Smart Cities and Digital Infrastructure
Creating future-ready places through digital, resilience and governance systems that connect people, economies and ecosystems
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Cities everywhere are under pressure. Rapid urbanization, climate change, digital transformation and rising expectations for inclusive growth are redefining how we plan, build and sustain the places where people live, learn and work.
At Jacobs, we view the built environment across three connected dimensions – inside, outside and beyond. Inside represents the assets and buildings that enable daily life – smart, efficient, human-centered spaces that perform for people and the planet. Outside captures the districts, campuses and public realm that connect communities through movement, access and shared experience. Beyond is the enabling architecture of thriving cities – the systems of governance, digital infrastructure and data, resilience, sustainability, investment and digital integration that allow everything else to work together and endure.
Smart cities connects these layers, bringing the physical and digital together. Smart cities bring technology and innovation to the built environment, connecting assets, districts and citywide systems through data, insight and intelligent systems. They enable cities to operate more efficiently, adapt to change and continuously improve outcomes – from safer mobility and lower emissions to greater equity and resilience. In this way, smart cities are not an end in themselves, but an evolving capability: the glue that links the three layers to create cities that truly learn, adapt and thrive over time - using open standards, data governance and secure integration to scale with confidence.
What we do
Our approach ensures that investments are anchored in strategy, enabled by digital innovation, governed through portfolio controls and design authority, de-risked through clear procurement routes (including Integrator and Master Systems Integrator (MSI) models) and measured by human outcomes.
We help clients define an ambitious vision, establish governance frameworks and operating models and deploy digital infrastructure that delivers measurable value. We apply emerging technologies, including artificial intelligence (AI), data analytics and digital twins, with open standards, interoperability and cyber-by-design to enhance decision-making, improve public services and support ethical, inclusive outcomes.
As a technology-agnostic partner, Jacobs provides independent, vendor-neutral and evidence-based advice to help clients select and integrate the right solutions and existing systems for their goals. Through our smart cities solutions, we work with governments, investors and communities to plan, deliver and scale places that perform – for people, economies and the environment.
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Vision and Strategy
We define clear, ambitious city visions backed by investment cases and roadmaps that scale beyond pilots with a clear digital blueprint for delivery.
- Market analysis and benchmarking
- Strategic ambition setting and long-term growth planning
- Investment and funding strategies that unlock sustainable value
- Prioritized services and value cases aligned to outcomes and business cases
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Governance and Policy Frameworks
We create governance and operating models that enable collaboration across public, private and civil society sectors with portfolio management and a clear design authority for digital.
- Multi-stakeholder operating models
- Embedding equity, social value and resilience in policy frameworks
- Strategic data and digital initiatives for coordinated, efficient city operations
- Portfolio governance, benefits tracking and design-authority guardrails
- Data governance, privacy and cyber operating model
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Placemaking and Urban Innovation
We combine digital master planning and placemaking to create connected precincts and innovation districts that drive growth and inclusion and tie cleanly into citywide standards and funding.
- Regeneration and transit-oriented development strategies
- Community-led innovation and stakeholder engagement
- Infrastructure and digital ecosystem assessments
- District operating models and a common data environment for delivery
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Digital Infrastructure and Data Systems
We plan and deliver the digital infrastructure and platforms that connect buildings, districts and systems using open standards and secure integration.
- Reference architectures and integration patterns for city platforms and services
- Digital twins, analytics, and AI-enabled city platforms
- Cybersecurity-by-design, interoperability and standards alignment
- Connectivity and IoT deployment strategies (including private networks where justified by the business case)
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Delivery and Systems Integration
We de-risk multi-vendor delivery through clear procurement routes and integrator models and manage compliance across plots and phases.
- Procurement strategy and Master Systems Integrator (MSI) coordination
- Technical compliance, interface management and onboarding of integrators
- Operations center and concept-of-operations alignment
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Investment and Scaling
We turn pilots into scalable programs that deliver long-term economic, social and environmental outcomes through the right commercial routes and measurable benefits.
- Business cases and return on investment frameworks
- Phasing approaches for retrofit versus new build
- Scaling innovation across regions and sectors
- Procurement routes, including integrator/MSI models
- Benefits management and KPI tracking
Explore our projects
We’re reimagining digital and operational systems to protect the connected infrastructure that keeps cities running – enabling smarter, safer and more resilient communities.
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Smart Infrastructure at Scale: Riyadh’s AI-Driven Coordination Breakthrough
Jacobs partnered with Riyadh Infrastructure Projects Center (RIPC) to use AI and data integration for more efficient citywide planning and infrastructure delivery. The initiative has reduced project conflicts, improved coordination and supported asset management, creating a model for sustainable urban growth.
