Smart City

 IOT

 The Internet of things is like veins of the city spread all across and connecting each dot. Every device that is part of a smart city needs to be connected to each other so that they can talk amongst and can take decisions for themselves which in return allows managing resources of a megacity population. This is where the IoT comes in, providing the perfect template of a body of communicating devices that provides smart solutions to everyday problems. All smart solutions in smart cities are based on the Internet of things where they are connected and smart enough to decide their action.

Sensors

Sensors are hidden but ubiquitous components of the urban landscape. Sensors are a crucial component of any intelligent control system. A process is improved based on its environment and for a control system to be aware of its environment, it is typically fitted with an array of sensors, from which it collects the required data. It then uses the appropriate variables to characterize its environment and adjusts its operations accordingly. The availability of a multitude of different sensors and continuously evolving technology enables applications that were infeasible in the past due to high costs and limited availability. Sensors are like converters which convert parameters of a physical nature to an electronic signal, which can be interpreted by humans or can be fed into an autonomous system. These signals for conventional sensors, amongst others, include light, pressure, temperature, humidity, moisture, and a variety of other parameters.

Geospatial Technology

Urban planning requires geolocation accuracy and detailed geographic data. Smart cities rely on technologies such as Global Positioning System (GPS) for transportation management and connected vehicles. The Geographical Information System (GIS) helps city planners to build an urban digital model with georeferenced data. This enables building engineers, for example, to determine the best route for bicycle lanes or where to locate multimodal transport stations. In the case of new cities such as Belmont, USA, city planners use geospatial technologies to design residential and urban areas in a way that promotes walking commuting. 

Artificial Intelligence

A smart city is a digital revolution generating a huge amount of data. Those data are of no use until and unless they are processed, which generates information in return. This massive amount of data generation brings the role of Artificial intelligence that can make sense out of those data. AI allows machine to machine interaction by processing the data and making sense out of that. To understand the interesting aspect of Artificial intelligence in the context of smart cities, let us take an example. In a system where energy spikes tend to happen, AI can learn where they usually occur and under which circumstances, and this information can be used for better management of the power grid. Likewise, Artificial Intelligence also plays a role in intelligent traffic management and healthcare facilities.

Blockchain

Blockchain application is new to the smart city concept. Blockchain technology secures data flow. Its integration into smart cities could better connect all city services while boosting security and transparency. In some ways, blockchain is expected to influence cities through smart contracts, which help with billing, processing transactions and handling facilities management. Smart contracts are self-executing contracts with the terms of the agreement between buyer and seller directly written into lines of code. They permit trusted transactions and agreements to be carried out among disparate parties without the need for a mediating third party, making the process safer, cheaper, and faster. Blockchain can also be used in smart grids to facilitate energy sharing, a concept that is trending these days. Smart energy management, smart healthcare, smart citizen services, smart communication, smart governance – all these define a smart city.

 5G / High-Speed Connectivity

Smart city technologies require connectivity to work. 5G cells provide urban areas with a strong connection between millions of devices and sensors, enabling the IoT to work efficiently. Therefore, cities like London are installing 5G cells across the city, using drones to identify available spaces.

Robotics

Robots left sci-fi movies to become part of everyday life. The integration of robotics aims to improve city operations, such as using drones for postal services. Cities such as Dubai, Singapore, and Tokyo are at the forefront of this trend, introducing humanoids for services such as room service in hotels, surveillance, and to attend the information desk at public offices. In Dubai, Robocop is not a fantasy anymore, since the city is testing humanoid police officers with the intention to replace 25 percent of their police force by 2030.

 Big Data

 Smart cities are by definition, data-driven. Big data and analytics play an important role in city management, with many a city having now a Chief Data Officer in the administration. The combination of big data analysis and smart city solutions help cities improve the management in critical segments such as:

Big Data for Smart City Energy

Major cities are experiencing the challenge of managing power usage efficiently. The implementation of smart grids allows city officers to analyze power consumption in real-time. Using data analytics, they can predict periods of heavy usage and plan the energy distribution accordingly. Solar energy plants can install smart sensors to check the panels for maintenance.

