Smart Cities: Enhancing Better Living in Digital Era

For the past month we have completed a research about Smart Cities. For this essay we have researched about the definition of smart cities, history and the characteristics of smart cities. We give an example of smart city which is Dubai and we give a brief background, we talked about the history and characteristics of Dubai. Also, we talked about the usage of smart city and the benefits and drawbacks of smart city.

Definition of 'Smart' Cities and Their History

There is no universally accepted definition of a smart city. It has different meaning to different people. The conceptualization of Smart is different from each city, depending on the level of development, willingness to change and reform, resources and aspirations of the city residents. In general, a smart city is a designation given to a city that incorporates information and communication technologies to enhance the quality and performance of urban services such as energy and transportation. The overall aim of a smart city is to enhance the quality of living for its citizens through smart technology.

When we think of smart cities, we tend to think in futuristic terms. We often use the language and iconography of futurism to express our visions of what a smart city should look like. But we should also look to the past for examples of how previous generations handled the challenges of planning and developing urban spaces. In the middle of 19th century, Baron Georges Haussmann transformed Paris from a medieval collection of sprawling neighborhoods into one of the world’s first genuinely modern cities. He used the tools and techniques of his day — parks, public squares, large monuments, axial roadways, sewers, water-distribution systems and standard cornice lines — to complete the city’s transformation. At the same time, Ildefons Cerda, who coined the term “urbanism,” was planning the expansion of Barcelona. Cerda designed an orthogonal grid for the city’s new streets, which created a sense of order and clarity. Cerda was a transportation expert, and he planned the streets and avenues of the expansion with traffic in mind. Visionary planners like Haussmann and Cerda serve as vivid reminders that smart cities are created by smart people. Both men had a deep understanding of the cities they were tasked with redesigning, and they used the tools at hand to bring their visions to life.

What Characteristics Define a Smart City?

Such characteristics can vary according to the social context in which the city is located, or other variables related to culture. The three most important ones are infrastructure development, strategies to create a competitive environment and inclusive cities. 

Infrastructure Development

A smart city prioritizes the optimal development of infrastructure in order to enhance economy, and social, cultural and urban development. This is the reason why it improves communication channels so that services like housing, entertainment, telecommunications, business, among others, can be connected using advanced technologies that allow a city to grow and develop.

Strategies to Create a Competitive Environment

Through Information and Communication Technologies (ICT) and planning, smart cities seek to create a competitive environment in the sector to expand urban sectors, thereby enhancing the development of new businesses and improving the city’s socio-economic performance.

Inclusive and Sustainable Cities

A smart city’s main strategic element will be sustainability to look for participation drivers, create better consumption habits and better energy management, and use renewable energies for the preservation of natural resources and the environmental care.

Dubai Analysis as an Example of a Smart City

We pick Dubai as an example of Smart cities. Dubai is located on the Eastern coast of the Arabian Peninsula, in the south west corner of the Arabian Gulf. Dubai’s History can be traced way back 3000 years. In 1833, Al Maktoum dynasty captured Dubai and then Dubai became an independent emirate. The formation of UAE happened after the Britain left the Arabian Gulf in December 1971. The major turning point of Dubai history is when they found oil in 1966, Dubai then created their own currency. Once the first shipment was made that was then the future of Dubai was secured. During the 1990s many foreign trading communities and moved their business to Dubai, and from there on the Dubai has become a extremely well known for its warm hospitality and rich cultural heritage, and the Emirati people are welcoming and generous in their approach to visitors. With year-round sunshine, intriguing deserts, beautiful beaches, luxurious hotels and shopping malls, fascinating heritage attractions and a thriving business community, Dubai receives millions of leisure and business visitors each year from around the world.

Dubai is one of the major cities of the globe that has undergone prodigious transformation lately. It is famous city for these various characteristics:

• Dubai design district

A public place that have been transformed into the smartest spot in the world. Companies can provide smart solutions for customers and facilitate transactions such as licenses, visas, customs and other government services.

• 5-D control room

The 5-D control room is the world's largest room which be used to follow-up the process of developing Dubai. It also used to oversee the government projects and service indicators, roads, weather conditions and emergency situations etc.

• Electric car charging stations

Electric car charging stations set up to boost the use of environment-friendly cars.

