What is the definition of a smart city? 8 industry leaders weigh in
Cities are facing more challenges than ever before, as expanding populations put stress on transportation systems, social services, energy infrastructure and other vital aspects of daily life. To tackle these obstacles, public and private sector leaders are turning to innovation to offer solutions that can make cities more efficient and effective for their residents.
At the Smart Cities Connect Conference and Expo in Austin, TX, this week, leaders from cities across the globe joined together with private companies, nonprofits and researchers to discuss the rapidly evolving world of so-called smart cities. However, the definition of a smart city is far from absolute, as everyone seemed to offer a different take on the concept.
We gathered insights from eight industry leaders — through panels and interviews — on how to define the concept of a smart city. Do you have a different definition to share? Let us know.
“The smart city is a city that anticipates future need in a really elegant way. And elegant means taking a look at the confluence of function, resilience, sustainability, wellness — it’s all of it. Even though ‘smart’ seems to be synonymous with technology, it certainly goes way beyond the technology. What does it accomplish, and how does it improve the lives of the citizens?”
“I know this will not make me popular, but my definition of a smart city is a city where the majority of adults know the basics of science and math. If you don’t have that, you can’t have a discussion with the population. But I know that’s not what they’re talking about at this conference. ‘Smart cities‘ is probably a bundle of technology that can help us get more data and make decisions that also might help us respond more quickly to situations. Beyond that, I look quickly past that term to see if it’s actually something we can use.”
“A smart city is a city that yes, uses technology, that yes, is operating in a resilient and renewable way.
