Smart City Design (DP IB Geography)
Revision Note
Smart City Design & New Technology
Smart cities are those which are successful in six areas:
Economy
Environment
Population
Living conditions
Governance
Mobility
The aim of smart cities is to manage resources effectively so that:
The population's needs are met
The environment is protected and improved
Smart cities have a number of characteristics
Characteristics of Smart Cities
ICT | Sustainability | Connectivity | Public Involvement |
---|---|---|---|
Technology is utilised to make urban systems more efficient; for example, traffic lights are programmed to adapt to congestion to reduce traffic jams | Solutions to urban issues have sustainability as a focus to reduce the impact of urban areas on the environment. Air quality sensors in Copenhagen are used to identify areas where emissions need to be reduced | The integration of digital technologies to manage the urban area efficiently. AI can be used to predict potential issues | The sharing of data between the urban systems and the population. The involvement of the population in planning and decision-making |
What are the advantages and disadvantages of smart cities?
The advantages of smart cities include the efficient:
Use of resources
Disposal of waste
Transport systems
Housing
The disadvantages of smart cities include:
Cost: the technology used is very expensive so smart cities are located in HICs
Energy use: technology uses lots of energy, although this may be balanced by reduced energy use for transport, lighting etc.
Purpose Built Settlements
Several smart cities are in development around the world
These are purpose-built settlements
The advantages of purpose-built smart cities are:
Old infrastructure does not have to be adapted it is all built as new
There is no existing population who will be disrupted by the changes
Songdo, South Korea
Located approximately 20 miles southwest of Seoul
The area has a population of 210 000 (2024)
The smart city is built on an area of reclaimed land
Still under development the city is due to be completed in 2025
Sensors within the infrastructure of the city are used to monitor and regulate a range of activities and processes
Water pipes ensure that clean drinking water is not used in toilets
The sensors in the streets measure energy use and traffic flow
Automated rubbish bins connected by pipes to an underground sorting centre
The city has the highest concentration of projects in the world which meet the Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) standards
Large areas of green space
There is an integrated transport system where there is a bus stop or subway stop within 12-minute walk of each neighbourhood
An extensive bike infrastructure
Retrofitting Technology in Older Settlements
Although urban areas can be built from scratch to be smart cities, most smart cities of the future already exist
To improve the sustainability and resilience of these cities, they need to be adapted
The adaptations involve adding new smart technology to the existing infrastructure
This is known as retrofitting
Retrofitting is expensive and can lead to lots of disruption because the existing infrastructure has to be disturbed
New York
A range of organisations, together with City of New York government, are working towards making New York a smart city
The city is adopting smart technology to improve transport, health, safety and productivity
The technology also works to reduce waste water and energy use
Transport
Sensors to streamline traffic flow
Charging stations throughout the city for electric vehicles
Car-sharing schemes to reduce congestion and emissions
Safety
CompStat logs crime; it then uses the data to help predict where and when crime will occur
Health
Air quality sensors to identify areas of air pollution
Seventy-five temporary air monitoring stations are moved every two weeks to new sites
There are also eight permanent air monitors
Energy
The replacement of old bulbs with LED bulbs in 650 government buildings
Smart meter readings for energy use to discourage waste
Switching some residents from oil to gas, which has fewer emissions
Waste
Solar-powered rubbish bins 'BigBelly' which compact the waste
The bins request emptying when full
Water
Automated meter reading (AMR) units have been installed in over 800 000 properties
The AMR units:
Warn of potential leaks
Monitor how water is used
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