SMART CITIES: THE FUTURE OF URBAN LIVING
Can you imagine yourself in a city where there is no hustle, endless traffic jams and long commutes. Have you ever wondered what the city of future might look like? Just imagine that a fully furnished infrastructure along with autonomous vehicles and advanced traffic systems are working in harmony. This is not any science fictional movie or novel, rather a glimpse into the future of evolution of our city.
Traditional cities with tall skyscrapers, intricate networks of infrastructure and bustling streets are known for high energy consumption. Whether it is lighting up the houses or public transportation, these cities use a massive amount of energy, which comes from non renewable sources which is definitely not sustainable in the long run. Such cities face various issues related to management of waste, water supply, health and Housing. These complex problems require innovative solutions. But can smart cities be the solution of such complex problems?
Imagine a city where technology is used in order to solve the problems which we have discussed. A city where technology is an integral part of design, planning and management is surely an answer to this complex problem.
Smart cities: the future of urban living
Smart cities are those cities which uses technology in order to improve the quality of life of its residents. It includes every single resource which can be used to reduce the energy consumption and cost. Smart cities completely rely on various technologies and infrastructure in order to function properly. Sensors and IoT devices can be used in order to collect and transmit data. On the other hand, big data analytics can we used to process and analyse that data.
Benefits of living in a smart city
- Smart cities have improved public services. With the help of technology, cities can improve the major issues nowadays such as management of waste, public transportation and emergency response. By the congestion and time travelling, public transportation systems can be optimised. Through the use of real time data and analytics, emergency response time can be reduced significantly.
- Smart cities can be more environmentally sustainable. It can reduce carbon emissions and can be helpful in combating climate changes with the use of renewable energy source and energy efficient buildings.
- Smart city scan improves the quality of living for its residents. For example, air quality can be improved, traffic can be reduced and safety can be enhanced through the use of smart city technologies.
- Smart cities can also contribute to economic benefit. By collaboration with the technology in order to improve services and reduce cost, cities can attract new businesses and industries in order to create job opportunities and drive economic growth.
- Smart cities offer enhanced data collection and analysis. Through the analysis of the need and preferences of their residents, a more informed decision can be made about city planning and resource allocation.
Challenges associated with the creation and maintenance of smart cities
- Privacy is the major challenge. There is always the risk of misuse or abuse of data as show much data is being collected and transmitted.
- More devices are connected to Internet, risk of cyber attacks increases.
- Implementation of the idea of smart city is another key challenge. Major investment in terms of infrastructure and technology is required to build a smart city.
- It may happen that not all the residents may have the access to technology or they might not have the skills which is required to fully participate in a smart city which can lead to disparities in terms of access to services and opportunities.
Conclusion:
It is quite clear that the development of such smart cities is far away with the increasing urbanization of world’s population. Smart cities can become more efficient, sustainable and enjoyable places to live when they are leveraged with the latest advances in technology. There are also certain challenges in the maintenance and development of smart cities which need to be overcome. By addressing to these challenges, we can work towards creation of smart cities which meet the need of mass and benefiting environment as well as community.
