Gurda 1

Patricia Gurda

Written Communications

Ms. Marisa Wang

March 18, 2021

Smart Cities: Technology-Driven Communities

In the United States, about 80 percent of the population lives in cities, while about 50

percent of people worldwide live in urban centers[CITATION Kay20 \l 1033 ]. Because cities are a

major engine of economic growth, their future matters to businesses of all types. Today, their

future looks to be smart.

The concept of the smart city came to public attention in the early 2000s. 1 Since then,

cities have rolled out smart initiatives in three distinct generations. Some cities remain in the

first generation, while others have progressed to the other two [ CITATION Bur20 \l 1033 ].

A smart city installs sensors to collect data that people, and systems use to manage

resources and improve city services[CITATION Mar21 \l 1033 ]. For example, a smart city might

use technology to reduce energy consumption and pollution, ease traffic congestion, and

attract investment. The goal is to provide a higher quality of life for citizens.

Smart cities 1.0 – Technology companies present systems to city planners and

developers as solutions for urban problems. The solutions connect buildings, roads, and devices

to increase efficiency, especially through savings in transportation and energy consumption.

Toronto converted a declining part of the city into a vibrant neighborhood using the smart city

1.0 approach when a local technology company introduced electric shuttle buses to replace

1
The idea of a smart city was introduced in 1974.

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private cars and intelligent traffic lights to regulate the flow of pedestrians, bicycles, and

vehicles[ CITATION Fra19 \l 1033 ]. However, these technology-driven innovations omit citizen

participation.

Smart cities 2.0 – In this generation, city planners take the lead to determine how

technology can improve quality of life. For example, the city of Columbus, Ohio, worked with a

power company to create stations for charging electric vehicles. The city’s goal was to create

incentives for people to buy and use electric cars and shared ride systems.

Smart cities 3.0 – Instead of having technology or city administrators set the agenda for

smart development, the third-generation features citizens generating innovations. City

managers provide data collected from sensors and other digital sources, and citizens use the

data to spur changes in quality of life, economic competitiveness, and environmental

sustainability.

The third generation of smart cities emphasizes sharing, such as tool-lending libraries for

homeowners, bike-sharing and car-sharing services, and bartering networks for exchanging

expertise.

One example of a third-generation smart city is Amsterdam in the Netherlands. City

residents worked with software developers to create an app called Mobypark. Owners of

parking spaces can now rent them to citizens and visitors. The city uses data generated by the

app to track parking demand and forecast traffic patterns.

Medellín in Colombia has ambitious smart city 3.0 goals. In a program sponsored by city

government, universities, and social organizations, Medellín uses smart technology to exchange

information with its citizens. Goals include reducing inequities and promoting cooperation. The

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city provides Internet and Wi-Fi connections so residents can access government, health, and

educational resources. In turn, citizens suggest improvements to basic services, react to

initiatives, and propose ideas and solutions. Once one of the most violent cities in the world,

Medellín has watched its homicide rate drop 80 percent since 2007 [ CITATION Ort201 \l 1033 ].

For businesses, one of the benefits of smart cities are smart workplaces. Data-gathering

sensors can communicate with smart devices to make offices more comfortable and conducive

to productivity. Smart offices are also more secure and efficient for employees, vendors, and

customers[CITATION Mar21 \p 32 \l 1033 ].

Because smart cities focus on sustainability, businesses in smart cities also participate in

energy conservation efforts. As a result, they reduce costs and incur the favor of customers,

who increasingly consider a company’s record on environmental and social change in their

purchasing decisions.

As centers of innovation, smart cities attract innovators, members of the creative

workforce that can transform organizations and encourage economic growth. Businesses

depend on these talented employees.

Finally, smart cities are important to business because cities are important to the

economy. As urban centers continue to expand, they can suffer from the strains of additional

population through increased crime, poverty, traffic, and congestion. Smart cities offer an

alternate, more sustainable way to grow and prosper.

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Works Cited

Burns, Scott. Brief History of Smart Cities. 2 May 2020. Website. 1 March 2021.

Frankl, Richard. "City as Network." Urban Planning (2019): 22-24. Print.

Kaya, Glen. Fast Facts 2020: Demographics. 5 November 2020. Website. 1 March 2021.

<http://www.mr.cengage.com>.

Martinson, Cheri B. "Three Eras of Smart City Development." Urban Anthropology 15 February

2021: 32-34. Print.

Ortiz, Edgar. "Transformations in South American Cities." Municipal Innovations (2020): 14-16.

Print.

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