Could Bend become a ‘Smart City’?

Bend’s population has topped 81,000 people, and experts are turning to technology to plan for the future. The City Club of Central Oregon held its November forum on Thursday about “Smart Cities.”

The hope is to use different technological programs to make city livelihoods healthier and less stressful.

Three experts spoke at the forum from the Portland Bureau of Planning and Sustainability, the Technology Association of Bend, and a professor from Portland State University.

Pilot programs have been tested in Portland, as air quality issues and traffic jams are common in larger cities. Nonetheless, the panel of experts said efforts are underway to scale the programs to fit smaller but rapidly growing cities like Bend.

“It’s something that I think will evolve quickly,” said Scott Steele, a member of the City Club Board of Directors. ” As technology evolves, it’s natural that we will be integrating it more and learning how to use the data and information to improve our lives — monitor our power, water usages, things like that.”

Christine Kendrick of the Portland planning and sustainability agency spoke of sensors that understand and adapt to energy uses in buildings.

Then there’s the idea of “smart parking,” to help drivers find open parking spaces with less stress, as well as smarter street lighting.