First of new interactive kiosks unveiled in Houston brings digital maps, information to city streets

At a Feb. 7 ribbon-cutting ceremony, Houston Mayor Sylvester Turner unveiled a new digital interactive kiosk city officials hope to install at 75 intersections across the city as part of the latest effort in Houston's Smart City initiative.

The kiosks are from a private partnership between the city of Houston and IKE Smart City. IKE—which stands for Interactive Kiosk Experience—will create the technology, which will feature dual touchscreens that will allow residents and visitors in the city to search for local businesses, cultural institutions, homeless shelters, addiction recovery programs and food support, according to a Feb. 7 press release. The kiosk also offers free public Wi-Fi.

“The city of Houston has so much to offer, and the IKE digital kiosks will be an exciting new amenity to help guide people in various directions to enjoy events, restaurants and much more," Turner said. "These kiosks are one of the many ways Houston is moving forward with creating more walkable spaces that make for a safer and more pleasant experience."

IKE includes real-time public transit data to help users find the best directions to their destinations, whether it be through public transportation, bike sharing, scooters, ride-hailing or walking. In times of need such as a natural disaster, IKE will serve as a communication platform for the city, displaying emergency messages in a highly visible way through a real-time Integrated Public Alert and Warning System, according to the release.

IKE will also have fun things for pedestrians who come across it, such as photo booth filters, games and surveys.

The first station has already been installed at Walker Street and Avenida de las Americas. Construction will start on the four other stations that have been approved in February, according to Mary Benton, a spokesperson with Turner's office. Those four stations will be located at Post Oak Boulevard and Westheimer Road; Gray and Bagby streets; Main and Rusk streets; and Texas Avenue and Hamilton Street.

The city anticipates 75 kiosks will be deployed across the city in total by the end of 2023. Prior to construction, city officials and IKE Smart City are working with council members, neighborhood groups and nearby property owners to identify locations and obtain the necessary permitting approvals, Benton said.

At a Feb. 7 Houston Heights Association Land Use Committee meeting, officials said five stations are expected to go up in the Heights area, though locations are not yet determined.

Turner said he hopes the kiosks will serve as the backbone to the Smart City initiative.

“You cannot be a smart city if you don’t have smart technology,” he said. “And you cannot be an international, global city unless you are a welcoming city.”