"Certainly, using the automated systems does reduce the number of staff we need, " says Katsuya Hagane, the manager in charge of operations at New Transit Yurikamome.

NPR: Practically Human: Can Smart Machines Do Your Job?

She would also appreciate its importance in the projection of American power in Asia and beyond as much of the nation's long-range transport aircraft supplying our military operations around the world transit through Elmendorf.

CENTERFORSECURITYPOLICY: Sarah Palin's experience

To that end, the company spearheaded projects such as the Connected Bus project in San Francisco, which involved taking the disparate tracking units the city had been using to keep tabs on buses, railcars and other transit fleet vehicles, and integrating them into one system that enables more reliable operations and maintenance as well as lower emissions.

FORBES: Can IT Make Cities Better?