Many Thought COVID Would Derail Smart Cities Work — It Didn’t On the second day of the Smart Cities Connect Conference and Expo, private- and public-sector tech officials discussed how the COVID-19 pandemic shifted smart city efforts and initiatives and positioned them for the future. Smart city technologies for areas like managing garbage fleets were made even more essential during the COVID-19 crisis as cities switch operations to remote-work settings. Shutterstock/degetzica Smart city technologies to support efforts like fleet management or remote work may have been a tough sell at times in the pre-pandemic world, but not so much anymore. Those familiar with the space say new technologies and partnerships are helping navigate the unprecedented times.