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King Salman International Airport, Saudi Arabia
Jacobs was selected to provide masterplan validation, detailed masterplan design, runway design and digital smart services planning for Riyadh’s new global hub.
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Peachtree Corners Curiosity Lab, United States
With Qualcomm and the City of Peachtree Corners, Jacobs deployed end-to-end smart city solutions, including connected vehicle infrastructure, to improve safety and traffic operations.
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Scotland 5G Centre, United Kingdom
Jacobs supports the national hub accelerating 5G adoption across industry and public services, with a focus on health and social care outcomes and the business case for adoption.
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National Industrial Corridor Program, India
Jacobs was appointed Knowledge Partner by NICDC to support program management for 12 industrial corridors, including greenfield industrial smart cities across 10 states.
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Expo 2020 Dubai, United Arab Emirates
Delivered program and project management support for one of the world’s largest event-city developments, including planning for long-term legacy.
Read our latest insights and news
From new project wins and milestones to reports, podcasts and industry insights, discover what we’re up to.
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Future City Making: Embracing Complexity
Discover how the rich complexity of modern cities can spark new ideas, connections and pathways to more resilient, thriving communities.
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Innovation Districts: Shaping Urban Prosperity Through Collaboration and Purpose
Discover how collaboration and purpose are redefining the future of cities—where innovation drives prosperity, inclusion and lasting impact.
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How Smart City Tech Delivers Safer, More Liveable Places
Discover how smart-city technology is quietly transforming everyday life — making our streets safer, more connected and genuinely more livable.
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From Hype to Impact: How the Middle East Can Turn Artificial Intelligence Ambition into Real-World Value
Discover the practical frameworks turning artificial intelligence ambition and digital hype into real-world impact across the Middle East.
Meet some of our team
Smart cities is delivered by people as much as technology. Jacobs’ experts combine digital, engineering and governance to turn ideas into outcomes.
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Andrew Collinge – Director, Smart Cities
Andrew leads the smart places and digital infrastructure team at Jacobs, working with local and regional governments to integrate digital infrastructure with strategic growth and placemaking. He has held senior data and digital roles in London and Dubai, including establishing London’s first smart cities team and producing Dubai’s ethical AI guidelines.
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Katie Adnams – Associate Director, Smart Cities
Katie delivers projects at the intersection of technology, innovation, and the built environment. Her experience spans major innovation programs and master planning efforts across the U.K. and internationally. She applies user-centered design to ensure that data and technology create greener, more resilient and inclusive places.
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Kurt Moroney – Associate Director, Smart Cities
Kurt shapes and delivers people-centered smart cities and digital infrastructure programs that connect mobility, utilities, and the built environment through interoperable city data layers and urban IoT. He partners with authorities and developers to strengthen data governance and accelerate adoption, using standards-based integration to achieve measurable outcomes at scale.
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Calum Jack – Principal Consultant, Smart Cities
Calum specializes in applying technology to solve economic, social and environmental challenges in urban areas. He has led initiatives to integrate advanced digital infrastructure into both new smart cities and legacy real estate, improving performance and sustainability.
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Steven Yule – Director of Digital & Data
Steven leads digital transformation, including smart cities and digital infrastructure, across infrastructure, energy, and transportation in the Middle East. He helps city authorities, utilities and developers optimize connected environments and experiences through explainable AI, digital twins, open standards and cloud-based integration, improving asset performance, resilience and lifecycle value.
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Elena Maté Múgica – Director of Digital Growth & Strategy
Elena leads international business development for digital and data across Jacobs, advancing smart cities and digital infrastructure opportunities with clients and partners. She builds strategic initiatives that combine innovation, AI and secure, scalable delivery to unlock business value and improve service performance.
Delivering smarter, together
- Integrated by design: We connect strategy, design, engineering, data and policy to deliver cohesive city solutions.
- End-to-end capability: From vision and planning to operations and digital continuity, we provide seamless delivery at every stage.
- Global experience, local insight: Our teams combine international expertise with a deep understanding of regional and community needs.
- Driven by outcomes: We measure success through real human, environmental and economic results.
- Powered by innovation: Clients gain access to Jacobs’ global expertise in cybersecurity, articifical intelligence, advanced analytics, energy systems and resilient infrastructure.
Smart cities are about more than technology. They're about designing cities that adapt, connect and perform for generations. Jacobs collaborates with clients and communities to create places where people and economies thrive.
