About this ebook
The illustrations in this book are created by “Team Educohack”.
The concept of smart cities might seem simple in theory, but in practice, it is quite complex. This book aims to clear up any confusion surrounding the term and emphasizes the need for sustainable development in smart cities. With 11 chapters, we explore social issues, smart digital services, and infrastructural changes essential for implementing a smart city model.
We highlight the importance of active citizen engagement in the rapid urbanization process, which is crucial for the overall development of cities. By understanding and addressing social concerns, we can create smarter, more sustainable urban environments.
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Building Smarter Cities - Rajendra Asan
Building Smarter Cities
Building Smarter Cities
Rajendra Asan
Building Smarter Cities
Rajendra Asan
ISBN - 9789361524837
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Preface
The concept of smart cities might seem to be easy, theoretically, for many but it is a complex term when we put it into practice. There are many confusing terms and this book is dedicated to clear all those confusions. Also, the need for sustainable development of the smart cities is subtly highlighted across different chapters of this book. It contains 11 chapters that focus on the social issues of the citizens apart from the smart digital services and infrastructural changes that are necessary while implementing a smart city model. In the rapid surge of urbanization engagement of people is necessary for the overall development of the cities and this book emphasizes on the active engagement of citizens.
Table of Contents
1 Smart Cities and Connected Intelligence 1
1.1 Platforms, Smart Ecosystems and Connected Intelligence 1
1.2 What care has to be taken while Developing a Smart Ecosystem? 2
1.3 What are the changes can be brought about by the
Platform given by a Smart City? 3
1.4 Are Smart Cities really needed? 4
1.5 How does IoT help in this? 6
1.6 How to build a successful Smart City? 7
1.7 Smart Cities and Connected Intelligence 8
1.8 How did the Digital Technology and Innovations
Help Connectivity? 9
1.9 How to Transform Traditional Cities into Smart Cities? 11
1.10 Benefits of the use of Technologies in Smart Cities 13
1.10.1 Security 14
1.10.2 Water Management 15
1.10.3 Increasing Traffic Awareness in the City 16
1.10.4 Transport Services 18
1.11 Benefits of Connected Intelligence in a Smart City 20
1.11.1 Data-driven Decisions 20
1.11.2 Improved Engagement 21
1.11.3 Benefits to the Environment 21
1.11.4 Healthcare Services 22
1.11.5 Increased Digitalization 23
1.11.6 Improved Efficiency of Public Services and Utilities 24
1.11.7 Enhanced Infrastructure 24
1.11.8 Reducing Labor Intensive Tasks 25
1.11.9 Maintaining Environmental Balance 25
1.12 Impact of IoT in the Smart City Ecosystem 27
2 Connected Intelligence and Great Challenges of
the 21st Century 29
2.1 What is Connected Intelligence? 30
2.2 Challenges posed by the 21st century 30
2.3 Artificial Intelligence 31
2.4 Complexity 32
2.5 Lack of Direct Communication 33
2.6 Data Integrity 33
2.7 Digital Transformation 34
2.8 Budget 34
2.9 Impact of Connected Intelligence in Smart Cities 36
2.9.1 Awareness Spaces 37
2.9.2 Engagement Spaces 39
2.9.3 Shared Spaces 42
2.10 Connected Intelligent Spaces 44
2.10.1 Impact of Connected Technologies in a
Smart City 45
2.10.2 Identifying Garbage Disposal Times 46
2.10.3 Identifying Convenient Route 47
2.10.4 Exploring the Shortcomings of the Smart Cities Using Connected Intelligence and Technologies 49
2.10.5 Educating People and Engaging them 49
2.10.6 Infrastructural Changes 51
2.10.7 Power 52
2.10.8 Privacy and Data Security 53
2.10.9 Biased Data 53
2.11 Challenges and Opportunities 55
2.11.1 Population 55
2.11.2 Resources 56
