Albert Seubers, Director, Global Strategy IT in Cities, Atos
Increased connectivity is taking over all aspects of our cities, including mobility, buildings, and even the citizens themselves. While it is hard to say exactly what the future will hold, we must begin planning today for the possibilities and challenges that lay ahead of us. Here are just a few of many things that city leaders should be thinking about as they build the smart cities of tomorrow.
Mobility
In the area of mobility, we currently face realities such as more cars on the streets, parking capacity, and congestion—realities which pose challenges such as how to improve air quality and how to encourage citizens to use more environmentally friendly modes of transportation. However, the connected cities of the future will face other challenges and possibilities too. For example:
- Cities may contemplate how connected communication could support the local economy. For example, with the ability of apps to re-route drivers or help them find parking spots, cities could spark the economy by providing alternative routes that pass by shopping centers or the restaurant district.
- Cities should think about how signage realities will change in the future. We have an abundance of street signs now, but in a connected world, the majority of signs will become unnecessary since navigation information will be presented directly to drivers on a central display. Cities should think about how to do this in a low-cost and environmentally friendly manner. Another area for exploration is how current commercial signage could be presented directly inside the car based on personal information about the car’s occupants and even the conversation inside the vehicle.
- In the future, parking places will be used primarily for battery charging stations. Officials can, therefore, ponder issues such as healthier modes of transportation within inner cities and how parking spaces can be turned into green areas for citizens to enjoy.
Connected Buildings
Population growth is causing increased pressure on city infrastructure, but smart and connected buildings can answer these challenges. These connected buildings perform the same function as traditional buildings but are designed to maximize return on investment, flexibility, appeal, and security while lowering energy use and costs. For tomorrow’s smart city, this means:
- 4D connected buildings will allow for flexible interiors that adapt and adjust to space usage changes that change during the day, week, month, or year.
- Visitors will be able to connect with the building when they enter. Through connective apps, they will know information about the location, facilities, emergency plans, and locations of colleagues, and the building itself will be able to adjust based on user preferences in lighting, heating, ventilation and so on. Further, instead of having to connect to each individual building, citizens may be able to create a profile that is accessible to any building they enter.
- In the home, connected appliances may be used to enhance safety through predictive analysis. For example, the system may detect deviations in energy usage from a dryer or oven, indicating that it is at risk of setting on fire, thus triggering it to alert 911 even before the smoke detector goes off.
Connected Citizen
When exploring the concept of the connected citizen, many discussions focus on how connectivity will impact day-to-day life. However, it is equally important to contemplate how connectivity will impact the citizen as a person. For example:
- eGovernment services (paying taxes, applying for permits, etc.), traffic flow programs, energy conservation programs, online communities, social media, and access to online education are all forms of connected citizenship that will become more powerful as the number of smartphones rises.
- The connected citizen is also the citizen who does not have a smartphone but needs assistance. In this area, connectivity may come through wearable devices, embedded sensors (such as in the steering wheel of a car), and even jewelry with devices inside.
- Data from devices can then be used to provide immediate and personalized responses in emergency situations, which will save money as well.
These are just a few possibilities to think about when considering how increased connectivity will impact mobility, buildings, and citizens within cities. In each of these areas, ensuring trust and security will also be paramount to success. By thoughtfully contemplating the universe of possibilities and use cases, we can build smart cities of the future that are secure, sustainable and smart.