Why Smart Cities aren't that smart (yet).

Despite the popular belief that “smart cities” are automatically efficient and well-run, a closer look reveals that this is not always the case. In fact, many of the new technologies and platforms being used in smart city initiatives are still in their infancy, with plenty of room for improvement. While there have been some successes, it will take time and continued investment to realize the full potential of smart cities. So far, most cities have only scratched the surface of what’s possible. But is it the technology that’s holding back faster adoption and subsequent advancements?

Being involved in two smart city projects over the past five years, I’ve learned a lot about what works. I’ve also seen what does not work, and most of the time, it’s not the technology.

Project 1: The “Smart Neighborhood”

Planned communities are pretty popular here in Florida and most parts of the USA. Today, the suburbs are an integral part of American life, and their appeal has only become stronger due to COVID.

The suburban boom really took off after World War II, when millions of GIs returned home from overseas and started families. The combination of cheap mortgages and the availability of cars made it possible for millions of Americans to buy their own homes in the suburbs. This mass migration had a profound impact on American culture, as the traditional boundaries between city and country began to blur.

But, cheap mortgages and easy highway access aren’t enough to distinguish one planned community from another. This is where technology can be the differentiator.

Low-hanging fruit such as high-speed internet, solar power, and natural gas is a no-brainer for the modern neighborhood. But for the “smart neighborhood”, starts with a community app that includes a digital wallet using blockchain technology.

With this app, your medical records are under your control, helping you find the menu’s from local restaurants that fit your health goals. Safety in the neighborhood means being able to track your children on a map, and getting alerts when they cross geofenced areas. It also allows you to see adjusted arrival times when the school bus is running behind and allows the kids to go safely into the house after getting off the bus. The built-in biometric sensors detect and inform you when anyone not authorized to enter the home is at the door. Want to go to that restaurant where you will find a Doctor approved menu based on your specific needs? Ask your voice-activated assistant to schedule a date night, block off the calendar, schedule the babysitter, and optionally schedule your autonomous taxi.

Yes, here in Florida, some specially designated communities can regulate their own laws around autonomous vehicles, drones, etc.

So drone deliveries, no problem. Need something from Publix in the next 20 minutes? Or have a Sunday evening school project to finish but no glue? Use the app to get it delivered to your front door by drone or by a track-based ground robot.

So all of these technologies exist — right now! So why don’t we see it being adopted more widely? The human element behind it all. People don’t trust their data will be secure, and in some cases, they even fear the technology will “take over”. Can we blame them though?

Project 2: The “Smart City”

The idea of smart cities is not new, but connected devices commonly called IoT (Internet of Things) devices, cheap storage, and cloud computing all enabled the idea, to become reality.

Smart cities are urban areas where various types of electronic data collection sensors capture digital information. This information is used to manage assets and resources efficiently, often including Artificial Intelligence to do so. The objective is to create a livable and sustainable environment while increasing economic development and improving the quality of life for residents.

Some examples of areas it’s used in include the monitoring and optimization of:

• Public transportation
• Water and energy usage
• Waste management
• Public safety and security
• Traffic management

Most smart city applications focus on improving the efficiency of city operations and services. By using technology to collect and analyze data, cities can make informed decisions about where to allocate resources and how to best serve their citizens.

This sounds terrific. Who wouldn’t want their tax dollars to be allocated to more efficient city operations that better serve the community? It turns out, that you, me, and a lot of other people question the track record of these projects, and the funding attached because of that.

Let’s discuss one of the more common use cases as an example. Computer Vision is one of the most popular technologies available for smart city use cases. It allows not only the reading of vehicle registration tags but people’s faces, and their distinct appearance in a crowd. It can even be used to detect abnormal behavior such as a fight breaking out, or someone lying down where they shouldn’t. One would think that enhancing the Police forces with additional public safety tools such as this will be a welcome addition.

Yet, as in the previous example, privacy and mistrust in the technology and how it might be used keeps these technologies from reaching their full potential. This, in turn, creates a pretty unimpressive track record for smart city implementations, disincentivizing city officials to green light funding for these large projects.

Final Thoughts

Various technologies exist to make cities “smart” and the main objectives are to improve efficiency and quality of life for residents.?

However, many people are hesitant to adopt these technologies due to privacy concerns and mistrust of the technology. As a result, smart city projects have not been as successful as they could be, and investment from city managers to allocate funds remains challenging, given a very sparse track record for success so far.?

Perhaps smart communities will thrive first, but then again, have you ever been to an HOA meeting? That might be a much tougher fight over budgets than any city will ever experience.?

So even though I’ve had my share of smart city projects, I see it being one of the slower maturing areas for technologies such as Machine Learning and AI in the coming years. We will see progress, but that progress depends on how quickly we all will be able to trust the technology and how it’s being used.

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