A San Antonio Regional Partnership

One region, coordinated for a smarter future.

SmartSA unites public agencies, research institutions, and regional partners to share data, align strategies, and deliver technology that serves every San Antonio resident. When our institutions work as one, the whole region moves forward.

Explore SmartSA ↓ See Our Projects
19
Partner organizations
10
IDSA data-sharing signatories
2018
Established by City Council
4
Active working groups
What is SmartSA

A coalition built to coordinate the region's future.

SmartSA is a partnership of public, private, nonprofit, and research organizations across the San Antonio region. Established by City Council in 2018 and managed through the City of San Antonio's Information Technology Services Department, it brings institutions together to tackle challenges that no single organization can solve alone.

At its foundation is the Interlocal Data Sharing Agreement (IDSA) — a framework that lets partners coordinate and implement shared, data-informed projects while keeping each organization in full control of its own data.

From regional data governance to emerging technology, SmartSA exists to drive efficiencies, leverage opportunities, and align strategies on behalf of the people who call this region home.

Our Mission
To drive efficiencies, leverage opportunities, and coordinate strategies to build a more connected, inclusive, and resilient San Antonio.
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Data Sharing

A formal Interlocal Data Sharing Agreement enables partners to exchange data responsibly — always on the data owner's terms.

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Regional Coordination

Cross-organization working groups align strategy, share resources, and turn regional priorities into action.

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Emerging Technology

From AI to a citywide Digital Twin, SmartSA coordinates readiness for the technologies shaping public service.

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Inclusive Governance

A shared governance model keeps decisions transparent, accountable, and grounded in the public interest.

Flagship Projects

Two platforms. One modern government stack.

SmartSA's current flagship initiatives work together — one faces outward to residents, the other powers smarter decisions inside government. Both are underway and grounded in the partnership's regional governance model.

Resident-Facing Layer

Unified Digital Experience

A single, AI-enabled front door to City services

The UDE unifies how residents find and complete services across departments and agencies — simple, accessible, and consistent, regardless of which office they need.

  • Find and complete services faster, in one place
  • Multilingual, mobile-first access for every community
  • Fewer duplicative systems and manual workarounds
  • Greater trust through transparency and consistency
Status: In development, designed with public partner agencies through a facilitated workshop.
Internal Operating Layer

Citywide Digital Twin

A live, data-driven virtual model of the region

More than a 3D map, the Digital Twin is a decision-support platform that integrates physical infrastructure, planning data, and real-time information to test ideas before public dollars are committed.

  • Model infrastructure scenarios before investing
  • Reduce costly mistakes by testing designs digitally
  • Align departments around a shared operating picture
  • Strengthen emergency response and resilience planning
Status: In development with UT-San Antonio's College of AI, Cyber & Computing.
How We Work

A governance model built for shared ownership.

SmartSA is governed collaboratively — leadership sets direction, members and affiliates bring perspective and resources, and working groups advise, align, and coordinate on the priorities that shape the region.

SmartSA Executive Committee
The governing body. Provides leadership, funding, branding, and policy direction with decision rights as owners of shared assets — one representative from each IDSA signatory.
Collaboration Layer
IDSA Members
Representatives who serve as data-sharing intermediaries for each IDSA signatory organization.
Affiliate Members
Public sector, private sector, nonprofit, and research organizations that provide perspective, guidance, and insight.
Working Groups
Advisory bodies — not implementation teams. They advise, align, surface requirements, coordinate, and share subject-matter expertise on SmartSA priorities.

Grant Coordination & Identification

Focus: Find, apply for, and manage grant opportunities that support San Antonio's improvement and smart-city initiatives.
In progress: Developing a priority list of 5–10 grant opportunities with timelines and key milestones.

GIS Coordination

Focus: Foster interagency collaboration by integrating geospatial data, tools, and expertise.
In progress: Address standardization, ESRI Hub Premium coordination, address point and software platform audits, and shared-resource cost models.

Data Governance

Focus: Establish and maintain shared data governance practices to address challenges, promote growth, and better serve communities.
In progress: Drafting data ethics principles and a standardized data management strategy, including a regional data dictionary.

Quality of Place

Focus: Pursue quality-of-place gains in San Antonio through ideation and exploration of smart technologies.
In progress: Building a technology catalog, with a focus on technology and transportation.
Members aren't responsible for delivering major systems or platforms unless specifically chartered to (e.g., the UDE Working Group). Any initiative brought forward by the Executive Committee is fully scoped and agreed to by the Working Group Lead before assignment.
Our Coalition

19 organizations, one region.

SmartSA brings together the institutions that keep San Antonio running — from utilities and transit to research, education, and economic development.

IDSA Members — data-sharing signatories
Affiliate Members — public, private, nonprofit & research partners
Our Story

Years in the making, built to last.

SmartSA's foundation wasn't built overnight. It took years of trust-building and negotiation to create a data-sharing framework that works for every partner.

2018
SmartSA established by San Antonio City Council as a regional smart-city partnership.
2021
The Interlocal Data Sharing Agreement is completed with 9 partners, after a three-year effort to align the coalition.
2022
SmartSA partners earn a national Smart 50 Award from Smart Cities Connect for the IDSA.
Today
IDSA partners have grown to 10, and the partnership has more than doubled — from 9 members to 19.
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Smart 50 Award — Smart Cities Connect, 2022 National recognition for the Interlocal Data Sharing Agreement as a model for regional data governance.

Past initiatives include: Digital Community Kiosks and Smart Streetlights — early projects that helped prove the value of regional coordination.

Get Involved

Let's build a smarter region together.

Whether you're a public agency, journalist, civic leader, researcher, or organization interested in partnership — we'd like to hear from you.