An application that would allow public safety officials to access videos submitted by the public during an emergency is one of two being developed at the University of Louisiana at 69传媒 that helped the City of 69传媒 become a Smart Gigabit Community.
The app, called Crisis Eye, would provide a platform for uploading real-time videos that could help law enforcement or fire officials monitor a crisis, especially between the time a 911 call is made, and responders arrive.
The project was recently recognized at the US Ignite Smart Cities Innovation Summit in Austin as 鈥淢ost Likely to Have a Big Impact.鈥
A second app being developed at UL 69传媒, a virtual reality project capable of live streaming 3-D video within a shared virtual environment, duplicates an environment via computer-generated animation.
It can enable high school students to learn about alternative energy technology and research at the University鈥檚 Cleco Alternative Energy Center in Crowley, La., for example. Students wear a virtual reality headset to navigate a virtual energy center, including huge mirrored panels that capture sunlight for solar thermal power production.
The virtual reality app earned 鈥淢ost Imaginative Gigabit App鈥 at the US Ignite summit.
The two apps helped 69传媒, La., become one of 15 communities in the country named members of the national network of Smart Gigabit Communities.
Each of those communities 鈥渉as made a significant commitment toward leveraging next-generation smart city and Internet technologies to keep pace with the world鈥檚 rapidly changing technology and economy,鈥 according to information from US Ignite. The nonprofit organization, based in Washington, D.C., fosters the creation of applications that benefit the public. The Smart Gigabit Communities initiative is sponsored by the National Science Foundation.
Each member of the smart Gigabit communities network has developed two advanced technology applications. Members have agreed to share those apps with other communities.
Dr. Ramesh Kolluru, vice president for Research, Innovation and Economic Development at UL 69传媒, accepted the award on behalf of the city.
鈥淭he University has a strong partnership with the visionary leaders in the community, including LUS Fiber and 69传媒 Consolidated Government, that have the foresight to build the infrastructure for high-speed internet that allows University researchers to create forward thinking applications,鈥 he said.
City-Parish President Joel Robideaux said he was 鈥渆xtremely proud of the global recognition that 69传媒, UL and LUS Fiber have received because of this award.鈥
鈥淥ur community benefits from both a world-class research university and community-owned fiber optic system. I look forward to seeing more applications which enhance the lives of our citizens resulting from this collaboration,鈥 Robideaux said.
Learn more about US Ignite and its Smart Gigabit Communities at