Imagine that your city is equipped with technology to improve your quality of living. It's so seamless and efficient that you don't even know it exists. You notice that your commute is quicker, your neighborhood is safer, and your air quality is cleaner. It is possible thanks to smart city technology.

What makes a city smart?

Smart cities use data and technology to improve efficiency and citizens' lives. Smart city technology is gaining popularity in cities around the globe. According to the United Nations, the majority of the world’s population will be living in urban areas by 2050. This will naturally lead to an increase in economic, social, and environmental challenges. Smart city technology can be used to overcome these problems and make cities more pleasant places to live.

What technology can make a city smart? These are just a few examples of technology that smart cities depend on:

Internet of things (IoT). The IoT is an interconnected network of physical devices that can "talk" to one another by exchanging data. The IoT connects technology in a smart community. IoT devices can include sensors, lights and meters that collect data and analyze it.

Sensors - These sensors can be electronic, infrared and thermal. They collect signals that can then be interpreted by AI or humans. Sensors may be used to monitor power consumption, traffic, weather, and other aspects of a smart city.

Artificial intelligence (AI), a form of artificial intelligence, is a simulation of machines that mimic human decision-making. AI can track the speed and count pedestrians, vehicles, and other movements. AI can read license plates and detect faces. It also processes all satellite data to determine patterns that are necessary for city planning.

Augmented Reality (AR) - AR lets you see the real world with a digital overlay. Smart cities can be enhanced by AR technology in many ways, including disaster preparedness and emergency management. AR technology can give tips about where to find restaurants, shops, hotels, parking or other transport hubs nearby. AR can help people locate exits and evacuation points in an emergency.

Geospatial technology is a set of tools that aid in geographic mapping. These tools include:

WiFi - WiFi is the foundation of any smart city. It connects everything, from smartphones and other devices, to wireless sensors. It can use signals from smartphones and other devices that are WiFi-enabled to track a person's position.

Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE). - Bluetooth Low Energy is used in many devices such as smartphones, smart watches and beacons. These beacons transmit a signal that broadcasts at regular intervals to make their location easily known.

Global Positioning System (GPS - GPS, a satellite-based navigation system, provides navigation and positioning services.

Ultra-wideband (UWB), - UWB radio technology is used for wireless communication. It can scan the radar continuously, locate an object, and communicate with it.

Geospatial technology is a useful tool for emergency response to improve commute times and transport. Geospatial technology can also be used to support public health. Geospatial technology is able to map and track the spread of a disease, such as COVID-19.

These technologies form the foundation of a smart urban area. Skyfii's IO Connect tool is part of the IO Platform. It harnesses data both from people counters, drones and WiFi location data. Skyfii's IO Insight software analyzes this data and provides specific alerts, insights or actions that can then be used by the public as well as companies and cities.

Smart city benefits

McKinsey Global Institute discovered that smart city technology can increase key indicators of quality of life, such as cost of living, safety and time, job opportunities, connectedness, the environment, health, and other factors, by between 10-30 percent. Let's look at some of the benefits that smart city technology offers.

Traffic flow is better

Many city dwellers find traffic a major problem. However, smart city technology can help. Smart city technology can help improve traffic flow and congestion by allowing public transport routes to adjust according to demand. Smart technology can alert residents to take public transit even when it is not in use. Many cities have public transit users who can track the location of their train or bus and make changes if necessary.

Energy efficiency and improved health

A limited supply of natural resources is likely to become a problem as cities grow. Smart technologies provide cities with the tools to efficiently conserve water and reduce waste. Smart sensors allow cities to identify and repair leakages in their pipes faster. Based on real-time data, street lights equipped with LED technology can adjust and dimming. Smart energy meters in homes reward residents for consuming less energy.

Air-quality sensors are able to identify sources of pollution and take steps to reduce them. Community health can be improved by residents being able to communicate with their doctors via videoconference and receiving timely, life-saving messages about vaccinations or sanitation.

Wi-Fi, IoT and surveillance cameras are all smart city technologies that can increase resident safety and speed up incident response times. The detailed and quick information provided by license plate recognition and connected crime centers and body cameras can be a boon for law enforcement. The risk of crime is reduced by new surveillance camera features such as facial recognition, fire and smoke alarm capabilities and locking and unlocking doors. These technologies are combined to make communities safer.

As infrastructure components, such as roads, bridges, or buildings age, it is necessary to invest large sums in maintaining and repairing them. Predictive analytics and smart city technology can help identify problems before they become serious. Smart sensors can detect structural changes in buildings or bridges such as tilts or cracks. The sensors send out messages to alert the city of any need for maintenance or inspections. This helps cities to save money and lives by avoiding infrastructure failures.

Improved citizen collaboration and feedback

Is there an app or community online that allows you to share resources, report local issues and connect with neighbors? Smart city technology encourages residents and offers services that are time-saving and easy to use. Many smart cities allow residents to easily connect to the city's governing body to give their feedback and help shape their city. Smart cities offer residents the opportunity to gather data on noise and air pollution using a low-cost kit. The data is uploaded to an online platform, which creates a crowdsourced map of data coming from around the globe.