Smart city
A smart city is a technologically modern urban area that uses different types of electronic methods and sensors to collect specific data. Information gained from that data is used to manage assets, resources and services efficiently; in return, that data is used to improve operations across the city.[1] This includes data collected from citizens, devices, buildings and assets that is processed and analyzed to monitor and manage traffic and transportation systems,[2] power plants, utilities, urban forestry,[3] water supply networks, waste disposal, criminal investigations, information systems, schools, libraries, hospitals, and other community services.[4][5] Smart cities are defined to be smart both in the ways in which their local governments harness technology as well as in how they monitor, analyze, plan, and govern the city. In smart cities, the sharing of data is not limited to the city itself but also includes businesses, citizens and other third parties that can benefit from various uses of that data. Sharing data from different systems and sectors creates opportunities for increased understanding and economic benefits.[6][7]
For the 2006 film, see Smart City (film). For a list of smart cities, see List of smart cities.
The smart city concept integrates information and communication technology (ICT), and various physical devices connected to the Internet of things (IOT) network to optimize the efficiency of city operations and services and connect to citizens.[8][9] 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.[10] Smart city applications are developed to manage urban flows and allow for real-time responses.[11] A smart city may therefore be more prepared to respond to challenges than one with a conventional "transactional" relationship with its citizens.[12][13] Yet, the term itself remains unclear in its specifics and therefore, open to many interpretations.[14] Many cities have already adopted some sort of smart city technology.
Smart city initiatives have been criticized as a marketing fad, poorly adapted to residents' needs, as largely unsuccessful, and as a dangerous move toward totalitarian surveillance.
History[edit]
Early conceptions[edit]
Early conceptions of future smart cities were found in utopian works such as New Atlantis.[34] The idea and existence of smart cities is relatively new. Following in the path of "Wired Cities" and "Intelligent Cities", the concept of the smart city is focused on a city’s use of ICT in urban problem-solving. The use of computational statistical analysis by the Community Analysis Bureau in Los Angeles in the late 1960's[35] and the establishment by Singapore of the National Computer Board in 1981 are cited as among the earliest cybernetic interventions into urban planning.[36]
Modern conceptions[edit]
IBM launched its “Smarter Cities” marketing initiative in 2008,[37] called Smarter Planet, which included the IBM Smarter Cities Challenge. In 2010, Cisco Systems, with $25 million from the Clinton Foundation, established its Connected Urban Development program in partnership with San Francisco, Amsterdam, and Seoul. In 2011, a Smart City Expo World Congress was held in Barcelona, in which 6000 people from 50 countries attended. The European Commission in 2012 established the Smart Cities Marketplace, a centralized hub for urban initiatives in the European Union.[38]
The 2015 Chancellor’s Budget for the United Kingdom proposed to invest £140 million in the development of smart cities and the Internet of Things (IoT).[39]
Other smart city competitions were launched in the 2010s by Bloomberg Philanthropies, the Rockefeller Foundation, and the United States Department of Transportation (the latter won by Columbus, Ohio).[40] In 2016, AT&T launched an alliance with Cisco, Deloitte, Ericsson, General Electric, IBM, Intel, and Qualcomm, with municipal partners Atlanta, Georgia; Chicago, Illinois; and Dallas, Texas.[40]
Recently, a global movement has emerged advocating the adoption of ICT solutions to foster a smart city approach towards urban sustainability. This movement is propelling a burgeoning technology market projected to experience exponential growth. According to IDC, expenditure worldwide on technological solutions for smart cities was estimated to reach $80 billion in 2018 and $135 billion in 2021. Additionally, market intelligence from consulting firms including ARUP, BCC Research, Research and Markets, and Frost & Sullivan offers even more optimistic projections. When these forecasts are combined, the smart city technology market is anticipated to reach $408 billion by 2020 and $775 billion by 2021. Subsequently, it is expected to surge to between $2,000 and $3,600 billion by 2025.[41][42][43]
Importance[edit]
Cities in the digital era[edit]
UN forecasts predict the global population will likely hit 9.6 to 13.2 billion by 2100, with cities absorbing 80% of this growth. This shift mirrors the urban-rural breakdown in EU countries, nearing 75-25%. The surge in population poses daunting challenges for cities, which already grapple with meeting the needs of a growing populace sustainably.[50] This demographic shift has led to rising inefficiencies that parallel the growth of urban populations, necessitating a reevaluation of strategies for sustainable urban development. Novel approaches to urban sustainability are imperative, and leveraging the potential of technological advancements in the digital revolution will be essential in attaining this goal.[50]
During the latest wave of technological innovation, cities shaped by the Industrial Revolution have undergone rapid transformation due to the advancements of the digital revolution. This evolution has seen new ICT devices and infrastructure assume a myriad of roles within urban areas, resulting in profound shifts in the dynamics of urban development. Present-day society is experiencing what can be described as "a rapid and silent revolution," presenting a fresh opportunity to bolster sustainable urban development by leveraging information and existing communication technologies to address sustainability challenges. The task at hand is to grasp the emerging technological trends spawned by the digital revolution and capitalize on their potential to effect social, economic, and environmental enhancements necessary for sustainable urban development. Utilising existing ICTs is becoming increasingly easy, as modern electronics have only become better whilst also become more affordable and accessible to wider populations.[51][52][53]
Tragedy of the commons[edit]
One challenge confronting contemporary cities is the concept known as the "tragedy of the commons," or more precisely, the exploitation of shared resources. This concept highlights the phenomenon wherein the pursuit of individual self-interest results in the overutilization of collectively owned assets, contrary to the common good. This sets in motion a detrimental cycle: as individuals capitalize on public resources for personal gain, these resources diminish, intensifying competition for access to them. This feedback loop ultimately leads to further overuse or complete depletion of the resource.
