Despite a lack of central government direction, disparate smart city projects are delivering rich successes and finding ways to stay connected
There’s no official definition of a smart city, according to research by the Houses of Parliament published in late 2021, with projects falling under this umbrella term implemented by a variety of organisations, with varying motives. These include local authorities, utility companies, transport operators and universities, all of which can deploy smart city projects of varying scope in towns and cities across the nation.
Weiterlesen: Patching together the UK’s fragmented smart city landscape
Residents in the London Borough of Westminster are to be offered a digital card to access a range of local services, marking one of the first multiservice digital cards to be rolled out by a local authority, it was announced today.
The card, which is used in conjunction with the new MyWestminster portal, can be downloaded to both Apple Wallet and Google Pay. It will enable residents to seamlessly access services run by Westminster City Council without needing to remember a physical card or repeatedly prove eligibility.
Why have Whitehall’s digital transformation plans created a huge white elephant? The end result? Thousands of government jobs, but precious little else.
One of the National Data Strategy’s missions is to improve the UK Government’s use of data and so drive efficiency and upgrade public services. A positive message. But to do that, Whitehall needs to retain public trust. So noted Lord Clement-Jones, Chair of a Westminster eForum this week on digital transformation in government.
Weiterlesen: Why has UK Government digital transformation just created a giant bureaucracy?
A new smart bin scheme in South Tyneside will utilise sensor technologies to improve rubbish collection while simultaneously reducing the carbon footprint of waste collection. What challenges does current city infrastructure face, what will the new scheme do, and how does this demonstrate the power of smart technologies?
What challenges does city infrastructure currently face?
For most, it is easy to be oblivious to the infrastructure and organisation that goes into keeping society running, whether it is sewers, electricity, trains, and garbage collection. Of course, the moment any piece of critical infrastructure fails, almost everyone takes notice. Keeping society free from litter is one of these essential tasks, and maintaining clean streets is a function of the funds available to street cleaners and the attitudes held by the local population.
If city-wide adoption of technologies that incorporate artificial intelligence and machine learning is to live up to its promise, users will have to be convinced that their personal information won’t be compromised.
A ‘smart city’ is a connected, reflexive and adaptable jurisdiction that can prepare for and respond to citizens’ needs rapidly and precisely. It doesn’t even have to be a city as such; we might also call it ‘joined-up local government’. With so many opportunities to improve city and local government services, smart cities will continue to grow and be embraced across the United Kingdom.
Weiterlesen: GB: Smart city benefits will rely on public confidence