Cities that adopt smart technologies into their infrastructure improve some quality-of-life measures for residents by as much as 30 percent
It’s no secret that technology can make our lives easier in a variety of ways, and that rings true not only at the individual level but also on a larger scale. Cities that adopt smart technologies into their infrastructure improve some quality-of-life measures for residents by as much as 30 percent, according to a report by McKinsey Global Institute.
‘Smart cities’ are municipalities—of which hundreds now exist across the world—that leverage technology and data to improve quality-of-life infrastructure for citizens.
Learnings from smart cities empower us to push the boundaries of how the networks of the future can be used to scale and support solutions and services. Some of smart solutions ecosystems that can improve several key quality-of-life indicators are:
- Time efficiency. Smart city technologies can shorten commutes and make parking less frustrating. Getting real-time information about delays enables drivers to adjust their routes spontaneously as needed. What’s more, integrating intelligent traffic management tools and adding sensors to existing traffic infrastructure can help fix commute-related issues before they impact traffic and cause significant delays.
- Environment. As urbanization continues to grow, our environment takes a bigger hit. Smart cities integrate solutions to manage electricity and water usage, as well as identify causes of pollution, with safety and conservation top of mind.
- Public safety. Deploying smart technologies for public safety purposes can have a profound impact on peace of mind for residents. With smart technology, city operators can use data to optimize emergency response times, reduce incidents of crime, and better allocate public safety resources
Additional quality-of-life indicators that can see improvement with smart city technologies are job availability, cost of living, social connectedness, and even public health, according to the report. But even advanced smart cities have a long way to go to reach optimum potential.
Full article: How ‘Smart City’ Technologies Can Boost Quality of Life | Connected Life - Noozhawk.com