TOPICS & CATEGORIES
By Cassidy Mills, Staff Writer
The Florida Simulation Summit (FSS) featured a discussion panel titled “Operational Excellence: Emerging Technology Powering Smarter Cities,” that focused on real-world applications of advanced technologies such as AI, digital twins, autonomous vehicles and environmental engineering in urban settings.
Moderated by Brett Moushon, managing partner of TransformXD, the panel featured Frank Martz, city manager of Altamonte Springs; Mark Reid, co-founder and senior vice president of autonomous shuttle company Beep; and Kurt Schmidt of NVIDIA’s higher education and research division.
The National Center for Simulation, alongside Orange County Government, hosted the FSS at the DoubleTree by Hilton at the Entrance to Universal Orlando, May 9. The summit offered a dynamic and immersive experience, featuring engaging panel discussions on smart city research, practical applications and lessons learned in optimizing operations with artificial intelligence (AI) and simulation.
Martz highlighted the initiatives underway in Altamonte Springs, a city that has positioned itself as a hub for municipal innovation. The city recently launched the Altamonte Global Innovation Lab, which brings together more than 40 private-sector partners and collaborates with all local governments in Seminole County.
Martz said the city is pursuing digital twin technology to enhance utility management and public safety, including collaborations with the University of Central Florida (UCF).
“Emerging technologies are constantly evolving, and it’s crucial to teach everyone how they can innovate and use these technologies effectively,” Martin said. “At the core of our work with UCF, our team is using AI and digital twinning to deliver smarter, safer government services.”
One example Martz mentioned of Altamonte Spring’s innovation is a project that converts stormwater from nearby highways into reclaimed water for alternative supply. The city has also been recognized for using wastewater epidemiology to track COVID-19 outbreaks by zip code and is developing a floating solar energy system to power its own utility infrastructure.
Reid discussed Beep’s autonomous shuttle operations, which began in Lake Nona and have expanded to nine states. Reid emphasized the importance of partnerships with local governments, safety officials and communities in enabling the deployment of autonomous vehicles.
Beep’s shuttles are equipped with a combination of LiDAR, radar and cameras for safety and redundancy. The company uses simulations to prepare for various environmental conditions and has developed software capable of detecting threats such as weapons or civil unrest. Reid said the regulatory and policy challenges of operating in a largely uncharted space, as well as the need for workforce development to train operators and technicians for a new category of mobility careers.
“We’ve had to rethink our entire business model,” Reid said, explaining that initial assumptions about deployment didn’t account for the full scope of ecosystem requirements—such as command centers, regulatory compliance and community outreach.
Schmidt discussed NVIDIA’s role of utilizing advanced computing in enabling smart city initiatives. Traditionally known for graphics processing, NVIDIA now supplies the AI infrastructure that powers a range of industries and public-sector efforts.
“NVIDIA has always been at the forefront of computer graphics and platforms computing, but in the past few years, with OpenAI, we’ve seen the explosion of AI and how it has really permeated all industries and all parts of our lives—healthcare, financial services, manufacturing, retail, cybersecurity, education. It’s everywhere,” Schmidt said. “We’re really excited to be here.”
Schmidt said AI is already deeply embedded across sectors, while digital twin technologies—real-time virtual representations of physical systems—are quickly gaining traction and expected to expand dramatically over the next five years.
While AI has become ubiquitous across industries, Schmidt also said digital twin technologies are following a similar trajectory and are poised to grow significantly over the next five years. However, Schmidt also acknowledged challenges such as limited skilled labor and the complexity of tools like NVIDIA’s Omniverse, which is used for creating digital twins.
All three panelists discussed the hurdles their organizations have faced in adopting and scaling emerging technologies.
For Martz, government regulations and shifting public expectations pose ongoing obstacles. He also expressed concern about younger generations being discouraged from public service due to the contentious nature of political discourse.
Reid cited regulation and funding as major barriers, noting that deploying autonomous transit systems requires significant investment not just in vehicles but in monitoring infrastructure, training programs and policy advocacy.
Schmidt highlighted the importance of top-down leadership in implementing transformative technology strategies. He pointed to the University of Florida as an example where senior leadership’s early commitment to AI created alignment across the institution and drove successful outcomes.
The panel concluded with a consensus that smart city development is not just about adopting the latest tools, but about building resilient systems that combine technology, policy and community engagement.
“There’s no blueprint,” Reid said. “You’re essentially creating a new ecosystem as you go. We try to hire people who are not just willing to adopt technology but can adapt to it.”
As cities continue to integrate technology into infrastructure and services, the insights shared at the summit suggest that successful innovation depends on long-term collaboration between government, industry and academia.
Additional coverage on FSS include:
Florida Simulation Summit highlights role of AI and simulation in building smart cities
Industry experts discuss real-world applications of digital twins at 2025 Florida Simulation Summit
Florida Simulation Summit spotlights AI and simulation in smart city innovation
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