Characteristics of a smart city

Emerging trends such as automation, machine learning and IoT are driving the development of smart cities.

In theory, any area of ​​city management can be incorporated into a smart city initiative. A classic example is the smart parking tool that uses an app to help drivers find available parking spaces without long detours on busy streets. The smart meter also allows for digital payment, so there is no risk of running out of coins for the meter.

Also in the field of transport, intelligent traffic management is used to monitor and analyze traffic flows to optimize street lighting and prevent roads from becoming too congested depending on the time of day or peak hours. Smart public transit is another facet of smart cities. Smart transit companies are able to coordinate services and meet passenger needs in real time, improving efficiency and passenger satisfaction. Ride-sharing and bike-sharing are also common services in a smart city.

Energy conservation and efficiency are the major goals of smart cities. Using smart sensors, smart street lights dim when there are no cars or pedestrians on the roads. Smart grid technology can be used to improve operations, maintenance and planning, and to provide on-demand power and monitor power outages.

Smart city initiatives also aim to monitor and address environmental concerns such as climate change and air pollution. Waste management and sanitation can also be improved with smart technology, whether it’s internet-connected bins and IoT-enabled fleet management systems for waste collection and removal, or using sensors to measure water parameters and guarantee the quality of drinking water, with adequate disposal of waste water and drainage.