2.11.3 What is Sustainable Development? 56
2.11.4 How to Implement Sustainable Development Strategies in the Context of Smart Development? 57
2.11.5 Reforestation 57
2.11.6 Transport Services 58
3 Smart Cities are Cyber-Physical Systems of Innovation 59
3.1 What is a Cyber-physical System? 60
3.1.1 CPSs in Manufacturing 61
3.1.2 CPSs in Healthcare 61
3.1.3 CPSs in Transportation Environment 62
3.1.4 CPSs in Agricultural Environment 62
3.1.5 CPSs in Computer Environment 63
3.2 How smart cities can be looked upon as
cyber-physical systems? 64
3.3 Some Challenges that a smart city can face
while working as a CPS 65
3.3.1 Reliability 66
3.3.2 Data Management 66
3.3.3 Privacy 66
3.3.4 Security 67
3.4 What we need to learn from this? 67
3.5 CPSs for the Development of Smart Cities 67
3.6 Challenges in Implementing CPS in Smart Cities 72
3.7 Security Issues in Cyber Physical Systems 72
3.8 Structural issues in the design of cyber physical systems: 74
3.8.1 Sensors 74
3.8.2 Actuators 75
3.8.3 Monitoring Devices 75
3.9 How to Ensure Safety and security of
the Physical Devices? 76
3.9.1 Authentication Process 76
3.9.2 Cross Verification 77
3.9.3 Threat Analyzers 77
3.10 Limitations of the Security Programs 77
3.10.1 Time Constraints 78
3.10.2 Re-configuration 78
3.11 Solutions to Avoid Security Issues in
the Cyber Physical Systems 79
3.12 Use of Digital Technologies 79
3.13 Advantages of CPS 80
3.13.1 Interaction Between Man and System 80
3.13.2 Flexibility 80
3.13.3 Dealing with Environment and other Uncertainties 81
3.13.4 Improvement in Performance 81
3.13.5 Scalable 82
3.13.6 Fast 82
3.14 Applications of CPS 82
3.14.1 Developing Green Buildings 83
3.14.2 Education 83
3.14.3 Structural Monitoring 84
3.14.4 Aeronautic Systems 84
3.14.5 Transport Systems 84
3.14.6 Robots 85
3.14.7 Medical Applications 85
3.14.8 Smart Grids 86
3.15 Disadvantages of CPS 86
3.15.1 Security issues 87
3.15.2 Costly 88
3.15.3 Disruption of the Infrastructure 88
3.15.4 Cyber Attacks 89
3.16 Internet of Things and CPS in smart city 89
3.17 Difference between IoT and CPS 90
4 Effectiveness of Smart City Solutions 93
4.17.1 Parking Solutions 94
4.17.2 Healthcare Solutions 94
4.17.3 Lighting Solutions 95
4.17.4 Data Management Solutions 96
4.17.5 E-governance Solutions 96
4.1 Building Effective Smart City Models 97
4.2 Implementation of Innovative Solutions in
the Smart Cities 98
4.2.1 Top-down Approach 102
4.2.2 Comparison 102
4.2.3 Data Modeling 102
4.2.4 Training 103
4.2.5 Inclusion of People 103
4.3 Smart Cities and Connected Communities 103
4.4 Smart Cities of the Future 107
4.5 Smart Buildings 108
4.6 Smart Citizens 111
4.7 Challenges that a Smart City can face while
Implementing Smart City Solutions 113
4.7.1 Infrastructural Issues 113
4.7.2 Security Issues 114
4.7.3 Privacy Issues 115
4.7.4 Engagement Issues 116
4.7.5 Social Inclusion 116
4.8 Effectiveness of Smart City Solutions 116
4.8.1 Collaboration 118
4.8.2 Standard Technology 119
4.8.3 Cyber Issues 119
4.8.4 Procurement of Funds 120
4.9 How to connect with the Local Communities of a city? 122
4.10 Who all can be a part of a Smart City Project? 122
4.11 How can Cities Develop Smart City Models
without an Upfront Investment? 123
4.12 Smart Ecosystems and layers of Connected Intelligence 124
4.13 Connection of Technology and Smart Ecosystems 125
4.14 Framework of a Smart Ecosystem 126
4.15 Value Creators 127
4.15.1 Value Layers 128
4.15.2 Innovation Layer 128
4.15.3 Operations Layer 129
4.15.4 Financing Layers 129
4.15.5 Information Layer 129
4.15.6 Security Layer 129
4.15.7 Infrastructure Layer 129
4.16 Rise of Connected Cities 130
4.17 What is Connected Intelligence? 131
4.18 Why AI (Artificial Intelligence) layer is implemented
in IoT? 133
4.19 Building a Smart Ecosystem in the age of connected Intelligence 136
4.20 Connecting Transport and Traffic Services 138
4.20.1 Security 140
4.20.2 Mobility Management 140
