As the digitization of society and new technologies develop, new trends emerge. One of these trends is the smart city or smart city. A concept that is still unknown but which is still developing in the four corners of the world and which is gradually arriving in Belgium.
What is a smart city?
In practical terms, a smart city is a city that uses all the technology at its disposal to significantly improve the quality of life of its inhabitants. But above all, smart cities incorporate an environmental dimension into their operations. To fully understand how this works and what the objectives of such cities are, you need to present the 6 pillars on which a smart city is based.
- Intelligent mobility: this is perhaps the most important aspect, whether for the environment or for the well-being of citizens. A smart city must implement sustainable and interconnected public transport to reduce their environmental footprint. A smart city can use a whole bunch of tools that provide an unceasing flow of data to regulate traffic in real time and thus succeed in streamlining it. In this way, a citizen makes his journeys much faster. In addition, sustainable transport, usually electric, can of course reduce a city's carbon footprint but also reduce its noise pollution.
- An Environment 2.0: One of the many challenges facing a smart city is environmental management. A smart city must find efficient and environmentally friendly ways to manage its waste but also develop the use of renewable energy in all aspects of city management. Finally, a smart city must greatly develop and multiply green spaces for the well-being of its inhabitants.
- A local economy: a smart city must focus on short circuits in the economy and trade. It must develop local trade in order to create jobs on the one hand, but also reduce its carbon footprint. By developing local commerce, a smart city will also become a hub of innovation and will be more attractive.
- Intelligent governance: digitization and new technologies means a mountain of collected data. In a smart city, the authorities must promise full transparency in the use of this data to citizens. But in addition to transparency, a smart city must allow residents to participate in decisions taken by the authorities and city leaders.
- A modern way of life: as has been said, the aim is to significantly improve the living conditions of citizens. This means better access to education, culture and the development of "living together." How can we improve living together? By improving health infrastructure and improving safety. All thanks to the Internet of Things that connects connected objects to individuals. An example? Surveillance cameras that protect public places by analysing the flow of passers-by. Or apps that indicate the nearest hospitals or doctors.
- Putting the citizen at the heart of the operation: as said above, the citizen must participate in decision-making by participating, for example, in general assemblies. But we can go further. Leaders can allow residents to come up with new ideas to improve the functioning of the city and thus become real stakeholders in urban policy.
How do we put smart cities in place?
Now that we have the theory in place to practice. In order for all of the above elements to be put in place, of course, all the technological resources available must be used. But not only that! As we have said, we must also work together by considering the citizen as a stakeholder in the transformation of cities.
Take into account their opinions, ideas, suggestions and rants. But before we get to work, we need to identify the main challenges and then put everything in place to achieve them. Then we can start experimenting with things and see how these new things are welcomed by citizens. In any case, it requires consultation with the residents to be aware of what they are waiting for.
We also need to trust and work with startups in the city or country, always at the cutting edge of technology, who can offer digital solutions to the big issues of smart cities. Also, small businesses are more concerned and aware of the real needs of citizens. In this way, users will be put at the centre of all the concerns of the cities. And that's good because all current technologies such as social networks make it possible to create stronger links between authorities and citizens by having easier access to their desires and expectations.
Speaking of SMEs, cities can also create new Economic Activity Parks to bring small and large businesses to meet, all in a modern environment with the best technology infrastructure. All of this creates jobs and gives a new technological impetus to the smart city.
This allows all these channels to better communicate with citizens, hear their opinions and keep them informed of all the advances made in the city and explain to them all that can be done to improve their daily lives. Examples include various applications that allow mobility, among other things, by indicating the locations of free car parks outside the city or finding electric charging stations.
We also think of the signs placed in the four corners of the city allowing the inhabitants to be aware of all the events organized in their city or neighborhood and thus reinforce this famous "living together". Information that can also be disseminated via social networks, SMS or emails.
Finally, when it comes to security, surveillance cameras have an important role to play. Thanks to them, public infrastructure and buildings are better protected and secured. It is also easier to be informed in case of problems and to achieve more effective prevention through social networks and SMS.