Seattle has landed among the top 10 on a global list of “future-ready” cities.

An analysis by ThoughtLab, an analytics agency based in Salt Lake City, cited Seattle’s considerable investment in smart technology, its increasing emphasis on green infrastructure and transportation, and its use of AI to streamline government services. ThoughtLab research shows that 92% of future-ready cities like Seattle are advancing faster than their peers on goals such as net-zero emissions, and public health.

Future-ready cities “have made the most progress in safety, security, and resilience,” the study notes. “About two-thirds also have made considerable headway in environment and sustainability as well as citizen living, health, and trust, more than three times the share of others. Over half have made significant progress in transportation and urban infrastructure, which are more challenging because of the costs and complexities. “

Smart technology investments include the Smart 911 program, a service that allows residents to create safety profiles; the use of advanced analytics in policing, including surveillance cameras and street lighting technology, and public safety mobile apps.

Seattle also received high scores for its green spaces and urban ecology (it has 485 parks); its investment in light rail and pedestrian infrastructure; its commitment to carbon neutrality; and its focus on using technology to improve government services, including AI-powered customer service support (think chatbots) and by digitizing many public services that residents can access online such as permits and license renewals.

Out of the 250 cities studied, Seattle is one of nine in North America and one of only two in the top 10 (ranking No. 7). Toronto is the other. Ankara, the capital of Turkey, ranked No. 1, followed by Edinburgh, Scotland, and Guangzhou, China.