accidents at an intersection near Las Vegas City Hall, they knew they had to improve the situation. On some days, as many as 40 incidents were reported. At first, the city sent people out to monitor the intersection during the day, but it was impossible to predict when an incident might occur.
