The Regional Municipality of Wood Buffalo (RMWB) uses technology to enhance service delivery, provide cost savings, and increase efficiency. SMART refers to Self- Monitoring, Analysis, and Reporting Technology. By incorporating SMART technology, the Municipality can make informed decisions and deliver more effective and responsive services. From accurately charging water bills to providing ease of mind through River Breakup live streaming, the intent of SMART technologies is to strengthen the standard of living.
It is important to note that the term “smart” is often used to refer to the use of technology for the improvement of service delivery. The Municipality is not pursuing a “15-minute city” model nor is it actively working to become designated a “smart city.” The Municipality does leverage technology to enhance services, it does not monitor or track residents.
The RMWB takes the privacy of resident’s personal information very seriously and adheres to the Freedom of Information and Privacy Act legislation.
What We Have
Technology makes municipal information more accessible to residents – enabling them to stay informed and engaged in municipal activities.
Here are some examples of how the Municipality uses SMART technology to enhance the services in the region:
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The RMWB has implemented Intelligent Transportation Systems (ITS) to improve traffic flow. Reduce congestion and enhance safety on the roads. These systems include advanced traffic signal controls and real-time bus tracking.
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The RMWB has adopted a smart waste management system that uses Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) tags to track garbage and recycling bins, optimize collection routes, and reduce costs. The RFID tags can indicate if bins have been collected, missed, and whether there are opportunities to optimize scheduling or routes.
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The RMWB is working towards becoming more energy-efficient by implementing smart building technologies, such as energy-efficient lighting, heating, and cooling systems in its own facilities.
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The RMWB has implemented a smart water management system that uses Advanced Metering Infrastructure (AMI) to monitor and manage water usage. The system provides real-time information about water usage and reduces manual labour of needing to check meters.
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The RMWB has implemented Automated Vehicle Location for its municipal fleet. This allows us to safely monitor our fleet vehicle usage, and ensure our employees are driving safely.
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The scale at the Landfill includes mounted cameras to record license plate information for billing and compliance purposes.
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The River Breakup Monitoring system allows a live, real-time stream of the Athabasca River to our YouTube channel.
There are infrastructures in our region using SMART Technology not owned by the RMWB. Here are some examples of these:
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Telecommunication Towers: Telecommunication towers are located on municipal and private land throughout the RMWB, however they are not owned or operated by the Municipality. Lease agreements for towers located on municipal land date back to 2008. A formal approval process is followed with respect to lease requests.
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The authority for telecommunication antenna structures is reviewed and approved by Industry Canada through the Federal Minster of Industry. It is required by Industry Canada that the proponent engage local land use authority and conduct public consultation for input regarding the proposed placement and design of a telecommunication antenna and associated structure(s). The role of the Municipality in the approval process is minimal, in that a letter of support or non-support is provided once confirmation is received that local stakeholders have been notified by Industry Canada
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Streetlights: Details regardinguse and functionality of streetlights need to be confirmed directly with ATCO Electric. Streetlights are on Municipal Property and Road Right-of-Ways, but they are owned and maintained by ATCO Electric or Fortis. The Municipality’s last reference provided by ATCO Electric indicated 6,000 streetlights in the entire region, excluding Conklin where the streetlights are owned and maintained by Fortis. The best way to contact ATCO Electric is through their website here or by calling 1-800-668-2248. Fortis can be reached at 310-WIRE (9473).
What Guides RMWB Decision Making
When Mayor, Council, and Administration look to implement new assets, there are numerous municipal statuary documents, plans, and recommendations that are in place to guidethe decision-making process.Some of these include the Municipal Development Plan, Area Structure Plans, and Council’s Strategic Plan 2022-2025.
Implementing goals provides a responsible and transparent commitment to residents. Some of these regional goals include fiscal management, local economy, downtown visualization, responsible development, economic resilience, and environmental stewardship.
You can access these decision-making tools here:
Plans, Reports and Studies - Regional Municipality of Wood Buffalo (rmwb.ca)
UN Declaration
The United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples (UN Declaration) is a universal framework to ensure the minimum standards for the survival, dignity, and well-being of the Indigenous Peoples of the world. This is guided by the purposes and principles of the Charter of the United Nations. Governments are responsible to honor these rights, including all sectors of Canadian society. Through this lens, the UN Declaration is the document providing the foundation for all the Municipality’s reconciliatory efforts in Wood Buffalo.
The RMWB prioritizes Truth and Reconciliation to establish and maintain a mutually respectful relationship between Indigenous and non-Indigenous people in Canada. The Municipality has identified Call to Action 43 part of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission (TRC) as one of the 30 Calls to Action it can implement of influence. Call to Action 43 calls upon federal, provincial, territorial, and municipal governments to fully adopt and implement the UN Declaration as the framework for reconciliation.
How We Implement Technology
Implementing new software starts with a business area identifying an issue or opportunity they hope will be solved by technology through a Software Business Case. Workable solutions, process improvements, and in-house development will all be assessed. If complex enough, the purchase of new software will be explored through the procurement process.
All municipal bid and tender opportunities are publicly available on, bids & tenders and Alberta Purchasing Connection (APC). The Municipality’s spending is conducted with the highest level of transparency, openness, and fairness that affords equal access to all qualified suppliers.
A list of contracts that have been awarded for Municipal projects is available online at the Bids and Tenders site here.
Security and Data Protection
The RMWB has a comprehensive Cyber Security Strategy in place to protect the organization against cyber security incidents. All infrastructure owned/operated by the RMWB complies with appropriate legislation. Data collected is housed in a secure location, depending on the system and application. All data collected for RMWB purposes are stored within Canadian data centres.
Public Engagement
Public Engagement is the process of connecting with the public by having purposeful dialogue on municipal issues and projects. The level of engagement is determined by the public’s role in decision-making.
The Municipality follows the principles and values of the International Association for Public Engagement (IAP2) to determine when and how government implements public engagement. This spectrum ranges from informing the public about the emerging issues to partnering with the public to make decisions. You can find the RMWB’s Public Engagement Policy and Framework here.
How to engage with the RMWB
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Contact Pulse 780-743-7000 - 1-800-973-9663 or submit a request through:
Contact Us - Regional Municipality of Wood Buffalo (rmwb.ca)
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Visit Engagements Online and in Person
Participate Wood Buffalo (rmwb.ca)
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Speak at Council Meetings
Council - Regional Municipality of Wood Buffalo (rmwb.ca)
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Join Community Boards and Committees
Boards and Committees - Regional Municipality of Wood Buffalo (rmwb.ca)