Smart city initiatives are taking place all over the world. This emerging trend is all about making life easier for citizens, whether it’s about finding parking places, or guiding them to the healthcare facilities or sending alerts for traffic conditions, flood, and other natural disasters. So, does that actually make the people any smarter? Well, it aims to empower the citizens by using the new technology, thus making people-centric smart communities.
New technologies and the data that come with it has transformed the way cities work nowadays. It focuses on anticipating problems and comes up with innovative solutions.
According to a report published by Harvard Kennedy School professor, “In terms of city governance, we are at one of the most consequential periods in the last century”
City governments all over the world are spending on the latest technologies and coming up with strategies which include implementation of IoT technologies and the requisite communications infrastructure. This has also given rise to smart & connected communities (SCC) concept which focuses on the improved quality of life, preservation & sustainability.
The aim to help communities in mainly three categories; environment, infrastructure, and social.
To successfully deploy the smart city initiatives public-private partnerships should be explored, cybersecurity standards should be enhanced and last but not the least, equal employment opportunities should be provided to all citizens. This approach would foster a sense of ownership, economic competitiveness, engagement and promote a more connected world in the future.
That being said, this whole concept of a smart city shouldn’t only be based on technology. While technology does help in laying out a solid foundation for the infrastructure. The need for awareness of this transformation, through research, planning, and investment will always be there.
As the cities slowly evolve into smart communities, it is important for governments to make their citizens ready for the digital transformation. Equally important for the industry stakeholders is to contribute to this transformation.
At the same time, it provides an opportunity to connect with the communities in a more dynamic way, optimize the resources and build a sustainable environment. Last but not the least we all need to ask our self this question, ‘If our cities are really ready for this transformation?’