“Smart cities” are cities that use information and communications technology (ICT) to improve operational efficiency, sustainability, quality of life of citizens and interaction between government and residents. These cities use the information generated by sensors, devices and systems to make more informed decisions and deliver services more effectively.
The key elements of a smart city include:
- Sensors and connected devices: Sensors are installed in different parts of the city to collect real-time data on various aspects such as traffic, air quality, energy consumption, etc.
- Communication networks: A robust communications infrastructure, such as fiber optic networks or wireless technologies, enables efficient transfer of data between different devices and systems.
- Data management platforms: Systems are used to collect, store and analyze large amounts of data generated by sensors, providing valuable information for decision making.
- Efficient resource management: Smart cities strive to use resources more efficiently, be it energy, water, transportation, etc. These can include, but are not limited to, smart lighting systems, efficient power grids, and traffic management.
- Citizen participation: Citizens’ active participation is promoted through technology, allowing them to contribute information, receive notifications and participate in decision-making through digital platforms.
- Electronic government: Use of technology to improve the efficiency of government services, such as citizen services, permit and license management, among others.
- Sustainable development: The use of technologies is intended to improve environmental sustainability and reduce the city’s environmental impact.
Smart cities seek to address urban challenges by using technology to create more efficient, sustainable and comfortable environments for their residents. The successful implementation of these technologies requires close collaboration between the public and private sectors and active community participation.
Goals for Smart Cities
By 2050, 70% of the world’s population is expected to live in cities. This reality means that urban centers will increasingly face related issues in the coming decades, such as:
- Energy sources
- CO2 emissions.
- Traffic planning.
- Delivery of goods and raw materials.
Providing health and safety services to all residents of these large, densely populated centers.
The ideal smart city model is mainly based on the following subsystems:
Distributed generation.
These include smart cities in which electricity generation is not centralized but distributed across the entire area via individual utilities (microgeneration).
Intelligent network.
These interconnected smart grids are called smart grids and enable bi-directional data flow between the service center (or control center) and the users.
Smart metering
This is the intelligent measurement of each user’s energy consumption data using a rangefinder, the data is read remotely and in real time.
Smart buildings
Smart urban buildings are becoming a model for efficiency.
Home automation buildings respect the environment and have integrated energy production systems.
Smart Sensors Smart sensors collect all the data required for a smart city.
They are an essential part of the city’s networking and information and ensure that each subsystem fulfills its function.
E-mobility
Introduction of electric vehicles and associated public and private charging stations.
Information and communication technologies (ICT).
These are information technologies that help control the various subsystems of a smart city.
Through them, people and administrative units can actively participate in the administration of the city.
Smart Citizens
Citizens are undoubtedly an essential part of a smart city, because without their active participation these initiatives would not be possible.
Can a modern city become a smart city?
The smart city concept not only focuses on new urban development projects but also aims to transform existing cities into smart cities.
These ongoing projects are included in the Treaty on European Union 20-20-20, which sets out a series of objectives to be achieved by 2020:
Greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions fell by 20%.
Thanks to improved energy efficiency, energy consumption is reduced by 20%.
20% of electricity production should come from renewable energy sources.
Reconstruction and adaptation projects with new technologies are currently being implemented in both large cities and small urban areas, making “smart cities” a reality.