Why It's Time To Retire The Phrase 'Smart City'
Why It’s Time to Retire The Phrase ‘Smart City’ Originally posted on Forbes.com
This year, efforts by public agencies to improve community safety and well-being with smart, data-driven services have reached a tipping point. In 2018, IDC researchers predicted that the deployment of next-generation technologies such as edge computing, artificial intelligence and 5G bandwidth throughout the country would fuel local spending on “smart city” connectivity to the tune of $158 billion by 2022.
However, the cascading effects of Covid-19, regional wildfires and localized flooding have had a tightening effect on municipal budgets, employment, and progress on health and safety. Yet research shows these same conditions have accelerated the need for interactive digital services for community members and optimized information gathering by decision-makers. How can policymakers and technologists collaborate to deliver the promise of smart cities to every metropolitan region?
Step 1: Focus On Communities, Not Cities
No question, the “smart city” brand is widely familiar from media coverage of the latest slate of “Top Ten Global Smart Cities,” U.S. Department of Transportation-sponsored Smart City Challenge or annual smart city expos held in Amsterdam, Barcelona, Paris and Atlanta.
With the exception of a few showcase pilot programs, entire cities are rarely the recipients of these advanced services. Elected officials and appointment managers of individual agencies are the ones seeking efficient solutions to ongoing problems such as illegal dumping, water quality management, or safer parks and recreation. These agencies have both the budget and mandate to improve the quality of life in their communities.
Recently, my company worked with the Alameda County Department of Justice in California to provide an AI-enabled solution to reduce illegal dumping by monitoring physical activity and associated vehicle license plates. Police department data identified locations where dumping was common, and those local businesses agreed to mount video cameras on their rooftops. Because the city has guidelines preventing the use of facial recognition algorithms, actions (such as car doors opening or actual dumping) rather than faces triggered the video alerts.
Step 2: Find One Use Case, And Build On Success
Every smart city’s digital infrastructure requires careful planning and construction. There are no off-the-shelf smart cities. When new communities are positioned to build the physical infrastructure of roads, buildings and services in tandem with their data management platform, they are still tasked with attracting inhabitants and creating a cultural fabric.
Forbes Innovation01:12No Sunny Days For A Decade, Extreme Cold AndStarvation: ‘Nuclear Winter’ And The Urgent Need For Public Education
More commonly, smart digital infrastructure arises directly from the needs and choices of local residents. Municipal governments are increasingly using “chief innovation officers” and “chief data officers” to oversee the integration of this technology and oversee results. This approach builds consensus among decision-makers, builds support and enables vendors to scale up for new uses. This “platform” model requires users to subscribe to infrastructure as a service, using as much or as little as needed.
Launching projects with a “smart communities as a service” mindset means taking incremental steps to drive results. I believe this SCaaS model can lead to higher adoption rates of data-driven projects by civic entities than the pilot program approach used last decade by IBM and Cisco to create a smart city in one fell swoop.
Step 3: Leverage SCaaS Solutions To Generate Savings And Revenue
Recent U.N. forecasts show that two-thirds of the world’s population will reside in densely packed mega-cities by 2030. This demographic trend is driving the need for precision planning and resource allocation by smart, tech-enabled communities. Today, municipalities are seeking tech-enabled options to avoid or reduce costs associated with a range of lifestyle and well-being issues: infrastructure maintenance, improved transportation and mobility, law enforcement, environmental monitoring, and energy allocation. Smart communities can also capture new revenue opportunities leveraging the same SCaaS toolkit.
A study by engineering consultants Burns & McDonnell and commissioned by Texans for Clean Water found that nine Texas cities spend more than $50 million annually to combat litter and illegal dumping in their lakes rivers, and other water sources. Imagine the increased effectiveness and reduced budget stress if the same agencies invested in deterrent infrastructure, including AI-enabled remote monitoring and cameras, in addition to other abatement programs.
Linking smart metering with IoT data networks is another revenue opportunity for communities. Drivers, lacking coins to feed parking meters, may park elsewhere or not pay and risk getting a parking ticket. But the convenience of paying with mobile phones or credit cards prompts more consumers to pay for parking in highly trafficked urban centers, adding revenue to city coffers.
Step 4: Invest In The Right Technology For Biggest Savings
Many SCaaS services are centered on the data-gathering power of IoT-connected sensors and devices. The capabilities of these interactive sensors will grow exponentially with the deployment of edge computing.
Consider how cities already have IoT devices operating on a wide range of locations, from street corners monitoring traffic to aqueducts monitoring water quality. Data is sent to the cloud or off-site data center for software to crunch and determine findings before sending notifications. Even the fastest transmission has latency issues.
In contrast, edge computing refers to the trend of pushing analysis and computational work as close as possible to the point of data collection. Unlike mainframes of yesteryear or today’s servers, edge computers are micro-sized, cheap and replaceable. Hand-coded algorithms seek predetermined patterns from the data being collected. Add in 5G’s turbocharged bandwidth, and a $50 device replaces an IT department running operations from a remote server room.
On an international level, Vision Zero, a consortium of cities, nonprofits and business partners, is focused on eliminating traffic fatalities. Partners are using edge computing and artificial intelligence to unlock data to improve safety at intersections, crosswalks and highways. This ambitious program is another example of the SCaaS approach. It tackles one definable use case, validates hard data and scales with proven solutions.
With this approach, residents need not worry if their town isn’t mentioned on the next list of top 10 smart cities. By applying a SCaaS model, every community can access the latest collaborative technology to improve the safety and livability of its urban area.