 Big Data for Smart City Transportation

 A smart transport infrastructure uses big data and IoT technologies to provide residents with access to faster and safer travel across the city. At the same time, it gives city authorities data about traffic flow allowing them to manage the transit efficiently. Usually, a smart city transportation system consists of an Intelligent Transportation Network (ITN). The network usually includes:

 A transportation management system: that optimizes the traffic flow of public transportation. Ideally, the system should include all mobility options, including micro-mobility and sharing transportation modes.

 A vehicle control system: that ensures the safety and prevents accidents by monitoring and alerting about road conditions.

An electronic timetable and route information system—mostly in the form of real-time displays at bus stops and train stations. This, combined with a mobility application, informs consumers of the available transportation options and the conditions of the routes.

A single rechargeable fare card: to travel using all available public transport options. An example of this is the Oyster card in London.

Big Data for Smart City Infrastructure

Smart cities share one characteristic, all use sensor data to improve city management. Big data can help cities to monitor and manage urban issues such as waste disposal, transportation, and saving resources. To do that, the city needs to install sensors in the infrastructure, retrofitting or replacing outdated infrastructure when necessary.

 To transform a city infrastructure into “smart”, the city manager should develop three layers of “smartness” as follows:

1.     The tech base include networks of sensors and connected devices who gather data

2.     The second layer consists of the deployment of smart applications that process the raw data, translating it into alerts, insight, and actions.

3.     The third layer involves widely adopting the system by the residents.

Benefits of Smart City Solutions

According to this Mckinsey Global Institute report, for a city to be smart, it should use technology and data with the purpose of delivering a better quality of life. What consists of quality of life? While this is a subjective matter, most city residents agree that a good quality of life should include improvement in the following areas:

 Public Safety : Applications using real-time crime mapping, for example, use statistical analysis to detect crime patterns and identify problematic zones, predicting the incidence of crime. This allows police forces to reinforce security in these areas. One example was the trial of HunchLab, a predictive technology solution in New York City which significantly lowered crime.

 Faster Commutes : For most city residents, improving the daily commuting time is basic for a good quality of life. Cities that have smart-mobility applications in place can reduce commuting time by as much as 20 percent on average. Multimodal mobility solutions allow passengers to choose between all available transportation options. This results in lower car usage since residents can opt for the transportation mode that better suits them at the moment.

 Economic Prosperity : Smart cities tend to attract technology companies and talent. This, in turn, attracts venture capital to the cities. Cities like London and New York have received an influx of investment capital thanks to their smart initiatives.

 Greener Environment : Environmental concerns are at the core of every smart city strategy. Smart cities aim to reduce pollution and emissions, through smart urban planning and transportation management. When people walk and use multimodal mobility, the result is fewer cars on the streets, reducing emissions. Smart cities are also characterized by the smart management of their resources.

What Mobility as a Service Means for Consumers, Cities, and Transport Providers

 Mobility as a Service (MaaS) solutions integrates all stages of the journey of a commuter, including booking, trip planning, e-tickets, and payments. MaaS solutions offer a user-friendly application that enables commuters to travel via train, bus, and taxi.

 MaaS systems include a mobile app, which acts as the front-end, big data infrastructure that collects data from travelers and uses it to optimize services, and physical devices including the Internet of Things (IoT), Connected Vehicles (CVs) and Autonomous Vehicles (AVs).

 Smart City is a combination of all the above powered by the best of technology available to gain maximum efficiency and reliability. Smart Cities are completely data-driven and policy managed at all times and levels.

Other Definitions of Smart City

A smart city is a developed urban area that creates sustainable economic development and high quality of life by excelling in multiple key areas; economy, mobility, environment, people, living, and government. - Business Dictionary

A smart city is an urban area that uses different types of electronic data collection sensors to supply information that is used to manage assets and resources efficiently. - Wikipedia

A smart city is a municipality that uses information and communication technologies to increase operational efficiency, share information with the public, and improve both the quality of government services and citizen welfare. - IoT World

 "A broad, integrated approach to improving the efficiency of city operations, the quality of life for its citizens, and growing the local economy." - Boyd Cohen, What Exactly Is A Smart City, Fast Co. Exist

Please note that the above is a compilation of texts from various sources including my additions. This is my first article posted on Linkedin thus requesting your kind support. Thank you all.