How AIoT and edge computing are re-engineering urban life
Intelligent traffic lights adapt to real-time driving flow in cities around the world. Predictive safety systems prevent accidents before they occur. And data-rich ecosystems are optimizing everything from power usage to transit infrastructure.
The smart city is here. In this new urban era, a city’s technical infrastructure is becoming every bit as vital as the roads, bridges, and power lines that support it.
Cities are evolving.
With over 70% of the world’s population projected to live in urban areas by 2050, cities face mounting pressure to become more efficient, livable, and resilient. Traditional infrastructure and reactive policies are no longer enough. Instead, cities must become “smarter” — leveraging technology to enhance everything from transportation to energy use, public safety, and citizen engagement.
Weiterlesen: The Smart City Revolution: How IoT Is Redefining Urban Living
The study emphasizes that true intelligence in urban design arises when cities use technology to advance social justice. This means building governance models that include community voices, deploying technologies that consider cultural and socioeconomic diversity, and ensuring that all residents, not just tech-savvy elites, benefit from smart systems.
A growing number of global cities are realizing that technology alone cannot solve the complex challenges of modern urbanization. A new study titled "The Road to Intelligent Cities," published in the journal Smart Cities, argues that the prevailing smart-city paradigm must evolve into a more inclusive, human-centered model of development: the intelligent city. This shift focuses not merely on digital efficiency, but on aligning technology with equity, sustainability, and social inclusion.
Weiterlesen: Smart isn’t enough: Researchers call for human-centric shift in urban development
More than half of the world’s population currently lives in cities and this share is expected to rise to nearly 70% by 2050.
It’s no wonder “smart cities” have become a buzzword in urban planning, politics and tech circles, and even media.
The phrase conjures images of self-driving buses, traffic lights controlled by artificial intelligence (AI) and buildings that manage their own energy use.
Weiterlesen: What is a ‘smart city’ and why should we care? It’s not just a buzzword
Urban spaces are changing quickly as new technologies reshape how people interact with their surroundings. From dynamic traffic systems to responsive public infrastructure, cities are embracing smart features designed to enhance daily life for residents and visitors alike.
But not all innovations live up to the label. The smartest cities aren’t just outfitted with gadgets—they’re built around real-world needs. Five key features go beyond the hype, showing how adaptive infrastructure, citizen input, and data-driven systems can make urban life more connected, efficient, and human-centered.
Weiterlesen: Which Smart City Features Actually Make Cities Smarter