SMART CITIES

A smart cities is a technologically modern urban area that uses different types of electronic methods, voice activation methods and sensors to collect specific data. IBM defined Smart city as one that makes optimal use of all the interconnected information available today to better understand and control it’s operations and optimize the use of limited resources. It uses variety of software user interface and communication networks alongside the internet of things (IOT).

What does it do?
A smart cit does things like improve transportation and accessibility, improve social services, promote sustainability and gives it’s citizens a voice. It uses information communication technology (ICT) to improve Operational efficiency, share information with the public, provide a better quality of government service and citizens welfare.

How does it work?
A smart city has it’s main driver in the use of innovation and technological potential as tools for transformation and improvement to quality of life. Getting into the operational field, the implementation of sensor and internet of things devices is used for collecting data from building, facilities, traffic systems, security, supplies etc to be processed and sent to specific management platforms, here they can be visualized, analysed and even operate in real time in different areas of the city. The city then use this data to improve infrastructure, public utilities and services and more.

Who uses smart cities technology?
Users of smart cities include; academic and research Institutions, local and regional administrations, financial suppliers/investors, energy suppliers, Information and communication technology sector representatives, citizens, government, property developers, non-profit making organizations, planners, policy makers, experts and scientists, political institutions and media. The fore mentioned are identified as the key internal and external stakeholders of smart cities development project. Countries and States that are developed in technology or are developing are already making use of this emerging technology.

Benefits of using smart cities technology
The following are the advantages of using smart cities technology in a developed or developing countries and States;
✓ Effective decision making based on data
✓ Creation of safer communities
✓ Improved Urban transportation.
✓ Improving the environment through various systems
✓ Optimization of time in hospitals and public service lines
✓ Implementation of new business opportunities
✓ Evolution towards the internet of things (IOT).

Disadvantages of smart cities
This includes;
✓ Lack of public awareness and social responsibility
✓ Building and maintaining the infrastructure is costly
✓ Demand 24/7 connectivity and power supply
✓ Security issues in terms of public data
✓ May lead way towards social discrimination.

How smart cities has been used in Africa and Nigeria?
Africa is rapidly urbanizing and it’s population is growing exponentially. The united nations has predicted Africa will have the fastest global population growth with over half of it’s population residing in urban areas by 2050. This concerning given Africa infrastructural deficit which compromise liveability in these urban areas.
How do smart cities technology alternate human behaviors?
It changes the social behavior of citizens towards more efficient and sustainable utilization of city resources.

Reference:

British Standards Institution (BSI) (2014) PAS 181:2014 Smart Cities Framework: Guide to Establishing Strategies for Smart Cities and Communities [online]. Available at http://www.bsigroup.com/ en-GB/ smart-cities/ Smart-Cities-Standards-and-Publication/ PAS-181-smart-cities-framework/  (Accessed 29 June 2017).Centre for Cities (2014) Smart Cities [online]. Available at http://www.centreforcities.org/ publication/ smart-cities/  (Accessed 29 June 2017).