• Smart Parking

The smart parking system tell drivers the availability and location of parking spaces.

• Live traffic monitoring

Live updates on traffic will help you plan your journey before you even leave your home.

• Largest open global laboratory to promote science

The largest open global laboratory is for those who wish to conduct research and development in science and immediately apply it.

• Smart Parks

The smart parks and beaches project provide specific information on weather conditions, sea, temperatures and safety guidelines.

The Usage of Smart Cities: Their Advantages and Disadvantages

There are different scenarios for the usage and application of smart cities which differs from one city to another. In our example here, which is for Dubai as a smart city the services which will be involved in the usage of smart cites are:

• The easy and open access to data which are shared between the residents of a smart city and other entities.
• Smart transportation: a central control center to monitor and manage the traffic in the city.
• The best and effective usage of energy resources including smart electricity networks through usage of solar energy.
• Smart beaches and parks: by converting to smart services in these places where all related information such as safety instructions, weather, temperature etc. are provided.
• Smart phones application for police services through launching many services through mobiles to enable residents from generating reports and inquires without the need to police offices.
• Main control room to act as central operation center which monitor all the government projects and instantly monitor the city conditions such as roads conditions, weather conditions etc.
• Smart education: Converting to smart classes and integrating all users in one single e-platform and providing students with a tablet PC.
• Smart Healthcare: Implementing electronic medical records and a hospital information system to ease the electronic access to patients’ files which contains all the details and history for the patient.

Smart cities are urban areas that utilize advanced technologies and data-driven solutions to enhance the quality of life for their residents and optimize various services and infrastructure. These futuristic cities promise numerous advantages, but they also come with their fair share of challenges. Here, we explore some of the key advantages and disadvantages of smart cities:

Advantages of Smart Cities:

1. Improved Efficiency: One of the primary advantages of smart cities is the enhanced efficiency they offer. Through the integration of Internet of Things (IoT) devices and real-time data analytics, cities can optimize their resources, leading to reduced energy consumption, optimized traffic flow, and better waste management.

2. Enhanced Connectivity: Smart cities promote seamless connectivity, enabling citizens to access services, information, and resources more conveniently. High-speed internet, free Wi-Fi hotspots, and mobile applications allow residents to stay connected with city services and each other effortlessly.

3. Sustainable Development: By leveraging technology, smart cities can adopt sustainable practices. They can invest in renewable energy sources, implement green building designs, and create eco-friendly transportation systems, leading to a reduction in carbon footprint and environmental impact.

4. Improved Public Services: Smart cities can provide more effective and accessible public services to their residents. From smart healthcare systems and online education platforms to efficient emergency response systems, citizens benefit from improved service delivery.

5. Data-Driven Decision Making: The abundance of data collected in smart cities enables data-driven decision making. Governments and city planners can use this data to identify trends, anticipate future needs, and address challenges proactively.

Disadvantages of Smart Cities:

1. Privacy and Security Concerns: With the extensive use of sensors and data collection, smart cities raise significant privacy and security concerns. Citizens' personal information may be at risk of breaches or unauthorized access, leading to potential misuse.

2. High Costs: Implementing smart city technologies requires significant investments in infrastructure and maintenance. For many cities, the initial costs may be prohibitive, leading to challenges in widespread adoption.

3. Digital Divide: Not all citizens may have access to or be proficient with digital technologies. This digital divide could lead to unequal access to services and opportunities, exacerbating existing social and economic disparities.

4. Technology Dependency: Relying heavily on technology can make a city vulnerable to disruptions caused by power outages, cyber-attacks, or technical failures. Overreliance on technology could lead to a breakdown of essential services during emergencies.

5. Data Privacy Ethics: As cities collect vast amounts of data, questions of data ownership and ethics arise. The responsible and transparent handling of citizens' data becomes crucial to avoid potential misuse or exploitation.

Conclusion

Transforming to smart city would be a necessity for the future considering the challenges generated by cities in the future as 70% of the world population will live in cities in the coming decades which put high strain on the system of services and resources and that will require high effective management for people, and sustainability of resources (energy, water, transportation, etc.)

The smart city includes intelligent public services, smart buildings, smart education and health systems, and intelligent transportation services, which requires governments to provide a digital platform for service integration while constantly seeking to minimize risks of privacy violation and monitoring people's behavior.

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