Jacobs (NYSE:J) announced today it has acquired StreetLight Data, Inc. (“StreetLight”), a pioneer of mobility analytics who uses its vast data and machine learning resources to shed light on mobility, enabling users to solve complex transportation problems. The addition of StreetLight accelerates Jacobs’ strategy in growing its end-to-end digital solutions portfolio and focus on ESG, while adding high growth, highly recurring revenue software businesses that offer tremendous value for its clients and the communities they serve.
StreetLight applies proprietary processing technology to location data from millions of mobile devices, connected vehicles, IoT sensors and geospatial databases to measure multimodal travel patterns – and makes them available via its online SaaS (Software as a Service) solution StreetLight InSight®. Designed for smart cities and the transportation industry, the on-demand software provides industry-targeted analytic tools to support critical infrastructure planning, investment and policy decisions.
“The past two years have accelerated structural changes to human mobility, infrastructure and supply chain planning, resulting in increased investments from governments and enterprises around the world. We’re also experiencing a critical need for data-driven planning to meet carbon emissions goals, address energy transformation and advance social equity through infrastructure investment,” said Jacobs Chair and CEO Steve Demetriou. “There is a global need for solutions that help us better understand the movement of people, goods and services while addressing broader societal challenges, and our acquisition of StreetLight solidifies our leadership in this fast-growing area.”
StreetLight’s suite of powerful analytics enables all major transportation verticals to make vastly more informed investment decisions while measuring critical impacts. Delivering more than a modern alternative to traditional measurement methods with months of lead time and limited scope, the company’s technology has enabled the industry to solve complex problems, such as planning EV networks ahead of future demand, recommending optimal traffic pattern improvements and helping to ensure equitable transportation access.
“We chose Jacobs because they genuinely share our mission and recognize the importance of StreetLight’s digital innovation in adapting their own core practices to the needs of an industry undergoing transformation,” said StreetLight CEO Laura Schewel. “They have the global scale to rapidly accelerate client decision making at a pivotal time for infrastructure investment and its impact on climate and society.”
StreetLight has a long track record of supporting transportation agencies at federal, state, regional and city levels, transportation engineering and consulting firms, and private companies spanning the new mobility, automotive, IoT and utility sectors. The company’s metrics have informed transportation analyses across every state and province in North America.
Demetriou continued, “We consistently seek to add value for our shareholders, create transformative solutions for our clients, and make a positive difference within our communities. Like Jacobs, StreetLight is purpose-driven and shares in our commitment to create a more connected, sustainable world.”
One of the growth accelerators in Jacobs’ new strategy is centered on data solutions aligned to high growth markets with increasing margin profiles. Building on its strong foundation of existing technology and data capabilities, the company also recently acquired BlackLynx, an industry-leading edge computing, hybrid-cloud and collection automation technology provider serving the intelligence, defense and critical infrastructure sectors. Jacobs’ portfolio of data and technology investments will be leveraged in tandem to create expanded market penetration, growth opportunities and solutions for its clients.
