From crime reduction to eliminating blighted properties, cities across the country are using data to improve services, meaningfully engage residents, and make better decisions.

In June of 2015, India's Prime Minister Narendra Modi launched the Smart Cities Challenge, a competition amongst Indian cities designed to accelerate and inspire more sustainable, citizen centric and effective urban development.

The more than 400 mayors descended upon Paris' Hôtel de Ville to send a strong message during this month's climate talks: Cities have emerged as major drivers of innovation and action in global efforts to confront climate change.

More cities will receive grants to solve pressing local problems.

We all knew we were investing time and resources, but were funding and serving people and addressing critical issues with limited resource information -- and we didn't have access to information that could be shared to increase the impact we were making.