Florida-based Ubicquia has acquired GE Current subsidiary City IQ to add artificial intelligence and traffic management to its smart streetlight offering.
 
Smart city streetlight and small cell maker Ubicquia says it plans to expand into traffic optimisation services after agreeing to buy City IQ for an undisclosed sum.
 
In addition to traffic optimisation services, City IQ, which is owned by energy company GE Current, offers public safety services. Its technology can be installed across any cobra head or ornamental streetlamp.
 
The company’s AI platform tracks and analyses video and audio data to suggest solutions to traffic congestion problems, improve bicycle lane use and safety, reduce crime, and support a city’s health initiatives.
 
City IQ also offers APIs and tools to integrate its data with those of internal systems or third-party platforms such as gunfire location detector ShotSpotter, video surveillance company Genetec or AI provider Xaqt.
 
Since the company launched more than five years ago, City IQ’s technology has been deployed in cities across the USA and Canada including San Diego, Atlanta, Portland and Schenectady.
 
Ubicquia CEO Ian Aaron said City IQ was an “ideal fit” with its own smart city and small cell products.
 
“The City IQ team brings deep relationships with key smart city stakeholders and public sector thought leadership on how City IQ and AI technology can align with a city’s open data and privacy policies,” he said. “I am looking forward to integrating our teams, expanding City IQ capabilities and making smart city AI scalable and affordable for cities of all sizes.”
 
As part of the deal, Ubicquia will acquire City IQ’s technology, related patents and major contracts with companies and cities across the USA and Canada. Its development, sales and customer service teams in Cleveland and Montreal will also be integrated into Ubicquia.
 
“We are pleased to pass the reins of the City IQ business to Ubicquia,” said Manish Bhandari, president and CEO of Current. “They are an excellent fit for our people, the technology and for the platform’s customers. By adding City IQ to Ubicquia’s other technology, they will jointly be better positioned to accelerate solutions for cities solving their most pressing public health and safety issues.”
 
Appetite for smart streetlights in the USA is growing rapidly, with a recent report from Northeast claiming the country will invest $8.2bn upgrading its infrastructure during the next ten years.