Smart cities use technology to address environmental, social and economic challenges in an inclusive fashion, engaging citizens in its efforts and committing to transparency.
Utilizing sensor data, smart cities can utilize sensor information to optimize streetlights or monitor traffic flow to help reduce congestion. Residents can utilize apps to pay utility bills, check on public transportation status, or track waste receptacles.
Infrastructure
While the exact technology that defines a smart city may vary depending on its purpose, most include advanced infrastructure that uses data to increase efficiency and lower costs. Urban planners can leverage this data to anticipate problems before they become crises and implement solutions before problems become overwhelming.
A smart city also promotes sustainability by using technology to manage environmental impacts and encourage eco-friendly behaviors. Sensors allow smart waste management systems to optimize collection; green public spaces can track biodiversity while recycling materials; energy efficient buildings use smart meters and analytics to cut energy use; smart meters for utilities can help control consumption; and energy efficient buildings utilize them to track energy use efficiently and reduce it accordingly.
Smart cities use sensors that reside in a networked infrastructure to share with multiple city departments and residents. Boston uses apps for reporting potholes or infrastructure issues while Chattanooga uses similar technology to monitor truck routes. Furthermore, these cities make accessing data simpler through portals or mobile apps making it easier for citizens to locate information they need as they complete personal tasks such as paying bills or finding transportation options more straightforward for all involved parties.
Mobility
Smart cities don’t simply respond to traffic issues by building more roads; rather they implement innovative solutions that help people reach their destinations more efficiently, from encouraging public transit use and encouraging micro-mobility vehicles like scooters and bikes, all the way through to traffic guidance systems that guide vehicles away from congested streets.
Smart mobility also brings economic advantages to cities and citizens. According to INRIX, an average driver spends 51 hours each year stuck in traffic congestion; this costs the economy three percent of its GDP annually.
Cities can implement Mobility as a Service (MaaS) platforms that enable travelers to select their transportation mode from a single app and pay with credit or mobile phone payment methods, including rideshare apps, scooter rentals and various transport options. Fleet and mobility managers must remain aware that smart mobility solutions are continuously developing. By capitalizing on pervasive connectivity, open data, end-to-end security measures and software monetization solutions they can meet changing smart city needs for an improved experience for all ecosystem partners.
Health & Safety
Smart cities utilize technologies in core services, infrastructure and transportation in order to provide optimal health and safety conditions for its citizens. Sensor data collected via integrated systems provides insight into environmental factors like air quality, traffic congestion and public safety threats such as crime or natural disasters.
These insights can then be used to optimize traffic patterns and reduce waste through automation, as well as inform decision-making during emergency situations – for instance in a natural disaster situation where sensors could help prioritize rescue efforts and enhance communication among emergency response teams and citizens.
Smart cities are also making healthcare systems better through various technologies, including online medical services that allow verified doctors to access records, streamlined medicine delivery services and portable health monitoring devices for patients. This, in turn, reduces healthcare costs while making care more accessible. Unfortunately, such initiatives don’t come without their share of challenges; for instance data collection may need a significant amount of power or connectivity.
Energy & Environment
As more of the world’s population becomes urbanized, cities that prioritize sustainability are investing in smart technologies that collect data that enhance services for citizens while optimizing municipal resources. Such technology may include 5G networks, DT and IoT devices, blockchain technology and big data analytics platforms which help gather this vital information that supports improved services to citizens while managing municipal resources more effectively. Investing in advanced technological tools such as 5G can streamline operations while supporting economic development while contributing towards sustainability initiatives.
Smart city solutions can offer solutions to climate change, energy transition, security concerns, social inclusion and sustainability [2]. Unfortunately, however, research on such initiatives tends to focus on their positive aspects while neglecting key social concerns [see Figure 4].
Smart cities provide an innovative solution for improving urban living through digital governance, energy-efficient buildings and intelligent transportation systems. But for their full potential to be realized, these cities must harness data to ensure all citizens benefit equally from these innovations and be open to different forms of research on smart cities beyond traditional technocratic approaches.