Leveraging technology to impact positive change
Tech solutions have already played a leading role in the fight for climate protection and social equity. For example, Hawaii's Department of Transportation (HDOT) needed to accelerate the way they care for their infrastructure in the wake of climate change. Their smart use of cloud technologies and data-driven decision-making has allowed them to track climate-based erosion via Climate Insights from Google Cloud. Armed with this new platform, they're able to address structural issues before roads and other infrastructure become unusable.
California State Transportation Agency (CalSTA) services are leveraging technology to help create a better resident experience and improve access to agency services. The CA Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) is introducing real-time language translation in their field offices, automating disability placards, streamlining internal workflows, and using artificial intelligence (AI) to help users fill out forms correctly. In addition to enabling digital processes, small implementations of tech solutions are already working to help build social equity in the state.
Giving DMV field offices access to translation tools from Google Cloud has made the department more accessible to non-English speakers. The CA DMV also started an interdepartmental initiative between their office, the CA Department of Corrections (CDCR), and the Department of Social Services (DSS) designed to give people who are soon-to-be-released inmates better access to the tools they need to reintegrate into society once they leave prison. After finding that people who are recently released from a corrections facility didn't have the state-issued IDs they needed to access services upon release, the three agencies came together to build the Mobile Tech initiative. This initiative has ensured people have what they need to receive support from social services before they're released, increasing their potential to secure housing, complete job applications, and other essential activities.
Responsible innovation
Want to get involved? You can also join Next '23 on August 29-31 in San Francisco for a global exhibition of inspiration, innovation, and education. It’s where decision-makers, developers, and anyone passionate about an accessible, scalable, socially responsible cloud come together to share challenges, solutions, 10x ideas, and game-changing technologies.
Governments across the country are already utilizing technology to deliver critical agency services in more efficient, modern service delivery models. It's equally important that services are enabled and accessible fairly and equitably. Google Public Sector is drawing from a decade of AI experience and leading by empowering developers to responsibly build with enterprise-level safety, security, and privacy. Google Cloud’s AI Principles, include working against creating or reinforcing unfair bias. That mindfulness is part of the goal to ensure Google Cloud solutions benefit society and hold themselves accountable for their creations.
Working with agencies to create the change their communities need
Google Public Sector is committed to helping agency leaders create positive change in their communities. This includes helping them utilize the technology needed to accomplish their biggest missions and better understanding the impacts of each initiative to ensure it meets the goals of the community. Purdue University, for example, used data to make electric vehicle (EV) data investments more equitable. They pinpointed gaps between emissions in rural and urban areas across the country, leading them to determine the placement of new EV charging stations in areas where owning an EV was previously not possible for residents.
Fostering data skills and democratizing access to data can also transform the way industries operate. Society is facing unprecedented challenges, and continued innovation is one of the best ways to overcome those challenges. Technology will help to enable equitable access, help bring more innovative minds to the table, and ultimately help tackle the most critical mission challenges.
Learn more about Google Public Sector for state and local government, contact Usand see how Google has supported climate, equity, and other initiatives on the Google Public Sector blog.
