As cities get bigger, managing them becomes tougher. Since the advent of the Information Age, planners and policymakers have turned to technology to solve urban challenges. Leveraging digital connectivity drives the Internet of Things, revolutionizing how we live and work in cities. IoT is empowering urban managers to make informed decisions about what needs to be done now and next.
“My priorities include improving connectivity to deliver public services more easily and efficiently.” Sadiq Khan, Mayor of London
The smart-city market will be worth an estimated $400 billion a year by 2020. Corporations see expanding urban areas as a growing opportunity to offer solutions and improve lives today, while generating revenues for tomorrow.
The most forward-thinking are changing their business model to foster long-term partnerships with urban managers, shifting from selling products to providing services.
Given global urbanization trends, while heads of state decide the fate of nations, mayors may one day rule the world. Mark Watts, executive director of C40, a network of over 80 of the world’s biggest metropolises, sees cities as leaders in setting sustainability standards and introducing innovative ideas. “Cities consume 70% of energy. A low-carbon development path, high degrees of mobility, and attractive public spaces create an environment people want to live in,” he explains.
“The smart city is a complex domain because there are so many stakeholders involved”
Bram Joosen, Senior Concept Business Architect, Philips Lighting
Some mayors believe cities do not just need to be smart to survive, but must become even smarter to thrive. That means putting in place the hardware to power cities as well as empowering citizens. According to Ada Colau, the mayor of Barcelona, “Citizens need to be the center of focus for institutions.” Rio de Janeiro’s mayor, Eduardo Paes, agrees: “Mayors make change; the things we do affect people’s lives for better or worse.”
