Digitizing the Future: 5 Smart City Tech Solutions for 2022

The COVID-19 epidemic altered the history of humanity, upending decades-old work patterns, bringing several enterprises to a halt, and claiming millions of lives. Nonetheless, the COVID-19 outbreak will not be the deadliest pandemic in history—not even close. Perhaps ten to twenty years from now, the globe will look back and praise the world’s swift response to the pandemic, which resulted in the pandemic’s termination within a year.

Thus, the reason this epidemic will not be the deadliest in history is because we fought back with science and technology. We were able to remain at home without being cut off from society because to technology. Similarly, businesses were able to continue operating remotely through the deployment of technology-driven solutions, enabling them to stay afloat.

Thanks to science and technology, vaccines are currently being administered as I write this. The reality is that technology has permeated every aspect of our life, from education to real estate, from food ordering to entertainment, and has been our savior during this pandemic. And it is without a doubt the path forward.

This gets us to the piece’s major theme: smart cities. As the technology revolution continues to alter the systems that govern our daily lives, the Internet of Things, artificial intelligence, machine learning, and big data will become indispensable. They will soon revolutionize not only enterprises and industries, but entire communities.

Table of Contents

1 What is a smart city, exactly?

What is a smart city, exactly?

As the name implies, a smart city is a living environment that leverages technology to address the most pressing issues of society, particularly urban society. In the simplest words, a smart city is one that is data-driven. Every second, data is compiled from many touchpoints in order to improve the services and amenities available to individuals. A resident of a smart city might anticipate improved mobility, more accessibility, and increased sustainability, among other benefits that are not just handy, but also empowering.

While Smart Cities have been around for some time, the COVID-19 outbreak has bolstered the case for a future powered by technology that is capable of easily overcoming crises and resource restrictions. However, certain smart city technologies have already gained widespread use.

Energy that is sustainable

Sustainable energy will be critical in making our cities smarter. This is because each action we perform can be in harmony with nature while causing no harm to the environment. Sustainable energy solutions such as solar energy, electric vehicles, organic food, and an efficient resource management system will reintroduce oxygen to the earth and improve the quality of life for present and future generations.

Advanced technological infrastructure

The expanding presence of artificial intelligence, the Internet of Things, and information and communication technologies has resulted in increased efficiency in our civil infrastructure systems. This aids in data analytics, avoiding any issue from spiraling out of control. For instance, a smart bus outfitted with advanced technology can map and document passenger flow in order to determine when the bus’s peak hours are, hence determining the optimal time for the bus to make the most rounds.

The same is true for a water reservoir outfitted with advanced technology, since it will be able to notify cleaning workers when it is time to clean it, as well as indicate the current water level. The more modern infrastructures we have, the higher the benefits will accrue to everyone.

Smart parking solutions

Numerous people lose valuable personal hours as a result of lengthy traffic jams, with over 30% of those lost owing to incorrect parking. Not only will smart parking solutions make it easier for people to find parking spaces, but they will also notify state officials about high-volume parking areas, allowing them to determine where new parking facilities should be built or where existing ones should be expanded.

E-governance

Government departments are increasingly providing services online, which not only saves time for the public, but also increases system openness, thereby eliminating corruption and favoritism. By implementing e-governance solutions, officials will be able to process more applications in less time, while the general people will be able to breeze through the process.

Safer gated communities

Both urban and rural locations are not immune to theft, whether it be of a vehicle or of other expensive objects. IoT-enabled safety barriers and gates assist in identifying the vehicle and allowing only registered vehicles. This allows only residents with RFID tags to pass. Apart from residents, visitors whose admission has been allowed by the system receive an expedited pass, as security officers may verify their approval.

It’s fascinating to imagine how smart cities will transform our lives, making them safer, more convenient, and more seamless than before. I feel that we will encounter this reality sooner than we anticipated.