The City of San Antonio in south central Texas has introduced a location based chatbot to inform the public of progress in building development on the city’s Lower Broadway area. The chatbot, “Talkin’ Broadway”, is activated through QR codes placed along the Lower Broadway corridor. Each QR will update on progress in the immediate locale of the major reconstruction effort, begun in 2017 and scheduled to complete in 2014.

Talkin’ Broadway is the first initiative of its kind in the city, providing information on ongoing city construction projects and the public. 

Target audiences include visitors navigating Broadway and area streets to access local businesses, residents searching for more information about the bond project, and business owners seeking updates about ongoing construction.

“We hope this is a fun and engaging way to quickly seek and receive answers about a downtown project and the area impacted by construction,” said Brian Chasnoff, Assistant Director of Infrastructure Communications for the City. “If this pilot is successful, we would seek to expand it to other high-profile capital projects across the city.”

The project is one of several pilots that are part of the City’s Smart Cities Roadmap and “Smarter Together!” initiative. Talkin’ Broadway is set to run as a preliminary year-long trial before its potential deployment in other awareness-building projects across the city. 

“Talkin’ Broadway is not just about information; it’s about community interaction and understanding,” said Brian Dillard, Chief Innovation Officer for the City. “As we launch this pilot, we’re optimistic that it will set the stage for broader adoption across the city. Talkin’ Broadway isn’t just a chatbot; it’s a conversation starter, bringing us closer to our community and transforming the way the City connects with visitors and residents.”

Talkin’ Broadway is a chatbot system to provide custom information about the construction at sites along the Lower Broadway corridor. The approach provides construction updates, project details and information about the corridor to the community through a quick QR snapshot or text message. The system is accessible in both English and Spanish. Future iterations could host additional language translations. 

According to the City government, the initiative goes beyond public engagement; it also provides local decision-makers with insights into the public’s needs and attitudes regarding the construction in the area. The platform uses data analytics, including sentiment analysis, to gather community insights in real time.

“Talkin’ Broadway is a compelling new initiative aimed at enhancing the City’s communication with the public,” said Alanna Reed, Director of Communications for the City. “We’re excited to evaluate its impact on the public’s understanding of the Lower Broadway corridor’s reconstruction.”

According to the City, the project reflects its commitment to harnessing smart city technology and innovation to create more open, accessible, and community-oriented solutions.