The world stands at the precipice of a major shift. By 2050, it is estimated that over 6.7 billion people – a staggering 68% of the global population – will call urban areas home. These burgeoning cities are the engines of our global economy, generating over 80% of global GDP.
Bigger problems, smarter cities
However, this rapid urbanisation comes with its own set of specific challenges. How can we ensure that these cities remain not only efficient and sustainable, but also offer an improved quality of life for all residents?
The answer lies in the concept of ‘smart cities.’ These are not simply cities adorned with the latest technology, but rather complex ecosystems where various elements work in tandem. Imagine a city’s transportation network, its critical infrastructure including power grids, its essential utilities such as water and sanitation, all intertwined with healthcare, education and other vital social services.
This integrated system forms the foundation of a smart city; complex ecosystems reliant on data-driven solutions including AI Computer Vision, 5G, secure wireless networks and IoT devices.
Achieving the smart city vision
But how do we actually achieve the vision of a truly connected urban environment and ensure that smart cities thrive? Well, there are four key pillars that underpin the successful development of smart cities.
The first is technology integration; where we see electronic and digital technologies weaved into the fabric of everyday city life. The second is ICT (information and communication technologies) transformation, whereby we are utilising ITC to transform both how people live and work within these cities.
Third is government integration. It is only by embedding ICT into government systems that we will achieve the necessary improvements in service delivery and transparency. Then finally, we need to see territorialisation of practices. In other words, bringing people and technology together to foster increased innovation and better knowledge sharing, creating a collaborative space for progress.
ICT underpinning smart cities
When it comes to the role of ICT and emerging technologies for building successful smart city environments, one of the most powerful tools is of course AI, and this includes the field of computer vision. This technology acts as a ‘digital eye’, enabling smart cities to gather real-time data and gain valuable insights into various, everyday aspects of urban life 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
Imagine a city that can keep goods and people flowing efficiently by detecting things such as congestion, illegal parking and erratic driving behaviours, then implementing the necessary changes to ensure smooth traffic flow.
Then think about the benefits of being able to enhance public safety by identifying unusual or threatening activities such as accidents, crimes and unauthorised access in restricted areas, in order to create a safer environment for all.
Armed with the knowledge of how people and vehicles move within a city, think about how authorities would be able to plan for the future by identifying popular routes and optimising public transportation systems accordingly.
Then consider the benefits of being able to respond to emergency incidents more effectively with the capability to deliver real-time, situational awareness during crises, allowing for faster and more coordinated response efforts.
Visibility and resilience
Finally, what about the positive impact of being able to plan for and manage events with ease. Imagine the capability to analyse crowd behaviour and optimise event logistics to ensure the safety and enjoyment of everyone involved. This would include areas such as optimising parking by being able to monitor parking space occupancy in real-time, guiding drivers to available spaces and reducing congestion accordingly.
All of these capabilities share one thing in common – data.
Data, data, data
The key to unlocking the full and true potential of smart cities lies in data, and it is by leveraging computer vision and other technologies that cities can gather and analyse data.
Armed with this, they can make the most informed decisions about infrastructure investment, resource allocation, and service delivery. Such a data-driven approach also allows for continuous optimisation, ensuring that cities operate efficiently and effectively.
However, it is also crucial to remember that a smart city is not an island. It thrives within a larger network of interconnected systems, including transportation links, critical infrastructure, and social services. It is only through collaborative efforts and a shared vision that can we truly unlock the potential of data-driven solutions and build sustainable, thriving urban spaces that offer a better future for all.
Furthermore, this is only going to become more critical as the impacts of climate change continue to put increased pressure on countries and consequently cities to plan sustainably for the future. Indeed, the International Institute for Management Development recently released the fifth edition of its Smart Cities Index, charting the progress of over 140 cities around the world on their technological capabilities.
The top 20 heavily features cities in Europe and Asia, with none from North America or Africa present. Only time will tell if cities in these continents catch up with their European and Asian counterparts moving forward, but for now the likes of Abu Dhabi, London and Singapore continue to be held up as examples of cities that are truly ‘smart’.
- Data & AI
- Infrastructure & Cloud
- Sustainability Technology
