There’s a lot of ‘smart’ stuff these days. Even many things that were once ‘dumb’ are becoming ‘smart’ through the addition of sensors and decision logic. From streetlights to subways and everything in between, the very towns and cities we inhabit are joining the trend.
As cities like Seoul and Vienna (among many) are using technology to revamp their communication and resource distribution infrastructure, we all have the opportunity to learn a few things about what to expect when the ‘smart’ label is placed on towns and cities you call home.
So what makes a city smart?
Unfortunately, the term ‘smart’ applies only to the city itself and not to its citizens. A world tour of the world’s smartest cities is not likely to be more personally enlightening than a walk through any of our usual ‘dumb’ old cities. However, this world tour will likely reveal some of the common traits these smart cities share and shed some light on how and where resources are being applied to make these cities smarter.
A city is generally considered smart when it stands apart from other cities in terms of technology, urban planning, environment and/or general management.
Smart cities are expected to be cleaner, safer and more efficient than their dumb sisters. This is mainly achieved through the application of new technologies, but also frequently requires entirely new models for organization and management.
Some of the salient features of smart cities today include:
Green Buildings: Smart cities tend to build new buildings (or enforce laws that require others to build buildings) that have as little environmental impact as possible, both during construction and during operation. Older buildings can be retrofitted with more efficient appliances and sensors to help control lighting and temperature.
Smart Mobility and Transportation: Bike-sharing programs, smart traffic lights, sensor-based parking availability detection, and real-time communication on public transportation are some of the hallmarks of a smart city.
More efficient public services: In addition to using alternative energy sources like solar and wind, smart cities are often more inclined to employ smart grid technology and use sensors to manage water distribution and reduce waste.
More engaged citizens: Another common trait of smart cities is a pronounced effort to better respond to the needs of their human resources. Whether through smart street lighting, cleaner streets, social media engagement, digital signage, and many other initiatives, smart cities are doing more to engage citizens in city governance.
Of course, these are just a few of the many ways that cities are transforming into smart cities. In some cases, in cities like Santiago and Tokyo, entire smart communities are being developed according to all these principles and more.
Given that a real economic incentive can be attached to the idea of waste reduction and increased energy efficiency, this trend is likely to continue well into the 21st century, until today’s smart cities are finally referred to simply as ” cities”.