Global Smart Cities Trends and Why We Should Be Worried About Privacy
Global Smart Cities Trends and Why We Should Be Worried About Privacy
More and more people are relocating to urban areas in search of better living standards. In fact, it’s estimated that 68% of the world’s population will live in cities by 2050. With more people to serve and a rapidly degrading climate, effective resource usage and public service efficiency have become pressing issues for urban areas. And, since cities consume about two-thirds of the world’s resources while creating just as much of global carbon dioxide emissions, they have a responsibility to be sustainable. One of the best and most effective ways for cities to improve and optimize city life is by adopting technology to become smart cities.
A smart city is one that uses networks, IoT sensors, applications, and other electronic methods to gather relevant data. Insights gained from the data are then used to manage resources, improve city services, and generally ensure citizen well-being. In short, smart city technology makes cities more efficient and effective, thus making everyday life easier and better for residents while maximizing resource usage.
Benefits of Smart Cities
There are so many benefits to adopting smart city technology, from cost savings to efficiency gains, economic prosperity, connectivity, improved life quality, and more. Here’s a look at the major smart city technologies, together with the benefits of using each tech:
Smart Transportation Solutions
Many major cities are characterized by inefficient transportation, which often leads to excess traffic, time wastage, increased harmful emissions, reduced safety and security on the road, and more. A major benefit of smart cities is the ability to monitor traffic patterns, including large volumes of traffic and dangerous areas, through sensors located in the cars. This is also made possible with smart traffic lights as they have cameras that monitor traffic flow, which is then reflected in traffic lights, and optimized to relieve congestion during peak hours.
There are also sensors in public transportation that send real-time data to the city transportation management software, alerting the system of traffic congestion or delays. With city buses and/or trains becoming connected, people can have real-time information on when a bus/train will arrive at the bus stop/train station.
Another key area that has seen improvement is parking. By making parking smarter, cities are able to reduce the cost of monitoring parking while still capitalizing on additional revenue streams. They are also able to reduce congestion and overall vehicle-related space needs, which in turn expands the land use for development. Residents will also spend less time looking for parking spaces.
Another great trend is the growing shift to electric cars, which reduces carbon emissions and benefits all in the long run.
Huge traffic is a major nuisance of city life but technology offers some great solutions that will significantly enhance efficiencies throughout the city through improved traffic management.
Smart energy
Smart cities are characterized by the smart management of their resources, starting with energy. Major cities are experiencing the challenge of efficient energy usage given the increasing demand and the low supply. This is something smart cities don’t have to worry about since they implement a number of IoT solutions for smart energy management. For starters, the implementation of smart grids and smart meters allows utility companies to analyze power consumption in real-time. Using this data, they can predict periods of heavy and low usage and adjust energy distribution accordingly. There is also the implementation of renewable energy sources like solar panels, which lower energy costs and also reduce environmental footprint. Solar energy plants often install smart sensors to check the panels for maintenance to ensure maximum functionality.
Lighting in urban areas is ubiquitous. And, smart cities are revolutionizing urban lighting infrastructures with energy-efficient LED lighting that also has the capacity to collect and share data.
Another way smart cities enhance energy services is by installing smart HVAC systems as they can monitor various parameters to ensure efficient heating, cooling, and ventilation.
Aside from energy, water is another scarce resource in urban areas. Luckily, smart cities have IoT and connected devices to enable smart water management. This includes smart sprinkler systems, smart water grids, and portable water monitoring.
Installing air quality sensors around a city tracks peak times of low air quality and identify the cause(s) of pollution. Such data can help city officials develop action plans to minimize air pollution.
Smart safety and security systems
One of the biggest concerns for any city is ensuring the safety and security of its residents given the increasing levels of insecurity in urban areas. Smart cities are able to monitor their residents using CCTV cameras that are often installed across the city. CCTV isn’t a new concept, but the inclusion of smart cameras that feature facial recognition can help to quickly identify criminals. Some come with added features like alarms that can alert the relevant authorities like the police or fire department, thus allowing them to respond faster to emergencies.
Sensors can be implemented across the city, especially in risky areas that are prone to accidents or crime. Upon detecting unusual activity (a fire, theft, accident, and more) these sensors can alert the relevant authorities, as well as nearby citizens to avoid the area.
The intelligent street lights will not only light up the city for enhanced security but also come equipped with a surveillance camera(s).
Other technologies like license plate recognition, connected crime centers, gunshot detectors, and body cameras can give law enforcement an edge while on the job. Last, but not least, applications using real-time mapping use statistical analysis to detect crime patterns and identify problematic zones, thus allowing the police to reinforce security in such areas.
