We read and fantasize endlessly about the concept of the Smart City. Representations of these cities in the collective imagination are in large part influenced by movies (such as Minority Report), but in reality, what does it mean? Numerous cities, such as Stockholm, Rio de Janeiro, and even Paris are transforming themselves, constructing and testing their smart models. But more precisely, what is the Smart City?
The ever-growing concentration of individuals in cities is creating conditions in which urban leaders need to find ways to preserve and optimize resources and organization. To understand the context, take a look at the following observations:
The goal for cities and metropolitan areas is thus to combat this societal, political, and environmental challenge.
The idea behind the Smart City is motivated namely by the optimization of costs, organization, and well being of city residents.
This concept is nothing new. The pioneers in the domain are Asian megalopolises such as Hong Kong and Singapore. Ever since 1980, advanced technologies and cutting-edge services have been the dominant economic activities for this audacious and futuristic city. This is illustrated notably by the Supertrees project, the implantation across the city of artificial trees 160 feet tall. These solar-powered trees form large canopies operate as temperature moderators, provide lighting, and collect rainwater.
A lot has also been said about the construction of Smart Cities in South Korea and in the Emirates, truly connected laboratories destined at welcoming habitants. The city of Songdo in South Korea, designed from the ground up, serves as a prime example of a connected city. Its buildings have been built according to high quality American environmental standards. Its roads and structures dispose of sensors and systems designed to measure and organize traffic, and to anticipate and adjust energy consumption.
In Europe, Smart City development appears a bit differently. European countries and cities have chosen to base their technological evolutions on their cultural and territorial specificities.
Barcelona, for example needed to raise the technological level of its systems to achieve its goals. A project back in 2014 saw 1,100 lampposts transitioned to LED to reduce energy consumption. Sensors were also installed on these lights to detect when pedestrians are in proximity. When streets are empty, the lights dim to consume less energy. These installations have contributed to over 30% energy savings across the lighting network.
To be considered among the ranks of the Smart Cities, the entire city must adopt a “smart” state of mind.
