Cityzenith Joins Forces with Microsoft CityNext to Bring Innovation to Cities across the Globe

Global public sector initiative and Cityzenith enable cities to harness a new era of innovation through a people-first approach

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Cityzenith

Dec 15, 2015, 09:00 ET

CHICAGO, Dec. 15, 2015 /PRNewswire/ -- Cityzenith: Aggregate. Visualize. Act. Cityzenith today announced its participation in Microsoft CityNext, a global initiative empowering cities, businesses and citizens to re-imagine their futures and cultivate vibrant communities. Through the Microsoft CityNext initiative, Microsoft and Cityzenith will help leaders to do "new with less," by combining the power of technology with innovative ideas to connect governments, businesses and citizens with city services that increase efficiencies, reduce costs, foster a more sustainable environment and cultivate communities where people thrive.

With Microsoft CityNext, Cityzenith will be able to bring its 5D Smart City™ data visualization and management solution to a wider cross-section of city customers in addition to the 10 major world metropolises which have already adopted the platform. Using Microsoft Azure as a key part of its technology stack, 5D Smart City™ allows city governments and private enterprise users to make sense of the vast amount of data collected every day simply and easily via a browser-based, 3D simulated model of an urban area. Cityzenith plans to leverage the capabilities of both Microsoft and its fellow partners in the CityNext initiative to help deliver innovative solutions to complex problems such as energy efficiency, underground infrastructure, transportation, and security for the IoT via its open, scalable platform.

"We're proud to partner with Microsoft CityNext to help bring a new era of innovation to cities, transform government infrastructure, deliver improved citizen services and address important challenges ranging from energy efficiency and infrastructure management to environmental sustainability and economic development," said Cityzenith CEO, Michael Jansen.

Cities have long been the center of industrial, economic and entrepreneurial activity fueling the rest of the world's success. Today, as more of the world's population urbanizes, they face mounting pressures and challenges to maintain that standard and quality of life for citizens. It is expected that by 2030, six out of every ten people will live in a city. Leveraging a broad portfolio of familiar and security-enhanced consumer-to-business software, partner solutions, devices and services and Microsoft's history of successful education and social programs, Microsoft CityNext is a collective effort that helps cities anticipate and plan for these changes and challenges, enabling them to meet citizens' needs, thrive economically and embrace modernity.

"We're thrilled to partner with Cityzenith on Microsoft CityNext. Microsoft prioritizes a people- and partner-first approach across all our initiatives, and Microsoft CityNext is no different," said Rob Bernard, chief environmental & cities strategist, Microsoft Worldwide Public Sector. "While cities are feeling the strain from economic challenges, Microsoft CityNext ushers in innovative technology solutions to create opportunities for cities and their citizens, enabling them to accomplish what they never thought possible. We're inspired by our diverse partner ecosystem and know that working together we can help cities realize their full potential."

About Microsoft CityNext
Microsoft CityNext is a global people-first initiative harnessing all the ideas, energy and expertise of a city's people to create modern, healthy, safe, well-educated and sustainable cities for the future. Microsoft CityNext empowers cities to do new with less, by building on existing infrastructure and investments to transform cities' systems, services and operations; engage citizens and businesses by delivering personalized services and apps that foster real-time dialogue; and accelerate innovation and opportunity through programs and partnerships that empower and nurture the next generation of skilled workers. Combining a vast network of global partners and Microsoft's history of successful education, healthcare and social programs, Microsoft CityNext helps cities plan for and embrace the future.

About Cityzenith
Based in Chicago, with offices in London and Singapore, Cityzenith helps organizations around the world, both government departments and commercial enterprises, make sense of urban data — big and small. The company's platform, 5D Smart City™, provides city government agencies and corporate customers an intuitive, 3D browser-based, and real-time platform for managing all city data. 5D Smart City™ has now been adopted by 10 major world cities: San Francisco, Washington D.C., Chicago, London, Toronto, Amsterdam, Barcelona, Dubai, Mexico City, and Singapore.