ANSI to Hold Workshop on Standards for Smart and Sustainable Cities

November 21 Event Will Explore Coordination of International Activities and Initiatives

NEW YORK, Sept. 18, 2013 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The American National Standards Institute (ANSI) will host a workshop on November 21, 2013, in Washington, DC, to explore the role that standards and conformance solutions can play in contributing to achieving smart, sustainable, and resilient cities. The workshop will include panel presentations with interactive Q&A, plus breakout discussions on priority areas for standards development related to smart cities and how to get involved.

Among the topics covered will be new standardization activities by the International Organization for Standardization (ISO), the International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC), the International Telecommunication Union (ITU), as well as other multi-stakeholder initiatives that are compiling resources and best practices. ANSI is the U.S. member to ISO and, via the U.S. National Committee, to the IEC. ANSI also administers the international secretariat of ISO/IEC Joint Technical Committee (JTC) 1, Information technology, which will consider a proposal to form a study group on smart cities at its meeting in early November.

Confirmed workshop speakers include the U.S. chair of the IEC Standardization Management Board, Jim Matthews from Corning Inc., who will discuss the formation of an IEC systems evaluation group on smart cities. Franz Zichy from the U.S. State Department will speak about the ITU focus group on smart sustainable cities; Mr. Zichy currently serves as the focus group's vice chairman. Alex Tarpinian of IBM Corporation will report on the outcome of the JTC 1 discussions. Patricia McCarney, director of the Global Cities Indicators Facility, will speak about ISO Technical Committee (TC) 268, Sustainable development in communities, and its work item on urban indicators. Following the workshop, recommendations will be compiled in a report.

"ANSI is well positioned to convene this important dialogue," said ANSI president and CEO Joe Bhatia. "The Institute is engaged in standards and conformance activities related to green buildings, energy efficiency, electric vehicles, and greenhouse gas reduction. Earlier this year we initiated discussion with our members on the need for a coordinated approach to smart cities [see related news item] and we look forward to the next step in taking this dialogue forward."

Sponsorship and exhibitor opportunities are available at various levels, offering organizations valuable benefits and the opportunity for first-hand involvement. Interested organizations can register online for sponsorship with a credit card.

The workshop will be held at the Ronald Reagan Building and International Trade Center (1300 Pennsylvania Ave NW, Washington, DC). Advance registration is required: $95 for ANSI members; $125 for non-members. Registration includes all workshop materials, continental breakfast, networking breaks, lunch, and an evening reception. The registration deadline is November 13, 2013. To register, click here. 

For more information and updates, visit www.ansi.org/events.

About ANSI

The American National Standards Institute (ANSI) is a private non-profit organization whose mission is to enhance U.S. global competitiveness and the American quality of life by promoting, facilitating, and safeguarding the integrity of the voluntary standardization and conformity assessment system. Its membership is comprised of businesses, professional societies and trade associations, standards developers, government agencies, and consumer and labor organizations. The Institute represents the diverse interests of more than 125,000 companies and organizations and 3.5 million professionals worldwide.

The Institute is the official U.S. representative to the International Organization for Standardization (ISO) and, via the U.S. National Committee, the International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC).

SOURCE American National Standards Institute