Beyond Asphalt: The Future of Smart Infrastructure

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: 

May 5, 2025 

Beyond Asphalt: The Future of Smart Infrastructure

Arizona State University partners with the Community Innovation Partnership (CIP) and the Tempe Chamber of Commerce to host an insightful discussion on AI in city infrastructure.

TEMPE, AZ—On April 28, 2025, the Community Innovation Partnership—a nationwide coalition of mayors and local elected leaders committed to understanding how emerging technologies like AI can help cities operate more effectively and drive economic growth—convened a panel of academics and community leaders to discuss how artificial intelligence and other technologies are supporting smarter infrastructure in Arizona. (Click here for photos that are available for media use.)

The panel consisted of Corey Woods, Mayor of Tempe; Robert Walker, Sustainability and innovation Chair, Tempe Chamber of Commerce; Ryan Levesque, Deputy Community Development Director—planning for the City of Tempe; and John Rome, Deputy Chief Information Officer of Data Stewardship, Augmented Analytics, and BI for Arizona State University.

The discussion, which was co-hosted by Arizona State University and the Tempe Chamber of Commerce, explored the ways in which Tempe’s leadership is embracing AI at the local level to enhance critical infrastructure, such as water and wastewater management, and how collaborations between the area’s leading academic institutions and public leaders are driving those efforts.

“Tempe’s partnership with ASU has made us a hub for innovation, from pioneering smart traffic studies to nurturing AI start-ups that will shape the future,” said Tempe Mayor Corey Woods, reflecting on the vital role of collaboration between the public and academic sectors in advancing AI innovation at the municipal level.

Others noted the importance of embracing AI. “We can’t put our heads in the sand, AI is here to stay,” argued Tempe Chamber of Commerce Sustainability & Innovation Chair Robert Walker. Indeed, AI functions are already being integrated across several of Arizona’s key industries, such as healthcare, manufacturing, and more.

Another key element to the conversation was the need for public leaders to lead with transparency when integrating these new tools. As Tempe Deputy Community Development Director of Planning Ryan Levesque said, "In Tempe, you don’t need to know the mayor or city council to get critical information. Transparency means it's just one click away on our website.” Tempe was the first city in Arizona to adopt an ethical AI use policy, and its leaders remain committed to integrating technology responsibly.

Following the insightful conversation, panelists and attendees were invited to join Marc Campbell, Arizona State University's assistant vice president of sustainability and deputy chief sustainability officer, on a tour showcasing the ASU campus’s smart infrastructure facilities.

By convening local leaders, academic experts, and industry voices, the Community Innovation Partnership continues to foster collaboration and critical dialogues that equip cities like Tempe with the tools, knowledge, and partnerships needed to harness emerging technologies for the public good. CIP is committed to continuing to bring communities together across the country to explore how innovation can build stronger, more resilient cities for the future.

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