"RFID Cities": The Growing Use of RFID by Local Municipalities

Law Enforcement, Libraries, Public Transit, Waste Management/Recycling, Bike Rental Programs, and More

Research Report

Much attention has been paid to national government-sponsored RFID initiatives around the globe. However, over the past several years, more and more implementations have been cropping up at the regional and local levels. Most of these projects are being driven by the need for municipalities to reduce costs by increasing efficiency, as well as to provide new and/or improved services for both businesses and private citizens. With all this activity, the question becomes: what is going on with RFID, RTLS, and contactless technology at the municipality level? The truth is that there are many innovative initiatives underway globally proposed by local governments. From the examples provided in this Research Report, it is easy to see that RFID and related sensor and wireless technologies are integral to the ability of communities to establish a Smart City environment and compete in an increasingly knowledge-intensive and global economy.

This Report highlights some of the key municipal projects that can contribute to the implementation of a community’s broader Smart City strategy. It answers the following questions:

- What is a "Smart City" and what are its characteristics?
- What are some of the key RFID and related technology projects underway across the globe?
- How do these projects relate to broader "Smart City" initiatives?
- Will national and regional governments influence the adoption of RFID locally?
- Will RFID be restricted to major cities or will smaller municipalities also embrace the technology?
- What are some of the RFID-based applications on the horizon?

Table of Contents

  • 1. Overview: Smart Cities and the Use of RFID and Related Technologies by Municipalities
  • 2. Local Municipality Projects across the Globe
    • 2.1. Law Enforcement and Public Safety
      • 2.1.1. Weapon and Munitions Tracking
      • 2.1.2. Chain of Custody Evidence Tracking
      • 2.1.3. e-ID Documents and Systems
      • 2.1.4. Passive and Active RFID for Tracking People
    • 2.2. Libraries
    • 2.3. Public Transit
      • 2.3.1. Contactless Smart Transit Cards/Tickets
      • 2.3.2. Public Transit Management
      • 2.3.3. Smart Parking Meters
      • 2.3.4. Bike Rental Programs
      • 2.3.5. Traffic Congestion Management
    • 2.4. Public Services
      • 2.4.1. Waste Management and Recycling
      • 2.4.2. Public Utilities
    • 2.5. Government Asset Tracking and Administrative Resource Optimization
      • 2.5.1. High Value Asset and Equipment Tracking
      • 2.5.2. IT/Data Center Asset Tracking and Management
      • 2.5.3. File/Document Tracking
      • 2.5.4. Election Ballot Processing and Voting Equipment Tracking
  • 3. Observations, conclusions, and Insights for the future