We live in a connected world, and now we want to take it a step further by developing connected, "Smart" cities. Currently, the global Smart City market is estimated to grow up to a whopping $1.56 trillion by 2025.
But what exactly is a Smart City, how is it beneficial, and what are the features of a Smart City?
Let's find out.
All You Need to Know About Smart Cities
A smart city is an urban city where the operations and infrastructure are connected and interlinked to the IoT network. This is made possible through various IoT devices and sensors that allow the collection and analysis of data.
The insights brought about from this data are used to efficiently manage and allocate resources, utilities, and services.
With a framework built upon IoT and ICT (Information and Communication Technologies), a Smart City enhances its services and operations for the benefit of its citizens, homes, utilities, transportation, and more through mobile connectivity.
Some good examples of modern-day Smart Cities include Singapore and Copenhagen.
Benefits of a Smart City
Rapidly growing urbanization in cities across the world comes with its challenges, mostly regarding the efficient use and allocation of resources, services, and utilities. A Smart City enables financial savings and makes social, economic, and environmental improvements possible through data or information from connected devices and sensors.
Data analysis allows efficient management and use of utilities, transport, power, water, waste, IT, law enforcement, healthcare, education, and more. Most importantly, it allows for better decision-making and planning for overall improvements.
Features of a Smart City
Some common elements or features of a Smart City include:
- Widespread Connectivity
Reliable wireless connectivity is the most important feature of a Smart City because it connects all the elements together, without which a city cannot be "smart." It is typically achieved through low-power wide-area networks (LPWAN).
- Network Security
One of the main features of a Smart City is robust network security, which is important to protect the city's devices, systems, data, and IoT network from unauthorized access or control. The security needs to be tested regularly and should be able to detect potential cyber threats.
- Smart Traffic and Transport Management
Smart traffic management refers to the monitoring, control, and optimization of traffic and routes. It helps reduce traffic congestion, accidents, and pollution. Whereas public transport in Smart Cities is also managed with efficiency, depending on the needs of the public.
- Efficient Public Utilities Management
From healthcare and fire safety to water and waste management, all the public utilities of a Smart City are managed efficiently. For instance, a Smart City cannot be "smart" without intelligent waste management and water supply.
The same goes for energy conservation, fire safety, healthcare, and crime prevention. Smart Cities utilize sensors, devices, and collected data to ensure that public assets are managed efficiently to save resources and improve social, economic, and environmental impact.
- Smart Homes and Buildings
No Smart City can be complete without smart homes and buildings. One of the key features of Smart Cities is that their structures have smart HVAC systems, sensors, security systems, and more that are all connected to prompt appropriate action.
Conclusion
These were some key benefits and common features of a Smart City, and there are many more, which we can discuss another time. For now, you should understand that a city that leverages various forms of technology to connect and enhance infrastructure and multiple facilities or areas is a Smart City.
If you want to learn more about the technology that guide the adoption and implementation of features of Smart Cities or about how IoT and technologies like data analytics and AI can accelerate digital transformation, please visit our website today.