According to Frost & Sullivan, the global Smart Cities market is projected to reach US$1.56 trillion by 2020. With rapid urbanization and ageing populations, cities are facing increasing strain on infrastructure, transportation, energy and healthcare resources. To address these urban challenges, governments are embracing the concept of the smart city and looking to apply new technologies to improve sustainability, liveability and quality of life for citizens. We take a look at some of the leading smart cities from around the world and their initiatives:
Barcelona
Barcelona was named European Capital of Innovation in 2014 by the EU and hosts the annual Smart City Expo World Congress. It has more than 100 active smart city projects ranging from smart traffic lights, telecare services and electric cars to ubiquitous public Wi-Fi. Barcelona’s smart city platform, known as the Urban Platform, brings together data from the open-source Sentilo sensor network, the city’s information systems, as well as social networks and web 2.0, allowing it to solve urban challenges across silos.
The city is a global leader in its extensive use of IoT. Smart LED streetlamps activate only when movement is detected, producing 30% energy savings, and are equipped with sensors to collect data from the environment. Over 70,000 elderly and disabled are connected to the city’s Telecare service that proactively checks on residents. Sensors monitor rain and humidity to determine how much water is needed to irrigate parks. Municipal smart bins monitor waste levels and are cleared only when they are full, optimizing waste collection operations. Digital bus stops provide bus arrival times, free Wi-Fi and USB charging ports, while a smart parking system guides vehicles to available parking spaces, reducing congestion and emissions.
Find out which are the other leading smart cities of the world by reading the full article.