Smart Cities: Technologies and Challenges in Implementation

The idea of “smart cities” has acquired a lot of momentum as a revolutionary method of urban development in today’s fast urbanising globe. Smart cities use cutting edge technology to improve sustainability, efficiency, and the standard of living for citizens. These cities are powered by a multitude of technologies, ranging from artificial intelligence to Internet of Things sensors, which allow for the seamless integration of urban processes and data-driven decision-making. But creating smart cities is a difficult task that requires careful consideration of many moving parts. The Internet of Things (IoT), a network of linked devices with sensors built in that gather and share data in real-time, is the foundation of the creation of smart cities. These Internet of Things gadgets keep an eye on a number of urban life-related factors, such as trash management, energy usage, traffic flow, and air quality. Smart cities may maximise resource allocation, lessen their influence on the environment, and enhance the general quality of life in metropolitan areas by utilising IoT technology. Furthermore, big data analytics are essential for making sense of the enormous volumes of data produced by Internet of Things devices. With the use of sophisticated analytics tools, local government officials may extract meaningful conclusions from data to support predictive modelling and well-informed decision-making. Smart cities can optimise urban services, predict future demands, and pinpoint areas for improvement via the analysis of patterns and trends. Machine learning (ML) and artificial intelligence (AI) are also essential technologies for the creation of smart cities. Algorithms driven by AI have the ability to streamline operations, automate procedures, and improve the effectiveness of urban systems. Artificial intelligence (AI) enables smart cities to adapt flexibly to changing conditions and maximise resource utilisation in real-time, from traffic control to energy distribution. Nevertheless, there are many obstacles to overcome in the deployment of smart city technologies, even with their potential advantages. Interoperability is a major issue since smart city solutions sometimes need the integration of many technologies from various manufacturers. Strong standards and protocols are necessary to guarantee interoperability and smooth communication between various systems. Security and data privacy are two more important issues in the creation of smart cities. There are concerns around the gathering, storing, and usage of citizen data due to the widespread use of IoT devices. Gaining citizens’ confidence and acceptance requires protecting private information from online dangers and making sure privacy laws are followed. Furthermore, legislative and governance frameworks are also important in determining how smart cities evolve. To address concerns of accountability, transparency, and public engagement in decision-making processes, effective governance frameworks are required. Furthermore, promoting inclusion and bridging the digital gap are crucial to guaranteeing that all citizens can profit from smart city efforts. In addition, a large investment in both digital and physical infrastructure is needed for the implementation of smart city infrastructure. Progression may be hampered by a lack of funds and administrative roadblocks, calling for creative financing strategies and public-private collaborations.

Reference:

1. Javed, A. R., Shahzad, F., ur Rehman, S., Zikria, Y. B., Razzak, I., Jalil, Z., & Xu, G. (2022). Future smart cities: Requirements, emerging technologies, applications, challenges, and future aspects. Cities, 129, 103794.
2. Syed, A. S., Sierra-Sosa, D., Kumar, A., & Elmaghraby, A. (2021). IoT in smart cities: A survey of technologies, practices and challenges. Smart Cities, 4(2), 429-475.
3. Ahad, M. A., Paiva, S., Tripathi, G., & Feroz, N. (2020). Enabling technologies and sustainable smart cities. Sustainable cities and society, 61, 102301.

Dr. Swati Agrawal

Assistant Professor

Department of Civil Engineering

Kalinga University Raipur (C.G.)