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Executive Summary
The objective of this paper is to provide a firm understanding of what it means to be a Smart City. Throughout this
document you will find information on the origin of Smart Cities, how Smart Cities function today, and where Smart
Cities are projected to be in the future. Topics include but are not limited to infrastructure, transportation, emergency
response systems, and how they function within a Smart City. After absorbing the information provided in this
document, readers will know why Smart Cities are of global importance and how Smart Cities are shaping the
development in the modern world.
Introduction
The Information Age is a time when an unlimited amount of information can be readily accessed at our
fingertips. Modern people have become accustomed to instant access to information through their smart devices. So if
our devices are smart, why cant the environment we live in also be smart? The development of Smart Cities is an
initiative to transform the way we build and live within urban locations. A Smart City brings efficiency to all functions
of a city. Smart Cities eliminate unilateral governance of a city.
Smart Cities are where the future is headed for human civilization. A Smart City starts, how any city starts, with the
people. Without smart people we cant have Smart Cities. People inhabit cities, build cities, and maintain cities, which
means all functions of a city are dependent on its population. The purpose of this document is to highlight why Smart
Cities are absolutely necessary for us to advance our modern civilization and why everyone involved in city planning
needs to be aware of what technologies are available and how to implement them successfully.
Contained in this document are examples of projects that have helped cities thrive and gain one step closer to becoming
a Smart City. There are also examples of failed projects but these examples are not meant to discourage people to be
ambitious with their ideas and designs. Smart City development is in an experimental state, because up until the 21 st
century it was not technologically possible to implement the systems needed to build such a city.
Objectives
Smart Cities aim to increase benefits for citizens and decrease disadvantages for the environment. A growing concern in
our world is global climate change. A primary goal in a Smart City is to monitor resource consumption and effectively
diminish hazardous emissions into our world. Smart Cities incorporate environmentally friendly practices into daily
functions of a city while still being economically efficient.
Sustainability
As urbanization increases, so do the adverse effects that come along with it. Some of these effects include increase in
slums, air pollution, water shortages, energy shortages, traffic congestion, and an increase in population waste. The
question is then raised: How will cities handle these resource shortages and this waste excess? The answer: by taking
these cities and making them smart.
When a city becomes smart, it implements connections between each and every agencies within the city. These
connections can include energy companies, internet providers, traffic agencies, and waste disposal agencies. With all
these agencies connected, there can be an easier transfer of information which can allow for a more accurate track of
usage and in turn a relationship can be drawn from the amount of usage to the amount of waste that will need to be
disposed. With reports like these in place, there can be preemptive measures taken to prepare for the overflow of waste
so it is more properly managed.
A few good examples of when agencies come together under a uniformed system would be the Sahana and Ushahidi
open source software systems. These programs are disaster management systems that were developed 2004 and 2007
respectively.
Sahana Project
Sahana was developed after the 2004 Sri Lanka earthquake. Back in 2004 there wasnt any softwares that dealt with
disasters. Sahana essentially keeps track of different registries; they keep track of Missing People Registry, Organization
Registry, Pledge Management, Shelter Registry, Inventory Registry, and Volunteer Coordination. These are databases
where they keep track of names of people/ organizations. The inventory database are updated daily with food, water,
and first-aid supplies. Sahana was meant to be used with the disaster management team along with EMTs and IT
professionals.
Ushahidi Project
Ushahidi was developed in 2007 in an effort to work with Openstreetmap and other GIS softwares like Google Maps.
This crowdsourcing software lets users to report violence or emergencies on maps. The reports are sent in via text and
email. Now its easier to do, all users have to do is go on Openstreetmap and submit locations of shelter, hospitals, and
any reports of violence/ emergencies. These two programs give us a good example when different agencies work
together in an effort to provide more safety and efficiency for citizens.
as an example these projects are launched in phases. A whole city cannot be put under construction at one consecutive
time, therefore small sections are completed at a time. The pilot phase of the project was launched in 2009 and
completed in 2011. The first phase cost the city approximately 4 million euros, however outside funding from financiers
was used to complete the second phase.