Technology has always been a critical force deeply intertwined with the evolution of cities. From the first human settlements millennia ago to the industrial revolution to today, technological breakthroughs have impacted the buildings we use, the way we get around, and how we live, work, and play in the urban space. The concept of a smart city has been around for a while now. The advent of the Internet of Things (IoT) ecosystem of connected devices will further fuel the rise of smart city projects around the world. Furthermore, the current developments in IoT trends will prove to be revolutionary for smart city projects. In fact, we can expect the shipment of smart home devices such as safety and security systems, cameras, sensors, smart appliances like coffee makers, washi
ng machines, dryers or any energy equipment, to increase two-fold by the year 2020. Here are our top picks of IoT trends that will change the face of smart city initiatives in the future:
Smart street lights
Energy efficiency is a major concern around the world today. Taking a cue from this, smart city projects are increasingly focusing on new ways to reduce energy consumption. Smart street lighting networks are one of the IoT trends that can serve as a cost-effective entry point to IoT-based city solutions. Smart street lights help cut down costs and are energy efficient because they can be programmed to dim or brighten automatically and cut the risk of crime and traffic accidents. Copenhagen is one of the key examples of a metropolis that has implemented smart street lighting as part of a broader commitment towards smart city solutions.
Electric vehicle infrastructure expansion
Electric vehicles are expected to become mainstream in another few years. One of the major barriers for EVs is the lack of a refueling infrastructure. Some people view electric vehicles as less practical compared to gas-powered vehicles when considering that EV owners might only be able to recharge their car on their own property, provided they have a dedicated outlet installed. However, authorities are looking at providing incentives for residents who own EVs, and some offer incentives to residents and businesses that install EV charging equipment. However, many of the incentive programs focus on charging infrastructure at residential properties and not throughout the greater community.
Fog computing
Fog computing is the combined practice of cloud computing and edge computing. Cloud computing uses remote servers to store, manage, and process data, and edge computing refers to the resources and systems controlled by the end-user. Since smart city projects deal with a large number of connected devices and a large volume of data, there is immense scope for this mechanism. This massive data increase will also prove to be of great economic value to smart city stakeholders.
Expanding the smart grid
The energy saved from efforts such as smart street lighting can be invested in other technologies in the smart city. Smart street lighting provides a grid-based physical infrastructure that can serve as a foundation for delivering a range of other sensor-reliant services, such as vehicle and pedestrian monitoring, traffic light control, smart parking, real-time traffic-information, and waste management.
To know more about how various IoT trends are revolutionizing smart city projects
