Cities are the great protagonists of the world in which we live. A total of 55% of the world population lives in urban areas and it is expected that by 2050 it will reach 68%, according to what has been published by the United Nations.
The metropolises reach consume 75% of global primary energy, in addition to emitting between 50 and 60% of greenhouse gases worldwide. These emissions can be reduced by up to 90% in 2050 through the application of technological and beneficial measures for the population, this being the objective of smart cities.
Smart cities are defined as “the application of information and communication technologies (ICT) and information processing capabilities to improve urban planning, design and operations”, according to the International Energy Agency. On the other hand, the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development points out that Digitization aims to improve the quality of life of citizens to achieve greater inclusion, sustainability and resistance.
The benefits of using technological tools in smart cities
The results have been positive when carrying out studies to verify if the use of technologies benefits the user. The McKinsey Study has confirmed that smart city applications can improve the quality of life of a population between 10 and 30%. Currently, only 10% of the data on air quality, energy consumption, traffic patterns and geospatial data is used. While if the use were increased, the information would improve the situation of the cities.
Digital tools go beyond the use of mobile phones or applications. In the case of traffic signals, their management systems can reduce crowding by 8% and allow cars to go faster. Also, it should be noted that smart charging reduces the impact of vehicles by 60%. Therefore, the elements that make up a city can be developed to be beneficial to both the environment and the population.
The challenges they face
Despite the fact that everything indicates that smart cities help improve the quality of life of the population, they must also overcome some obstacles that the business school has collected TBS Education – Barcelona.
- The limitations of the data. The data is protected by privacy and security policies, in addition to existing barriers that restrict the exchange of information. To solve it, it is necessary to create platforms in which data is shared and that the protection of these allows transparent communication.
- Insufficient coordination. There is no dialogue channel for governments to use similar mechanisms and the resources derived for it are insufficient. It would be necessary to create platforms for the exchange of knowledge and form transversal networks.
- The lack of capacity. Access to digitization tools is limited, as is the opportunity to seek new methods. Instead, through initiatives to promote digital skills and the development of training programs, the problem can be solved.
- Access to finance. Income is low and there is no possibility of getting into debt, but with the promotion of public-private partnerships and the redirection of financing, these threats can be overcome.
- The risks of digitization. There is no equality in access to the digital world and digital technologies have an environmental impact. However, this point can be solved with the development of new guidelines in cyber security and carrying out inclusive projects.
