ASU is a founding member of a new "smart region initiative" to bring cities and towns together in the Phoenix area together to collaboratively solve challenges and problems using technology.

As part of this initiative, ASU partnered with the Maricopa Association of Governments, the Greater Phoenix Economic Council and the Institute for Digital Progress to form The Connective, a consortium to help provide the greater Phoenix area with the tools necessary to create a smart city.

The city of Phoenix is one of the fastest growing cities in the country, but according to Diana Bowman, the associate dean for international engagement in the Sandra Day O'Connor College of Law, the metropolitan region is not up to date in terms of becoming a smart city.

"The greater Phoenix area is well behind the ball," Bowman said.

But the goal of creating The Connective was to solve that issue by bringing the cities together. The partnership is meant to advance the technologies necessary to create a smart region by involving community and industry leaders.

According to Forbes, smart cities "bring together infrastructure and technology to improve the quality of citizens and enhance their interactions with the urban environment."

Bowman said that the goal of The Connective is to "improve quality of life" in the greater Phoenix area.