4.20.3 Creating a Solid Infrastructure 141
4.21 Age of Distraction and its connection with
a Smart World 141
4.21.1 What is the age of Distraction? 142
4.21.2 What can be done to avoid the issue of Distraction? 143
4.22 Connected Intelligence and Sustainable Cities 147
4.22.1 Data Management 148
4.22.2 Enhancing Agricultural Production 149
4.22.3 Pollution created by Vehicles 150
4.22.4 Managing E-waste 151
5 Smart Growth: Externality Platforms and
Disruptive Innovation 155
5.1 How do the Disruptive Technologies or Innovation
make Cities more Livable? 156
5.2 Externalities & Smart Growth 157
5.3 What does Smart Growth Really Mean? 158
5.4 Connecting Innovation and Digital Worlds 159
5.4.1 How can Innovation and Digital Worlds be Connected Together? 160
5.5 Innovations using Digital Technology 161
5.6 Real challenge in Connecting Innovation
and Digital Worlds 162
5.7 Connecting Innovation and Digital Technology in
Different Environments 163
5.8 Transforming Ecosystem in the Digital Era 165
5.9 Bridging the gap between Innovation and
Digital Technology 167
5.10 Engagement 169
5.11 Revolutionary ideas that could initiate the process
of Smart Growth in Cities 171
5.11.1 Smart Transport and Electric Vehicles 171
5.11.2 Digital administration 173
5.12 Controlling Energy Consumption 175
5.12.1 Smart Healthcare Ideas 176
5.12.2 Smart Data Analytics 177
5.12.3 Smart Education 178
5.13 Impact of Smart Growth on the Workplace Trends 179
5.13.1 Using Personal Devices 180
5.13.2 Employee Satisfaction 180
5.13.3 Improving Cyber-security 181
5.14 Why is Disruptive Innovation Necessary? 182
6 Externality Platforms, Disruptive Innovation and
Smart Growth 186
6.1 Why is study of Externalities Essential while
planning a Smart City? 187
6.2 Economical Externality 188
6.3 Environmental Externality 189
6.4 Disruptive Innovation and its impact on growth of
Smart Cities 190
6.5 Role of Partnerships in Implementing Disruptive Technologies 191
6.6 What is Creative Destruction? 192
6.7 What is a Disruptive Technology? 193
6.7.1 Rise of Artificial Intelligence 195
6.7.2 Self Driven Cars 196
6.7.3 Medical Technologies 196
6.7.4 Megapolis 197
6.7.5 Skype Translator 198
6.8 How to manage and Implement Disruptive Innovation? 198
6.8.1 Leadership Skills 199
6.8.2 Data Integration 200
6.8.3 Planning 201
6.9 Fundamentals of Disruptive Technologies 201
6.10 Is Disruptive Innovation Sustainable? 207
6.11 Challenges to Disruptive Innovations 209
6.12 How to Interpret Disruptive Innovation in
the concept of Smart Cities? 212
6.12.1 Demographic Challenges 213
6.12.2 Technological Revolution 213
7 Safety and Security: Engagement Platforms and
Social Innovation 216
7.1 Social Innovation in Smart Cities and Ecosystems 217
7.1.1 What is Social Innovation? 217
7.1.2 Connectivity 218
7.1.3 Date Integrity 219
7.2 Disruptive Technology and Security 219
7.3 Citizen Engagement & Social Innovation 220
7.4 People can be engaged through the following ways: 221
7.5 Why is Engagement Necessary for Social Innovation? 222
7.5.1 Understanding Social Issues and Needs 223
7.5.2 Innovative Ideas 223
7.5.3 Diverse Thinking 224
7.5.4 Changing Scenarios 224
7.6 Digital Social Innovation 225
7.6.1 Innovation 225
7.6.2 Social & Environment Issues 226
7.6.3 Digital Technologies 226
7.7 Examples of Digital Social Innovations 227
7.7.1 Fairphone 228
7.7.2 Opendesk 229
7.8 Need of Social Innovation in Smart Cities 229
7.9 How can a Social Innovation Project be feasible
for Common People or Citizens? 230
7.9.1 What is Crowd Funding? 231
7.9.2 Leaderships and Strategy 232
7.10 A Smart City Ecosystem as an Innovation Model 233
7.11 Case study 235
7.12 What is Innovation in Tourism? 236
7.13 The Smart City Ecosystem of Montreal 237
7.14 Points of Discussion 239
7.15 Social Innovations in Smart Cities 241
7.16 Let us see some models of socially smart cities: 245
