The Green Cities consortium developed the blog post “Smart City Concepts: The Future of Urban Development” under the EU-Funded Project Youth Participation for Developing Sustainable Green Cities (reference number: 2022-1-DE04-KA220-YOU-000085135). L4Y Learning for Youth GmbH is leading the project alongside partners Citizens in Power, Toplum Gönüllüleri Vakfı, Kean, Walktogether, and Kaán Károly Környezetvédelmi Egyesület.
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Introduction
Today’s urban development is increasingly driven by technology, focusing on more efficient operations, economical management, and improved quality of life. However, new technological tools and the increasing availability of data do not provide solutions to urban development and maintenance issues on their own. Therefore, to understand the smart city as an important new operating model, it is essential to start from the basics.
The Rise of Smart Cities
At the beginning of the 21st century, more than 50% of the global population lived in cities, a number expected to rise to 70-75% by the end of the century. In the developed world, especially in Europe, 73% of people live in urban areas. Consequently, this rapid urbanization highlights the importance of cities and the responsibility that comes with managing them.
Ecological Impact of Urbanization
Urban areas significantly impact the environment, contributing to air, noise, and light pollution, as well as generating solid waste and wastewater. Moreover, the ecological footprint and resource demands of large cities often exceed those of entire countries. Therefore, optimizing the functioning of cities and the built environment is crucial. Furthermore, cities play a key role in economic globalization, which can also strengthen local resources and drive global competitiveness through innovation.
Technological Revolution and Smart Cities
Since the 1990s, the explosive development of internet and mobile data technologies has reshaped our environment. As a result, the concept of the smart city emerged in the mid-1990s, focusing on sustainable growth, better governance, and improved communication. Ultimately, the goal is to create a harmonious environment where commerce, transport, and urban governance form a cohesive system.
Defining Smart Cities
There is no universally accepted definition of a smart city, but the terms digital city, intelligent city, and smart city are commonly used. All these terms relate to sustainable urban development and the ICT industry. Therefore, understanding these definitions is crucial for grasping the full potential of smart city concepts.
Key Features of Smart City Concepts
The key features of smart city concepts are:
- Daily Use of Technology: Technology is integrated into everyday processes.
- Interconnected Services: City services are interconnected for better efficiency.
- Resource and Energy Efficiency: Focus on efficient use of resources and energy.
- Real-Time Data Processing: Continuous data collection and processing to solve problems in real time.
- Citizen Involvement: Smart city management incorporates residents’ feedback.
- Efficient Financial Management: Enhanced data flow and information management save money.
Main Aspects of Smart City Concepts
The main aspects of smart city concepts are:
- Sustainable Development: Focus on both natural and built environments.
- Digital Infrastructure: Developing and enhancing digital infrastructure.
- Quality Municipal Services: Improving the quality of services provided by the city.
- Citizen Involvement: Engaging citizens in the city’s development.
- Economic Efficiency: Ensuring economic processes are efficient and sustainable.
Six Dimensions of Smart City Concepts
The six dimensions of of smart city concepts are:
- Smart Economy: Energy efficiency, innovation, economic impact, return on investment, and circular economy.
- Smart Transport/Mobility: Intelligent traffic systems, smart parking, traffic management, and mobility as a service.
- Smart Environment: Water and waste management, environmental monitoring, sustainable processes, and hybrid manufacturing approaches.
- Smart People: Collaboration among citizens, workers, and visitors; e-health and e-learning initiatives.
- Smart Living Conditions: Advanced materials, public safety, urban resilience, and smart spaces.
- Smart Governance: Digital automation, public data availability, and citizen participation.
Conclusion
The smart city concept revolves around creating a sustainable, efficient, and interconnected urban environment. By leveraging technology and citizen involvement, smart cities aim to improve the quality of life. Moreover, they enhance resource management and foster economic growth. Therefore, understanding these concepts is crucial for developing and maintaining modern urban areas.
