What is a Smart City? What application examples exist across countries? Uncover the allure of Smart Cities with us!

Smart City, known as '智慧城市' or sometimes referred to as 'Sensing City,' is a concept that harnesses advanced Information and Communication Technology (ICT), along with sensors, data analytics, and the internet, to boost city operational efficiency, enhance quality of life, and ensure sustainable development. The goal of Sensing Cities is to utilize data collection, analysis, and application to enable smarter city management and operations, fulfilling residents' needs and offering improved public services. Presently, Smart Cities have become an indispensable part of development strategies, focusing on using data, communication, and technology to solve urban issues, which is the direction governments worldwide are dedicated to promoting.

What is the concept of a Smart City?

According to a report by CommonWealth Magazine, as the global population continues to grow and concentrate toward urban areas, the United Nations estimates that by 2050, two-thirds of the Earth's population will reside in cities. In other words, urbanization leads to overcrowded cities, necessitating the preemptive deployment of technology to address emerging problems.

The original concept of Smart Cities stems from IBM's 'Smarter Planet'—a report at the time that discussed the concept of Smart Cities, titled 'Smart Planet: The Future of the Internet of Things.' It envisioned efficient interaction between tools like the Internet of Things (IoT), artificial intelligence (AI), cloud computing, and urban systems such as traffic, water supply, power equipment, and buildings to ultimately enhance government efficiency, improve the quality of life for citizens, and ensure cities' sustainable development.

Since then, the concept of Smart Cities has gradually gained acceptance and application, becoming an essential direction in the development and planning of many cities. Cities and countries around the world each have unique modes and innovations in their practices and applications of Smart Cities.

The Six Key Indicators of a Smart City

With the ever-evolving technology, the progress of Smart City development has become critical in measuring international urban competitiveness. Smart Cities are characterized by six key indicators:
1. Smart Environment: Includes smart buildings, energy management, and intelligent planning.
2. Smart Mobility: Features diverse transportation, green energy, and big data.
3. Smart Living: Encompasses inclusive communities, health management, and cultural well-being.
4. Smart People: Comprises smart education, public affairs, and racial integration.
5. Smart Governance: Focuses on intelligent management, convenient services, and digital policies.
6. Smart Economy: Involves creating opportunities, industrial transformation, and network connectivity.

Through data analysis, Smart Cities can realize a range of functions and applications, including intelligent traffic management, energy-saving and environmental protection measures, intelligent public services, smart buildings, and smart security, among others. For instance, data-driven traffic management systems can optimize traffic flow, reduce congestion and pollution; smart energy management systems can monitor and adjust energy usage for efficiency and carbon reduction; intelligent public services can provide convenient mobile payments, smart parking, and smart city management services. According to SDG Goal 11, which aims to build inclusive, safe, resilient, and sustainable cities and communities, it is evident that Smart Cities are not a nascent topic but a longstanding development strategy.