7.17 Owned City Model 246
7.18 Creative City 247
7.19 Resilient City 248
8 Cyber-Physical Spaces for Engagement,
Social Innovation and Safe Cities 250
8.1 Cyber-physical Social Space for Engagement 252
8.2 Social innovation and cyber-physical space 254
8.3 Building City Intelligence 256
8.4 Relation Between Social Innovation and safety of
Smart Cities 257
8.5 How can the Digital Technologies be used to make
Smart Cities a Better Place? 259
8.5.1 Communication Technologies 260
8.6 IoT 261
8.7 Sensors 262
8.8 AI 262
8.9 Blockchain Technology 263
8.10 Geospatial Technology 265
8.11 How to make a smart city safe and secure with
the help of Evolving Technologies? 266
8.11.1 Communications Network 267
8.11.2 Security 268
8.11.3 Intelligent Solutions 270
8.12 Importance of Data Analytics in Securing Premises
of a city 272
8.13 Funding 273
8.14 Safe Cities in the Future 274
8.15 Direct Public Services and systems that can make
city life a lot safer 276
8.15.1 Free WIFI connection 276
8.15.2 Centralized Operations 276
9 Sustainability: Awareness Platforms and
Eco-Innovation 278
9.1 Sustainable Development Goals 279
9.2 Utilising the concept of IoT to develop Smart Cities 281
9.2.1 Empowering People 282
9.3 Sustainability Initiatives by Cities 282
9.4 Environmental Sustainability under the
‘Smart Everything’ Paradigm 284
9.5 Urban Development 285
9.6 Smart and Sustainable Cities 287
9.7 Eco-innovations in Smart Cities 291
9.7.1 Eco-friendly 292
9.7.2 Better Land use 293
9.7.3 Restoration 293
9.7.4 Transport Issues 295
9.7.5 Energy Efficiency 295
9.7.6 Improvement in Lives 296
9.8 Eco-innovations and Economic Growth 297
9.9 Ecological Awareness 297
9.10 CAPS 298
9.11 Challenges of Sustainable Development 299
9.11.1 Complexity 300
9.11.2 Governance 300
9.11.3 Unemployment 300
9.11.4 Expenditure 300
9.11.5 Time Constraints 301
9.11.6 Economy 301
9.11.7 Saving the Planet 302
9.11.8 Healthier Environment 302
9.12 Advantages of Eco-Innovation 303
9.12.1 Clean Image 304
9.12.2 Better usage of natural resources 305
9.12.3 Business Profits 305
9.12.4 Boost for Tourism 306
9.13 Eco-design 307
9.14 Conclusion 308
9.14.1 What is an Ideal Smart City? 309
9.15 Relation Between Smart Cities and Sustainability 312
9.15.1 Pollution 313
9.15.2 Depletion of Energy Resources 314
9.15.3 Well-being 315
9.15.4 Tourism 315
9.15.5 Cost 316
9.15.6 Focussed on Business 316
9.16 How can Smart City Infrastructure be used for
Sustainable Development? 318
9.17 Using Technology for Overall Development 321
9.18 How to build trust among the Citizens? 322
9.19 Top Smart Cities of the world 324
9.20 Tokyo 324
9.21 London 325
9.22 New York 325
9.23 Zurich 326
9.24 Paris 327
9.25 Some key features of the Future Sustainable Cities 327
9.25.1 Finance 328
9.25.2 Networking & Training 329
9.25.3 Transport 329
9.25.4 Building Hubs 330
9.25.5 Eco-friendly Vehicles 330
9.25.6 Public Engagement and Collaboration 331
9.25.7 Smart Buildings 331
9.25.8 Bringing Cities Closer 332
9.25.9 Safer Cities 332
9.25.10 Energy 332
9.25.11 Food 333
9.26 Eco-innovations and Sustainability 334
10 Appendix 336
10.1 Appendix A 336
10.2 Appendix B 337
Index 338
Chapter
1 Smart Cities and Connected Intelligence
1.1 Platforms, smart ecosystems and connected intelligence
Image result for smart ecosystems in citiesImage showing important factors that need to be considered for building a smart ecosystem – URL - https://strategyofthings.io/smart-city-ecosystem
The concept of smart cities is not new but it has been dramatically changed over the years and especially since the last decade. A smart city is an ecosystem that allows citizens to thrive in a smooth manner by enjoying all the amenities and assets provided by technology and infrastructure development. If you are paying your bills online, recharging your phone through mobile apps or complaining about a local issue to your government through an app, it means that you are already evolving yourself to adjust to the concept of smart city.
