IoT Smart City – The Role Of IoT in Smart City Planning

There’s no denying that the Internet of Things has brought us closer to the future, and using it in smart city planning offers a level of innovation that city planners of the past may have only dreamt about.

You may know about the IoT from things you have in your home, like a smart refrigerator or a smart thermostat. The idea is the same in an IoT smart city but on a much larger scale. In this setting, it’s applying all the benefits you get from a smart home to the entire city infrastructure, and everyone can benefit.

The Technology Behind an IoT Smart City

The Internet of Things is nothing new. In fact, IoT solutions have been around for many years and have been sought after due to their low-cost, practical features, and continuous technological advances. Advancements in technology have provided consistent improvements, and the application of these solutions has been steadily widening.

In city planning, the IoT offers many significant advantages for residents, businesses, local government, public services, and civil engineers. Some of these advantages are listed below.

• It’s easy to connect the internet to sensors with cloud platforms, improved network protocols, and greater efficiency in data transferring.
• Cloud platform systems offer greater availability and access for businesses, organizations, citizens, and consumers, without high management costs.
• Affordable solutions, such as IoT sensors, are reliable, require minimal power to operate, and are easy to install, making it possible for smaller businesses, manufacturers, and organizations to implement them.
• IoT technology offers a greater connection for advanced machine learning and IoT analytics, which combine well to produce valuable information, which can provide future options to optimize their use.
• Artificial intelligence (AI) enhances the use of IoT devices through conversational and informational voice-activated assistants, such as Siri, Alexa, and Cortana, while remaining affordable and reliable for use at home and in business.

The Importance of IoT Technology in Smart City Solutions

Perhaps unsurprisingly, IoT technology is considered one of the most critical advances in the digital world. It takes everyday items and makes them a part of a more extensive connected system. These devices have technology that allows them to communicate with each other and other processes other items through the internet.

The applications are mind-blowing. Whether you’re talking about cars, electric vehicles, appliances, parking meters, baby monitors, thermostats, or mobile devices, it’s easy to see how this technology will continue to change the world.

Within an IoT smart city infrastructure, the IoT system provides digital solutions for traffic management, building automation, smart parking, and other IoT applications that connect through mobile technology with minimal human intervention.

These digital systems provide a solid interaction between people and connected objects to cooperate and meet their immediate needs. IoT devices also collect, record, and compile essential data by the user to provide adjusted responses or experiences.

IoT Applications in Smart City Developments

One of the most beneficial aspects of IoT within smart city projects is its relatively inexpensive integration into existing infrastructure. IoT applications are also known as SaaS  (software-as-a-software) platforms that collect, analyze, and present data onto dashboards for further analysis and future improvements for businesses, organizations, and government.

These smart technology systems use machine learning algorithms to collect and review massive amounts of data gathered from sensors through cloud platforms. Real-time updates ensure that dashboards, aggregate data, and performance results are accurate and can provide meaningful, real-time statistics and information to enhance the devices in an IoT smart city.

In conjunction with AI, many IoT applications can automatically initiate repairs and take proactive measures to improve areas of concern. They also identify and send instant alerts to users when anomalies or issues are detected in equipment, sensors, and other devices integral to the infrastructure. As you can see, the safety and cost-saving benefits are impressive.

The efficiency of IoT applications also has a wide range of benefits, including fulfilling high demands, customer service needs, supply chains, financial transactions and services, and human resources. It’s built into an existing framework to enhance the ability of professionals and businesses to provide optimal services and experiences to consumers and the public.

Integrating IoT Technology Into Smart City Initiatives and Solutions

How are IoT applications and technology implemented into smart cities? Because IoT devices are easily integrated into various monitors, objects, and management solutions, the applications are far-reaching. Here are just a few.

Air Quality Monitoring

Air quality is a significant concern in some cities, and smart air quality monitoring can detect pollutants and particles in office buildings, commercial settings, and residences.

These smart devices provide accurate, timely reports on unsafe pollutants, chemicals, and other items that can adversely affect health, as well as the presence of dust and dirt, which can trigger allergic reactions and interfere with the air quality. Citizens can quickly learn when it’s safe to venture out to the park or go for a bike ride without worrying about triggering their asthma or when they need to stay indoors to avoid health problems.

Air quality devices can be easily monitored with a mobile device, such as a smartphone, which can alert users if a high level of unsafe toxins is detected. You can look at your smartphone or smartwatch and know instantaneously whether the air quality is safe or if it’s best to stay indoors.

City Smart Grids

Smart grids are an innovative way to connect with and share a wide range of resources through communities within an urban area. City planning uses smart infrastructure and architecture to incorporate smart grids that provide energy storage for solar panels and wider use of power at an affordable cost. Smart grids can monitor the usage during peak hours when extra energy can be stored from the panels to the grid.

Smart Public Transit and Transportation

Smart transportation infrastructure and IoT technology have given drivers, public transit operators, and consumers greater capabilities. These advances offer voice-command navigational requests, locate data, and assess traffic congestion levels during commuting hours.

Smart transit systems provide smartphone apps for users to track and locate when their next bus or train will arrive, how they can connect between two or more routes and the option of ride-sharing.

Smart Meters

Smart utility meters offer cost-effective ways to track energy consumption for the purpose of better energy management and usage. IoT meters are connected to residential and commercial buildings and communicate with a smart energy grid, where utility companies collect data to review consumption amounts.

Smart meter programs help save significantly in the long term while reducing energy flow and associated costs.

Improved Waste Management Systems

IoT solutions are integral to smart waste management, which helps reduce a significant amount of waste, and travel time during pick-up routes and save on unnecessary expenses.

Smart waste solutions monitor various items to indicate the amount of trash disposed of and whether certain things are recyclable or compostable. Smart waste disposal bins are another great IoT tool that can assist users in determining which items to recycle, compost, or place in the garbage.

Efficient Use of IoT Applications Within a Smart City

Individuals widely use IoT applications for various monitoring and tracking applications. While smart cities use large-scale infrastructures to monitor traffic flow, transit routes, and parking space availability, numerous smartphone apps and devices provide specific data and results for residents and businesses. Some of this data may include the following:

• Monitoring manufacturing, machine performance, output, and other metrics
• Evaluating products to avoid defects and errors
• Tracking and protecting high-valued assets from theft, damage, and removal
• Monitoring users with wearable devices that track health conditions, heart rate, mobility, and the environment. These devices are ideal for remote healthcare monitoring by physicians and medical professionals
• Fleet monitoring and management ensures that IoT tracks shipments, inventory, and deliveries while finding new ways to increase efficiency safely

IoT devices in smart city planning also help create a proactive approach towards preventative maintenance, managing business services based on demand, and changing processes to reduce costs and improve customer satisfaction.

Final Thoughts

IoT plays a vital role in the future of smart cities, vehicles, appliances, and other day-to-day items. It offers cost-effective solutions with continual technological advancement to ensure businesses, city government, and citizens have the tools for greater access, mobility, career opportunities, education, and more while creating safer connected communities.

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