IEEE Electrification Magazine - June 2018 - 6
technology leaders
Grid Modernization Is Paving the Way
for Building Smarter Cities
By Aleksi Paaso, Daniel Kushner, Shay Bahramirad, and Amin Khodaei
rban environments are
playing a major role in
modern economies, with
more people choosing to move to cit-
ies for a better quality of life. in fact,
more than half of the human popula-
tion currently live in cities, and the
United nations estimates the urban
population will reach almost 70% of
the world's population by 2050. this
significant and continuous shift
demands a more intelligent and
planned use of available resources in
urban environments, leading to the
development of "smart cities." smart
cities are now receiving increased
worldwide attention, and a grow-
ing number of initiatives are being
launched worldwide to promote this
concept (Figure 1).
this article presents an overview
of the concept of smart cities, high-
lighting its focus areas and the asso-
ciated enabling infrastructure. it
further discusses the potential op-
portunities provided for electric utili-
ties as well as how they can become
major players in implementing
smart city programs that help pro-
mote electrification and environ-
mental justice. ongoing initiatives
pursued by the Commonwealth edi-
son Company (Comed), the electric
utility in the greater Chicago area
U
Digital Object Identifier 10.1109/MELE.2018.2816848
Date of publication: 30 May 2018
6
I E E E E l e c t ri f i c a t i on M a gaz ine / j un e 2018
and northern illinois, are discussed
with a focus on the importance of the
smart grid as a major enabler of
smart city development.
Smart Cities
the smart city is a global concept
with almost as many definitions
and initiatives as there are cities
participating in the movement. as a
general rule, however, the concept
focuses on using data and technolo-
gy that allow governments and
stakeholders to create connected,
livable, and sustainable cities. the
drive for smart cities has accelerat-
ed as the salience of reducing soci-
ety's carbon footprint has increased,
particularly in a way that can pro-
vide environmental justice.
Focus Areas
the definitions of a smart city may
vary, but generally speaking, its aim is
to enhance the focus areas of connec-
tivity, livability, workability, and sus-
tainability. Connectivity refers to using
smart devices and data to provide the
best smart city solutions. enhanced
livability means a better quality of life
for city residents by providing access
to a comfortable, safe, and healthy
lifestyle. availability of inexpensive
energy and faster emergency re-
sponse are some of the most highly
valued aspects of what is referred to
in this article as livability. enhanced
workability represents accelerated
economic development, i.e., more
and better jobs, in which valued
aspects include clean and reliable
energy, resilient infrastructure, and
efficient transportation. enhanced
sustainability means giving people
access to the resources they need in a
sustainable manner. alternative
energy resources, improved physical
infrastructure, and energy efficiency
are some of the critical aspects of
sustainability. the overlap of these
three focus areas represents a sweet
spot for smart city initiatives.
Building Blocks
Compared with the traditional
model of a city, a smart city should
have three distinct characteristics
that lead to a fundamental transfor-
mation: smartness, connectivity,
and community engagement. these
characteristics result from the three
building blocks of infrastructure,
data, and citizens. availability of big
data collected from myriad sensing
and measurement devices through-
out the community and enabled via
information and communication
technology provide the smartness
component; growing interdepen-
dency of the smart community
infrastructure where any change in
one may impact others represents
the connectivity component; and
the indisputable role of citizens in
decision making and community man-
agement and the growing movement
2325-5987/18©2018IEEE
Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of IEEE Electrification Magazine - June 2018
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