Many cities witness residents exhibiting such behavior. For instance, the widespread use of individual motorized transport significantly impacts the urban populace negatively through traffic congestion and environmental degradation. However, each individual driver reaps substantial benefits, including time savings, flexibility, and autonomy. Consequently, more citizens opt for personal vehicles, often prompting reductions in public transportation services, further incentivizing private vehicle usage, exacerbating congestion, and overburdening roads. Addressing the tragedy of the commons through the integration of information and communication technologies forms a central tenet of smart city initiatives.[54]
Description[edit]
Information and communication technologies[edit]
Information and Communication Technologies (ICTs) have been pivotal in shaping contemporary society, revolutionizing our lifestyles, professions, and modes of communication. In recent years, their significance has surged within urban contexts, with cities worldwide embracing digital technologies to enhance governance and urban structure.[55] This utilization of ICTs in urban settings has given rise to the smart city concept, where digital technologies and data are harnessed to cultivate more efficient, sustainable, and livable urban environments.[56][57] The incorporation of ICTs and allied digital technologies into urban landscapes stands as a central tenet of the smart city ideology. Cities are deploying various ICTs, including sensors, data analytics, and mobile applications, to oversee and regulate diverse urban systems such as transportation, energy, and waste management. These technologies furnish real-time urban data, empowering cities to make well-informed decisions and refine their services.[58][59]
Although ICTs hold promise for Smart Cities, their integration presents challenges. Cities encounter hurdles in adopting and implementing new technologies, including financial limitations, technical obstacles, and apprehensions regarding privacy and security. Moreover, the advantages of ICTs are not uniformly accessible across urban communities, contributing to a digital divide where certain groups are marginalized.[59]
Technologies used[edit]
Smart grids are an important technology in smart cities. The improved flexibility of the smart grid permits greater penetration of highly variable renewable energy sources such as solar power and wind power.
Mobile devices (such as smartphones and tablets) are another key technology allowing citizens to connect to the smart city services.[60][61][62]
Smart cities also rely on smart homes and specifically, the technology used in them.[63][64][65][66][67]
Bicycle-sharing systems are an important element in smart cities.[68]
Intelligent transportation systems and CCTV systems are also being developed.[69]
Digital libraries have been established in several smart cities.[70][71][72][73][74][75]
Online collaborative sensor data management platforms are on-line database services that allow sensor owners to register and connect their devices to feed data into an on-line database for storage and allow developers to connect to the database and build their own applications based on that data.[76][77]
Additional supporting technology and trends include remote work,[78][79][80] telehealth,[81][82] the blockchain,[83][84] online banking technology,[85]
Electronic cards (known as smart cards) are another common component in smart city contexts. These cards possess a unique encrypted identifier that allows the owner to log into a range of government provided services (or e-services) without setting up multiple accounts. The single identifier allows governments to aggregate data about citizens and their preferences to improve the provision of services and to determine common interests of groups. This technology has been implemented in Southampton.[26]
Retractable bollards allow to restrict access inside city centers (i.e. to delivery trucks resupplying outlet stores). Opening and closing of such barriers is traditionally done manually, through an electronic pass[86] but can even be done by means of ANPR cameras connected to the bollard system.[87]
Energy Data Management Systems (EDMS) can help to save cities energy by recording data and using it to increase efficiency.[88]
The criticisms of smart cities are varied:[89]
Policies[edit]
ASEAN Smart Cities Network (ASCN) is a collaborative platform which aims to synergise Smart city development efforts across ASEAN by facilitating cooperation on smart city development, catalysing bankable projects with the private sector, and securing funding and support from ASEAN's external partners.
The European Union (EU) has devoted constant efforts to devising a strategy for achieving "smart" urban growth for its metropolitan city-regions.[150]: 337–355 [151] The EU has developed a range of programmes under "Europe's Digital Agenda".[152] In 2010, it highlighted its focus on strengthening innovation and investment in ICT services for the purpose of improving public services and quality of life.[151] Arup estimates that the global market for smart urban services will be $400 billion per annum by 2020.[153]
The Smart Cities Mission is a retrofitting and urban renewal program being spearheaded by the Ministry of Urban Development, Government of India. The Government of India has the ambitious vision of developing 100 cities by modernizing existing mid-sized cities.[154]
While the concept of smart cities has gained increasing popularity over time, it saw a surge in adoption around 2005, particularly among technology companies. These companies sought to integrate smart city principles into urban infrastructures and services, creating sophisticated information systems to enhance operational efficiency within urban areas or cities.[168][169][170][171]
Labs and research centres have been built to help academic researchers study how smart cities develop. They are now working with some of the top research institutions worldwide.
University research labs developed prototypes for intelligent cities.
Similar interest in the concept is illustrated by government commitments. In Africa, the advancement of smart city development stands as a central component of the national agenda for socioeconomic progress. The 55 member states of the African Union Commission, representing nearly the entire continent, have pledged to utilize ICTs to advance sustainable urban development.