IoT in Smart Cities

A comprehensive look at the application of the Internet of Things (IoT) in smart

cities, discussing the ethical, legal, professional, and social issues that come with it.

by Vanessa Puvimannasinghe
The Importance of Smart Cities
Efficiency
Smart cities use IoT to improve
the efficiency of its infrastructure,
cutting costs and improving
quality of life for its inhabitants.
Environmentally Friendly
Reducing energy consumption by
using smart sensors and water
management systems directly
improves the environment and
provides efficiencies for cities.
Sustainability
Implementing IoT solutions in
transportation and waste
management makes for
sustainable development in urban
areas.
The Ethical Debate of IoT in Smart Cities
1 Data Privacy and
Security
With a myriad of sensors
collecting data, security
measures need to be put in
place to protect the privacy
of the public.
2 Exacerbating the
Digital Divide
Implementation of IoT
technology may widen the
gap between those who are
digitally literate and those
who are not, which can
jeopardize the equality of
rights to digital services.
3 The Unearned
Confidence of Smart
Systems
City governments should
ensure that smart systems
are fully tested before
implementation and have a
full understanding of how
they operate. Otherwise, the
confidence in that
technology will be not be
justified.
The Legal Landscape of IoT in Smart Cities
Intellectual Property Issues
IoT involves modern and complex
proprietary technologies, standards,
protocols, and devices, which prompt
intellectual property issues among
connected devices, who owns the rights, and
how smart homes can integrate with one
another.
1 Regulatory Frameworks
Regulatory frameworks are arguably yet to
catch up to the implementation of IoT,
2 making it crucial to develop comprehensive
legal frameworks that balance the benefits of
these technologies with the rights of the
public.
3 Liability for Damage
As city systems go online, they pose cyber
risks that result in data breaches, disrupted
systems, and even physical damage or
injury. Thus, accountability, distributed
responsibility and liability issues arise with
the adoption of IoT in smart cities.
Professionalism and Standards of IoT in
Smart Cities
Upholding Professionalism
As IoT technologies advance
rapidly and people become more
reliant on them, city governments
need to keep up with training and
uphold the industry’s standards.
Paving the Way for Smart
Mobility
With IoT technology, cities can
better regulate traffic and help
commuters find faster and safer
routes around the city.
Opportunities in Public
Domain
IoT generates jobs specializing in
data analytics, system integration,
and device manufacturing that
opens up the public space for smart
city projects which help
underprivileged city members.
Social Integration of IoT in Smart Cities
Citizen Engagement
Citizens' feedback is crucial to
the success of smart city
projects. With this technology,
city governments can engage
with communities to make
more informed decisions about
human-centered designs like
street lighting that meets the
needs of all its people.
Inclusivity
IoT technology is an excellent
tool to improve the quality of
life for visually and physically
impaired people and low-
income inhabitants by
providing information and
enabling greater accessibility to
resources.
Digital Literacy
City governments have to work
towards developing digital
literacy among the population,
setting up training programs for
people who may not have the
experience with modern
technologies.
The Challenges of Implementing IoT in Smart
Cities
Financial Investment

IoT technology is expensive and requires significant

financial investment. Updating the existing
infrastructure and adoption of new technologies to a
city-wide scale involves both operational and
running expenses.

1 2 3

Infrastructure Integration Data Management

The first step to implementing IoT in smart cities is
to develop a proper infrastructure. New technologies
need support i.e., special telecom towers to solve
connectivity troubles, or update the existing
infrastructure.
Public data is the backbone of smart cities.
Developing privacy laws and regulations to govern
data management and data value is a crucial step for
data-driven smart city solutions to be successful.
Conclusion
IoT is becoming increasingly important for modern smart cities and improving
quality of life. As cities continue to expand and transform, IoT implementation will
facilitate the development process and enhance the management of city systems.

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