Future of Smart Cities

February 5, 2020 Tech Republic

Source: Tech Republic

Image Courtesy: Pixabay
What is a smart city? Let us look at some definitions below.
Gartner says “Our definition of smart cities is around how you become efficient at optimizing certain technologies or operations or infrastructures. How you can start to share outcome or best practices with each other and generate not just best practices but generate citizen outcome or context. The contextual services where you don’t only look at a citizen but you look at a person with individual needs or business groups with very specific needs. That constitutes a smart city”
“Smart cities utilize IoT sensors, actuators, and technology to connect components across the city. This connects every layer of a city, from the air to the street to underground. It’s when you can derive data from everything that is connected and utilize it to improve the lives of citizens and improve communication between citizens and the government that a city becomes a smart city” Esmeralda Swartz, head of strategy and marketing of the software business unit for Ericsson.
Rapid urbanization is leading to smarter cities that improve the lives of citizens through technology. Smart cities are the wave of the future because the world is becoming more urban, with 60% of the population expected to live in cities by 2050.
Across the globe, smart city technology spending reached $80 billion in 2016, and is expected to grow to $135 billion by 2021, according to a report from the International Data Corporation (IDC).
To Sum up:
What is a smart city? A smart city uses IoT sensors and technology to connect components across a city to derive data and improve the lives of citizens and visitors.
What does a smart city do? Oftentimes, a mobile app is provided to give immediate access to data, communication channels, and more so that people can do everything from avoiding traffic jams, to finding a parking spot, and reporting a pothole or an overflowing dumpster.
Why do smart cities matter? The world is becoming more urbanized, and by 2050, more than 60% of the world’s population is expected to live in cities. Making these cities better places to live is essential to quality of life by making them more sustainable and efficient with streamlined services.
Who do smart cities affect? It affects everyone living in Urban areas.
Who is making smart cities happen? Public and private companies, as well as central, state, and city governments, are getting involved to make it easier for municipalities to adopt new technology. Private and public partnerships are becoming a smart way for cities to add technology.