Sewer AI devices inside a manhole cover monitor water levels so when the water goes to a certain level, it alerts water services that there could be a blockage in the sewer line.
(City of Phoenix)
From sewer inspections powered by artificial intelligence to traffic signals that respond to real-time conditions to sensors that detect water leaks before they become major problems, Phoenix officials say technology is quietly reshaping the way the city delivers services.
Now, city leaders are working to bring those innovations under one umbrella.
The Phoenix Economic Development and the Arts Subcommittee recently received an update on what officials described as the city’s first comprehensive Smart Cities strategy, an effort to coordinate more than 150 technology projects already underway or in development across multiple departments.
The strategy is expected to return to the City Council this fall.
“This is the first citywide Smart City Plan for the city,” Office of Innovation and Performance Director Michael Hammett told council members. “This is to coordinate and advance smart cities technologies and innovations across the city.”
Rather than focusing on a single technology, the strategy is intended to coordinate projects spanning transportation, public safety, water management, accessibility and city operations.
Hammett said innovation has been occurring across city departments for years, but often in isolation.
“The vision is to bring everything together so that we’re all on the same page, we know what’s happening, and we can leverage what’s working well in one department and leverage that for use in another,” he said.
‘Sewer AI’ and water help
Among the most mature applications is Phoenix’s wastewater system.
The Water Services Department has begun using AI to inspect sewer pipelines, analyze the condition of infrastructure and prioritize maintenance.
According to Hammett, the technology has doubled the amount of sewer pipe the department can inspect each year – from roughly 300 miles annually to about 600 miles – while reducing the time between inspections from as long as 15 to 19 years to five to seven years.
The AI system analyzes inspection data and quickly returns reports that allow crews to identify problems before they become larger and more expensive.
Other technologies monitor water levels beneath manhole covers, alerting crews when blockages begin forming, while machine-learning software detects contaminants entering the wastewater system.
“The city water system and wastewater system is very, very large,” Hammett said. “We have more than 100,000 manhole covers, 5,000 service mains, and the Water Services department is using three technologies right now in the wastewater space.
Officials said those tools allow crews to respond before small problems become major repairs.
The city also has been testing a low-cost leak detection system known as NOWi in municipal buildings and irrigation systems.
Hammett said sensors installed at 14 locations have already identified three leaks in the past six months, allowing city departments to make repairs before more significant damage occurred.
He explained that Water Services has been a leader in “machine learning” over the last four years, using AI to help it understand “what is in our waste stream and looking for anomalies.
“When the system sees an anomaly, it alerts wastewater management and prevent any potential contamination downstream,” Hammett said. “This is important for advanced water purification goals for the city, and they’re also able to look at where the sources of that are and take corrective action.”
Smarter traffic signals
Technology also is changing how Phoenix manages traffic.
The Street Transportation Department has deployed an AI-powered system known as NoTraffic at 38 signalized intersections, with another 41 planned.
Using cameras and sensors, the system detects vehicles, bicycles and pedestrians in real time and adjusts signal timing based on current conditions rather than relying solely on fixed schedules.
Officials said the technology reduces delays while improving safety and traffic flow.
The Street Transportation Department has deployed technology at 38 intersections across the city, with a plan to roll it out to an additional 41 crossings, that use real-time data from cameras and sensors to adjust signal timing based on actual demand. “It helps to reduce delay, improve progression, and respond faster to changing conditions across the city,” a city official said.
(City of Phoenix)
Improving city services
The strategy extends well beyond streets and utilities.
City employees now have access to Microsoft’s Copilot AI assistant to help streamline routine work, while Phoenix has approved 27 AI tools designed to improve employee productivity or customer service.
Officials also are developing an upgraded online virtual assistant to help residents navigate city services and expanding the use of digital tools within the Planning and Development Department’s Shape PHX permitting system.
Technology also is being used to improve accessibility.
Phoenix recently installed hearing-loop technology in the City Council chambers, allowing compatible hearing aids to connect directly to the room’s audio system. Officials said similar systems are being considered for senior centers and other public facilities.
One recurring theme throughout the presentation was that successful technologies should not remain confined to a single department.
Hammett cited the hearing-loop system as an example of a project that originated elsewhere in city government before expanding to the council chambers.
“It shouldn’t be hidden in one place,” he said. “It should be elevated.”
Chief Information Officer Steve Albrecht indicated the city also use AI to manage AI.
With the aid of a project management platform known as Sensei IQ, city officials can track Smart Cities initiatives and identify opportunities for departments to share successful practices rather than developing separate solutions.
“We are expanding the use of smart technologies and data to improve IT operations within all of our divisions that benefits city staff, and our residents,” Albrecht said. “This includes leveraging data in a more impactful way, leading to more informed and faster IT-related decisions.”
More than 150 projects have already been identified for inclusion in the city’s Smart Cities portfolio.
Phoenix has received several Smart Cities North America awards in recent years.
Most recently, the Phoenix Police Department’s unmanned aerial systems program received the organization’s 2026 Public Safety Award after completing approximately 12,500 drone missions during its first two years of operation.
Earlier awards recognized the city’s accessibility initiatives and a smart chilled-water project.
Council members generally praised the effort, particularly the emphasis on using technology to improve city services rather than simply adopting new gadgets.
Councilwoman Ann O’Brien said the presentation demonstrated the value of sharing innovations throughout city government.
“It shouldn’t just be tucked away in one department as a secret,” she said. “We should share those best practices.”
O’Brien cited drones as one example of the need for multi-department coordination on technology.
While drones have been “an incredible asset to our police department,” she noted, they also have been “widely used in our Fire Department, our Parks Department, and, I believe, there are some other departments that are looking at utilizing it, including maybe streets.”
She said Street Transportation is determining how to use drones to “reduce the amount of time that our folks have to be out there. It’ll make it quicker and easier to look at what sidewalks might need to be repaired.
“So we’re very excited about bringing it all together, so all the departments can understand what’s available and how we can best utilize it across the entire city.”
Bio Box
Becoming ‘smart’
Here are some ways Phoenix is becoming a “smart city:”
•150+ technology projects identified citywide.
•600 miles of sewer lines inspected annually using AI, up from about 300.
•38 AI-controlled intersections in operation.
•41 more intersections planned.
•27 AI tools approved for city use.
•14 buildings using leak-detection sensors.
•12,500 police drone missions completed in two years.