Smart Raleigh Projects

Peach Road Cultural Center Smart Lights and Wi-Fi
This completed pilot project tested energy-efficient lights thar produced an outdoor public Wi-Fi network to serve a largely immigrant population and neighborhood with limited high-speed internet access. The project identified valuable savings and improved public safety uses of the smart lights. Learn more, visit Smart Lighting at Peach Road Park

Greenway Innovation Corridor
Based on input from the Raleigh Impact Lab, this project identifies a 1.5-mile section of the city’s greenway as an innovation corridor where we will deploy new ideas, both tech-related and non-tech-related. New innovations and programs include:

• Greenway Explorer
• Glow-in-the-dark center line markings

Learn more, visit our Parks Page

Regional Air Quality & Heat Monitoring
Based on our Regional Challenge at our Summit II, a handful of communities will work with JustAir, Inc. to install heat monitors. This project was launched in 2025 in collaboration with the Town of Chapel Hill and Orange County. For Raleigh, this data will help inform and “ground truth” as we explore future urban heat data and modeling and potential mitigation strategies as part of a broader portfolio of climate action and heat mitigation work. 

Improved Waste & Recycling Efficiency
The City is testing out a unique, locally made, trash and recycling container at its Barwell Community Center and Raleigh Founded, North Street.  The MyMatR device encourages recycling, having a “hole” for waste and recyclables—and informs the user (the depositor of the waste or recyclable) if they select the correct hole. The device uses visual AI and sorts the materials inside the box and will alert staff when it is time to change out the bags. This device is being tested this summer and fall. Learn more about this project.