Smart City

Smart cities allow citizens and local government authorities to work together to launch initiatives and use smart technologies to manage assets and resources in the growing urban environment.

Smart cities use a variety of software, user interfaces and communication networks alongside The Internet of Things (IoT) to deliver connected solutions for the public. The IoT is a network of connected devices that communicate and exchange data. This can include anything from vehicles to home appliances and on-street sensors. Data collected from these devices is stored in the cloud or on servers to allow for improvements to be made to both public and private sector efficiencies and deliver economic benefits and improvements to the lives of citizens. For example, by pairing devices with data and the infrastructure of the city, it is possible to cut costs, improve sustainability and streamline factors such as energy distribution and refuse collection, as well as offering reduced traffic congestion, and improve air quality.

There are several steps to follow for implementing a Smart City through a network of connected IoT devices and other technologies. These steps include real time data collection from smart sensors, analysis of the collected data, then communicating the results of the analysis to decision makers leading to actions.