i3 - March/April 2017 - 51

By Steve Koenig

Business

M A R K E T B E AT

Smart Cities: The Next Big Thing

he smart city is a concept most industry folk understand,
as this idea is generally viewed through the lens of technology and data analytics. But in reality the definition-and
implementation-of smart cities is much more elaborate.
While any smart city needs to have a data-based infrastructure
system, to be truly "smart" it must also integrate numerous other city
functions such as energy, buildings, mobility, government services,
citizen involvement, healthcare, and/or infrastructure such as roads.

MIGUEL NAVARRO/GETTY IMAGES

Understanding the smart cities concept
and what it will take to make it a reality
is the focus of new CTA research created
in partnership with United Parcel Service
(UPS) entitled The Evolution of Smart
Cities and Connected Communities. The
key findings clearly illustrate the role
of technology, but highlight the equally
important contribution of political
leadership and most of all the citizens

C TA . t e c h / i 3

Nation Platform, which brings together
data from a nationwide sensor network.
Collected data will be fed into an open
data platform, as well as a dynamic
3D "Virtual Singapore" model that will
allow city planners to test-bed concepts;
analyze traffic and pedestrian flows;
and run simulations. Research firm IHS
predicts there will be at least 88 smart
cities worldwide by 2025, and Asiaof a given community. Technology-wise,
Pacific will account for 32 of them.
opportunity abounds with the global
The benefits of smart cities are manismart cities market expected to reach
fold, but-almost universally-the starting
$34.35 billion by 2020.
point for smart city projects is transporThe overarching goal of smart cities
tation. Why? In most cases, city dwellers'
is congruent with smart homes - just
number one issue is transportation and
on a community-wide scale. That is to
traffic congestion. From a policy and
say, while smart homes
funding standpoint it's
take care of their occua natural fit.
IHS predicts
pants, smart cities aim to
Beyond transportation,
there will
transform residents relathe benefits are both
be at least
tionships with their city
and indirect such
88
smart cities direct
by building communities
as lower costs and improved
worldwide
that take careof citizens.
resiliency of city operations,
by 2025.
The rising demand
greater security, reduced
for smart cities is driven
pollution and fostering
by a series of diverse
economic development.
constraints, challenges and opportuDespite these enormous societal benefits,
nities. However, with 70 percent of the
creating smart cities faces challenges
world's population forecast to live in
and risks that can be summarized
cities by 2050, the need for sustainable,
as cybersecurity, lack of standards,
livable world cities is essential for
and governance and budget issues.
a prosperous future. Today, Barcelona,
To make smart cities a reality, the
Copenhagen, Helsinki, London and
research recommends planners follow
Seoul are leading examples of smart
a doctrine centered on four basic
cities under development.
tenets: Commitment, Collaboration,
The city-state of Singapore aims
Consistency and Community-the four
to be the world's first "smart nation,"
C's of smart city development. More,
leveraging one of the highest mobile
these guidelines underpin principles
and broadband penetration rates in
such as 'maintaining a commitment
the world. The centerpiece is a Smart
to entrepreneurial programs' that are
critical to achieving smart city development through delivering innovative
urban or public services enabled by
technology. In other words, embrace
disruptive innovation.
Technologies showcased at CES 2017
like 5G, AI and self-driving vehicles will
play a strategic role in enabling smart
cities in the years to come. ■
MARCH/APRIL 2017

http://www.CTA.tech/research http://www.CTA.tech/research http://cta.tech/I3

i3 - March/April 2017

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