Introduction
There is an inevitability that we must face – urbanisation is an unstoppable
demographic trend and cities will not get any smaller. With the number of
megacities and the people living in them increasing exponentially, the question
that arises is how can these cities be smarter with what they have at their
disposal? Software platforms along with the massive deployment of wireless
ICT will become key to supporting the management of cities, whether in terms
of housing, energy, mobility or emergency services. ICT is an opportunity to
solve many of the cities' problems: transportation, e-Government, Machineto-
Machine communication. How can the traffic intensity be managed, for
example? What smart solutions can make the streets safer at night? And
how can smart villages counteract the digital divide and prevent rural
life becoming more difficult?
Some facts and figures
- The United Nations estimates that by 2030 nearly 60% of the
world's population will be living in an urban environment;
in 1900, this number was only 13%. This rise in urbanisation
affects not only industrialised nations (80% by 2030) but
particularly developing countries (55% by 2030). All over the
world, this creates political, scientific and economic challenges.
There is a need for smart cities among the whole global
community. [1]
- If reports are correct, cities would have to spend a staggering
USD 350 trillion or almost 5 times current global GDP in the
next 30 years on urban infrastructure. [2] But since this is not
really feasible we need to find smart ways to address these
urgent needs.
- Deploying smart technologies in key areas of electricity grids,
transport, logistics, buildings and industrial motors could cut
global emissions by 15% in 2020, and around USD 900 billion a
year in energy savings for global industry by 2020. [2]
- As in many cities, the Dutch capital of The Hague wants to
encourage citizens to engage with each other to influence how
their city develops smart urban solutions. Democracy 3.0 is a
tool to give citizens power over the allocation of 2-3% of local
taxes by allowing their proposals to be voted on. [3]
- Big data and smart technologies can help engage citizens and
business in the process of improving a city and its services. E.g.
- in Boston, citizens use a digital application to register
concerns about streets that need cleaning or potholes
that need fixing, helping the city authorities to address
the problems quickly without first having to dispatch
employees to investigate. Potholes, for example, are
detected by volunteer citizens who use a mobile app that
applies an accelerometer and GPS to record and locate any
bumps hit by the car the user is driving. [4]
- Bucheon City in South Korea provides drivers with real-time
traffic information from various sources, such as cameras
and speed radars, helping drivers to avoid congested roads
and city authorities to track traffic volumes and plan for new
roads. [4]
Imagine …
Imagine arriving at one of the airports that serve the megacity of the future. It's a daunting
prospect if you don't know your way around. How can you get to your destination quickly
and cheaply? And when you arrive, what kind of interesting cultural events might attract
your interest or where is the best place to dine? We're not all the same. So how can you
personalise your trip? How can you get the best out of the opportunity? And who can do
what? Who takes the lead in developing solutions? Who innovates what? Communicates
the possibilities?
Imagine what is possible when we dare to dream, when we reach for the stars in a galaxy
full of opportunities …
References
[1] Smart
cities – German High Technology for the cities of the future, tasks and opportunities. acatech – National
Academy of Science and Engineering, May 2011.
[2] Information
Marketplaces – The New Economics of Cities. A report by: The Climate Group, Arup, Accenture and Horizon,
University of Nottingham, 2011.
[3] Innovation in Europe's
cities. A report by LSE Cities on Bloomberg Philanthropies' 2014 Mayors Challenge, February 2015.
[4] How to make a city
great. McKinsey&Company, September 2013.
