Smart Cities, Livable Cities

Urbanization is a truly global trend, affecting populations in developed and emerging regions across all continents. To keep up with the rapid influx of new city dwellers, city leaders are turning to technology. One of the key challenges in many cities is providing safe drinking water. Other major issues in many cities across the developing world are traffic, parking, waste management, lighting, security, education and health care. The Internet of Things increasingly offers new ways to make our lives as citizens smarter, more efficient and more informed. For example, city governments can charge appropriate fees, deliver tailored services and manage public infrastructure while considering interdependencies. In order to successfully seize the opportunities associated with the current shifts and to anticipate what’s coming, city leaders need to recognize and address the interrelationship of all city challenges and their impact across all constituent groups in seeking solutions.