LIVING 31
F
or millennia, the growth of cities was fuelled by the necessity for people to eat, sleep and worship,
usually in easy proximity to where there was work. Infrastructure was largely improvised, influenced by the changing needs of the burgeoning settlements. Fast-forward to the 20th
century and purpose took
preference; thought went into planning and buildings were specifically commissioned. Regulations and zoning laws became part of the urban experience and high rises were increasingly common. And now, 100-and-some years later, data is the new driver of decisions, influencing architects and city planners, predicting patterns and dictating strategies. As time marches on, our cities will continue
to evolve, becoming more efficient, more environmentally conscious and more connected. You see, “smart cities” are no longer a thing of the future: they’re our new present – and they’re growing fast.
HOW SMART IS SMART? While there isn’t a formally accepted definition of
exactly what’s meant by the term “smart city”, the consensus is that this is an urban area which uses different types of electronic data-collection sensors to supply information that’s then used to manage assets and resources efficiently. In short, there are two overarching benefits of smart cities: sustainability and efficiency. For trend forecaster Dave Nemeth, a smart city is a complete ecosystem where everything’s contained within a small radius, including urban farming, clean manufacture, open and safe recreational areas, and amenities like education and healthcare. Clean transport is vital and is, in fact, integral to the design of these smart cities, ranging from cycling routes to electric and solar-powered trams and buses, he believes. A smart city is, of course, also a connected one, so digital infrastructure and communication networks operate seamlessly throughout.
A GLOBAL PRECEDENT According to the International Data Corporation
(IDC), a global market intelligence advisory, within the next three years, spending on smart city technology
WORDS: TONI MUIR. IMAGES: GALLOIMAGES/GETTYIMAGES/ALAMY
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