The Federal Government has officially accepted the City Of Airdrie's Smart City application. 

There are three prizes available for municipalities that have submitted applications. One $50 million prize, two $10 million prizes and one $5 million dollar prize.  After weighing out the option for the City of Airdrie the City decided to apply for one of the $10 million prizes. The Federal government will now review the application and determine if Airdrie will be selected as one of the ten finalists. 

If Airdrie is selected as one of the finalists the City will receive $250,000 thousand in order to develop a business plan for the federal government to review. The purpose of the business plan is to show the federal government that the idea that has been proposed by the City is possible. During this time the city of Airdrie will be making sure it has the capabilities, resources, talent and need for its smart technology idea. 

The Smart technology itself the city plans on creating is quite an interesting and unique idea.  The City of Airdrie website describes the project as follows.

"The Smart Community Project will leverage and connect existing and add new infrastructure, platforms and applications to create an open data platform for use by all. Data will be secured and customized content pushed out to enable informed action." 

After speaking with Leona Esau, Intergovernmental Liaison for the City of Airdrie, the main idea of the project sounds less complicated. 

The city is planning on creating an app that allows you to upload information or data about yourself so you will be notified on events in the city and area that you would be interested in based on the health information you have uploaded. For instance, if you are interested in physical activities such as running or weightlifting, when an event is near you pertaining to those interests you will be notified through the app. This application will also pertain to everyday events such as walking as Esau explains. 
 
"If one of my challenges is getting out and going walking because I don't like walking by myself but I want to walk with a group. there could be something built into the app for me to know when other people are going out to enjoy some sort of physical activity and I could join that group."
 
The Application is not solely for physical health, whether you have troubles with mental health or if you just need to find general information such as how to lower cholesterol. The idea is that whatever your particular health challenge may be the application will point you to places within the community to help you make better choices. 
"Instead of you having to go out and look to find ways to increase your overall health we will bring those resources right to you"
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