Smart cities
- A smart city is an urban area that uses different types of electronic Internet of things (IoT) sensors to collect data and then use insights gained from that data to manage assets, resources and services efficiently, in return using that data to better improve the operations across the city.
- This includes data collected from citizens, devices, buildings and assets that is processed and analyzed to monitor and manage traffic and transportation systems, power plants, utilities, water supply networks, waste management, crime detection, information systems, schools, libraries, hospitals, and other community services.
Example: A smart water meter that reports a sudden jump in flow at 3 a.m. tells the city there is a leak on that street before anyone complains. The same idea applies to bins that report when they are full or signals that see a queue forming.
- The smart city concept integrates information and communication technology (ICT), and various physical devices connected to the IoT network to optimize the efficiency of city operations and services and connect to citizens.
- Smart city technology allows city officials to interact directly with both community and city infrastructure and to monitor what is happening in the city and how the city is evolving.
- ICT is used to enhance quality, performance and interactivity of urban services, to reduce costs and resource consumption and to increase contact between citizens and government.
- However, the term itself remains unclear to its specifics and therefore, open to many interpretations.
- Major technological, economic and environmental changes have generated increased interest in smart cities, including climate change, economic restructuring, coronavirus, the move to online retail and entertainment, ageing populations, urban population growth and pressures on public finances.
