The future is made of Smart Cities

There are more than thirty-six definitions of the term smart city and the literature does not provide a unified definition. Early attempts to define the concept focused on the intelligence provided by information and communication technologies (ICTs) to manage various functions of the city. Recently, studies have broadened their scope to include smart city goals such as sustainability, quality of life and services to citizens. With this new dimension included in the definition, the smart city thus differs from the digital city in that it puts digital technology at the service of the population. The notion of social and human is paramount in defining the smart city.

According to Giffinger et al. (2007), a smart city is a city that excels, in a forward-looking way, in six dimensions: Smart Economy, Smart People, Smart Governance, Smart Mobility, Smart Environment and Smart Living. Today, we are going to focus on the Smart Living dimension.

This characteristic of the smart city covers aspects related to improving the quality of life of citizens around the notions of well-being, health, safety, housing, culture, tourism, etc. These aspects are applicable at the local and global levels in both rural and urban environments. In order to contribute to improving the quality of life of citizens, smart cities develop an attractive living and working environment, promote tourism, culture and commerce by offering an inviting environment, develop new services to optimize health (e-health), ensure safety or guide consumer behaviour towards responsible behaviour.

Here are examples of how smart cities improve the quality of life of citizens:

1) Mobility and Transportation

Smart mobility solutions improve connectivity, reduce traffic congestion, and provide cleaner and safer modes of transportation.

E.g. Copenhagen's intelligent traffic management system ensures smooth traffic flow and reduces travel time by up to 2.

2) Energy Efficiency and Conservation

Smart cities use technology to reduce energy consumption, optimize resource utilization, and promote the use of renewable energy.

E.g. Helsinki's smart grid system enables households to monitor and control their energy consumption, reducing their carbon footprint by up to 15%.

3) Environmental Sustainability

Smart cities promote sustainable practices such as reducing greenhouse gas emissions, waste reduction, and the use of green spaces.

E.g. In Amsterdam, a smart waste management system collects and sorts waste for recycling, reducing landfill waste by 50%.

4) Public Safety

Smart cities deploy advanced security measures, including video surveillance, emergency response systems, and real-time monitoring to enhance public safety.

E.g. London's Metropolitan Police Service uses facial recognition technology to identify suspects and prevent crime proactively.

5) Health and Well-being

Smart cities leverage technology to promote healthy lifestyles, ensure access to healthcare, and provide mental health support.

E.g. The city of Barcelona implemented a telemedicine platform, enabling patients to consult with doctors remotely, reducing waiting times and improving access to healthcare.

6) Community Engagement

Smart cities use digital tools and social media to engage citizens, encourage civic participation, and enhance community collaboration.

E.g. In New York, the city launched the NYC311 app, which enables residents to report non-emergency issues and track progress, improving community engagement and service delivery.