What is the aim of smart cities?

The aim of smart cities is to:

Use advanced technology, data and analytics to improve management of city resources and lives of citizens.
Gather data from a comprehensive network of sensors that can be transformed into intelligence that helps cities reduce traffic congestion and commute times, minimize energy consumption, lower pollution levels, reduce crime, enhance public safety and achieve many other benefits that collectively improve quality of life while making city programs more cost-efficient.

Smart city initiatives are gaining steam throughout the U.S. and the world, transforming complex urban environments through the use of data collected from sensors and Internet of Things devices. But what is the aim of smart cities, exactly, and how does this investment in technology deliver a financial return and an improvement in the quality of life for residents? In this short download, “What is the aim of smart cities?”, we’ll take a brief look at the technology powering smart cities and what a smart city can achieve.

Smart cities use data collected from sensor-enabled devices and Internet of Things technology to develop insight and intelligence that can transform the way municipalities manage resources, perform services, protect public safety and ensure quality of life for residents. The aim of smart cities is to make data-driven decisions that increase the effectiveness and cost-efficiency of city programs.

What is the aim of smart cities’ technology infrastructure?

While there is no single formula for building smart city infrastructure, most smart cities employ technology that:

Collect data. Smart city technology includes sensors that monitor everything from traffic and parking availability to critical infrastructure and interaction with police to energy consumption and the need for trash bins to be emptied.
Provide connection. High-speed, high-bandwidth networks connect sensor technology and convey the data they produce.
Transform data. Analytics software platforms process vast amounts of sensor data and transform it into usable intelligence.
Communicate intelligence. User interfaces such as software applications, dashboards and interactive screens package insight and intelligence in ways that can be easily digested by city employees and city residents.

What is the aim of smart cities’ transportation initiatives?

Improvements in transportation is one of the biggest benefits of smart city technology. Intelligent transportation programs are designed to reduce traffic congestion, improve commute times, make parking easier, accelerate response to incidents and enhance roadway safety for drivers, pedestrians and bicyclists.

What is the aim of smart cities’ public safety programs?

Public safety initiatives in smart cities are designed to help reduce crime through visual surveillance of public areas. Wearable police cameras also help to improve transparency and build trust between officers and citizens. Monitors on critical infrastructures like bridges and power plants help to flag potential safety issues, while monitoring climate data helps to reduce the environmental impact and cost of pollution.

What is the aim of smart cities’ utility management technology?

Smart cities technology for utilities is designed to reduce energy consumption and to deliver utility services more efficiently. Smart street lighting, for example, may be dimmed when there are no cars or pedestrians nearby to reduce electricity consumption. Leak detectors and smart meter technology help to reduce water consumption and improve conservation efforts. Smart grid and smart building technology enable more efficient use of electricity, and smart waste management programs use sensors to alert sanitation crews when trash and recycling bins need to be emptied.

What is the aim of smart cities’ civic engagement programs?

One of the biggest benefits of smart cities technology is the way it can more easily engage citizens in civic conversation and services. Digital platforms and tools provide residents with easier, safer and more secure ways of interacting with local government, while smart kiosks stationed in public spaces serve as a fount of information as well as a source of free Wi-Fi and charging stations.

What is the aim of smart cities offerings from Spectrum Enterprise?

As a premier provider of connectivity solutions for nation’s largest businesses and urban governments, Spectrum Enterprise provides the underlying infrastructure that municipalities require to successfully implement smart cities technology. From 100 Gbps symmetrical speeds for governments and enterprises and gigabit connections for homes and businesses, to thousands of Wi-Fi hotspots and the one of the nation’s largest LTE cellular networks, Spectrum Enterprise offers a fully interactive digital network that delivers the connectivity framework communities need to take advantage of new and innovative smart city services.

Learn more about Spectrum Smart Cities at www.spectrumsmartcities.com.