The advancements such as internet, cloud computing, big data analysis, etc. are being used in industries and business environments. However, these computer technologies have now been introduced to streamline your day-to-day lives as well and that is rapidly revolutionizing the way we conduct and react while living in a civilized society. For example, if the traffic lights of a particular area become dysfunctional then it can be immediately traced by the concerned officers with the help of installed CCTV cameras and they can rectify the error immediately before it becomes a serious security issue to the commuters.
Also, the evolution and implementation of latest technologies and e-governance are not only contributing towards making cities smart but they also provide a platform to the people where they can discuss their problems, share their opinions and ideas, and provide suggestions to the government without any inhibition of societal structure or stigma.
1.2 What care has to be taken while developing a smart ecosystem?
A smart city will obviously provide a platform for everyone to contribute towards the well-being of their premises in general and also towards the city by large. However, that does come with a sense of responsibility as well. While the evolution of apps and community forums have brought the different elements of a society closer, it does not mean that they can be less concerned about the changes or risks that the technological advancements can bring in the ecosystem.
For example, mobile towers have certainly made communication a lot easier but they have also been one of the main reasons behind the death of small birds and insects. Therefore, anything new change towards the basic infrastructure of the cities must also involve sustainable actions that try to minimize their side effects. For example, a local government can make it compulsory for the telecom operators to plant 1000 more trees before setting up a mobile tower so that the birds can stay immune from its harmful radiations in the future.
1.3 What are the changes can be brought about by the platform given by a smart city?
As we discussed earlier, there are a lot of changes that a smart city platform can bring along with the risks and side effects. However, these basic changes can be brought about if we decide to utilize it effectively and positively:
Image result for traffic in smart ecosystemImage depicting smart parking ecosystem – URL - https://www.researchgate.net/figure/Smart-Parking-ecosystem-overview_fig2_316080419
◊ Accidents can be reduced by monitoring traffic and transport rules in real time.
◊ Dwelling crimes in the urban and sub-urban areas can be reduced greatly by inducing an unsolicited reporting e-platform.
◊ New ecosystems can be developed by ensuring that they remain flexible to incorporate new business and transformations in the future.
◊ Data can be retrieved and stored in real time so that they can be analyzed in the future while making decisions.
◊ Enhancing e-governance by educating and motivating people to learn how to pay their taxes, bills and how to register their queries and complaints with the concerned departments can be certainly a great step while developing a mess and stress free eco-system.
◊ Developing solutions to improve connectivity and introducing artificial intelligence in different walks of life.
Due to all these benefits, the concept of smart city solutions is not only limited to the metropolitan cities and urban areas. These solutions can also be developed in a sub-urban area with moderate facilities or a small section of a rural area can be urbanized to showcase how a smart city works. Moreover, a large enterprise can adopt the model of a smart city to tackle its issues of mobility and connectivity.
1.4 Are smart cities really needed?
The concept of smart city has reached over millions within a short span of time. Even the builders and developers are boasting of their capabilities of developing a smart city with limited area and natural resources. However, the question that haunts many is that are these smart cities really needed. None of us can deny the fact that the world is getting urbanized at an exponential rate. We are already living in a modern world where most of the rural areas are well connected to the nearby urban centers. Therefore, with the implementation of smart city solutions, the rural areas can be made independent and self-reliant as they no longer would have to travel to a city to find a solution to their basic needs and requirements.
Image result for Smart ecosystemImage showing different service platforms in smart cities – URL - https://www.slideshare.net/kmikkela/smart-urban-innovation-ecosystem-platform-article-2016-1015-kakkomikkel
A farmer, generally, travels to a city to purchase seeds, fertilizers and other essentials that are required to carry out the work of farming in a convenient and hassle-free way. However, with the e-commerce portals and their mobile versions, they can now get it delivered to their doorstep with just a few clicks. This not only reduces their efforts, but also enables to utilize their time in a better way. Similarly, they can order the services of a soil quality analyst from the comfort of their homes instead of taking their soil to a nearby city laboratory. The main issue with the above methods that it still needs considerable time as it requires a lot of management and tracking skills. The main purpose of smart city solutions is to bring technology and its benefits closer to people by developing city centers and distribution units in the eco-system itself.
1.5 How does IoT help in this?
Image result for IoT in Smart ecosystemImage showing an industrial IoT ecosystem – URL - https://www.researchgate.net/figure/Industrial-IoT-ecosystem-including-major-applications-and-players-3_fig8_277562344
IoT, i.e., Internet of Things, is modifying the existing technologies and this has carved out a new way for modern infrastructure developers. For example, the use of street lights is common in the cities and even in the rural areas today, but newer technologies like solar panels have made it much more accessible even for everyone. Not just that, street lights in the city can be monitored by using cloud-based software and solutions can even be developed to manage city lights with the help of a remote application. This idea is not just applicable to street lights but even traffic, weather and emergency issues like fire strikes can be handled using the latest technologies. For example, city lamp posts can be incorporated with sensors and chipsets that would enable commuters to connect to it via an app and get useful information like direction to a particular building or hospital, nearby public toilet and much more. Moreover, they can also act as mobile or laptop charging devices much like the railway station platforms provide these days.
1.6 How to build a successful smart city?
Building a successful smart city is not as easy as it looks on a piece of paper. It takes proper understanding of all the technologies and its use. Also, just understanding the needs of a city and creating innovative solutions is not enough but care should be taken to maintain the ecological balance as well. Moreover, the solutions must be practical enough so that people can utilize them easily and incorporate them in their daily activities smoothly. These are the essential things that can be ensured while building a successful smart city.
Wireless connectivity
The main purpose of a smart city is to minimize the infrastructure and maximize the connectivity in a given area. This could be achieved only through wireless connectivity. We already use Bluetooth, WAN, LAN, etc. for communicating with each other within a particular distance or area but newer concepts have already developed that make long-distance connectivity seamless. Cloud communication is one of them and integration of latest 4G and 5G technologies can make it much reliable, faster and economical as well.
Sharing information
A good way to build a strong eco-system is by ensuring that all the elements of a smart city can share information with each other seamlessly. This also includes access to public information and data to everyone so that everyone could benefit from it. For example, a smart city can share data related to weather and traffic with the mapping app creators in real time so that people can access the data in real time and plan their daily activities.
Image result for ideal smart cityImage showing a futuristic smart city – URL - http://bwsmartcities.businessworld.in/article/Smart-Cities-the-ideal-city-of-the-future/10-05-2018-148810/
Cyber security
While most of the smart-city models rely heavily on IoT, communication via cloud and such other solutions, securing these channels is an absolute necessity. The centralized data needs to be protected from breaches and cyber attacks, and even the shared information must be closely monitored to check whether it is getting