Can you imagine living in a city without incidents, without pollution, with efficient public transport, where we could manage all the services we need to live well through simple platforms? That and much more is what Digital Cities or Smart Cities are all about.
The origins
The concept of the Smart City began to emerge at the end of the last century. Since then, it has evolved considerably. Initially, it only covered issues related to universal access to the internet and telecommunications. Gradually, it was adapted to the business and academic spheres and used to improve the efficiency of transport, water, energy, etc.
Weiterlesen: Smart cities: towards a much more connected life
A staggering 68% of the world’s population will live in cities by 2050. This shift calls for a new approach to smart green city planning, one that can meet rising energy demands without placing additional strain on financial or environmental resources.
Cities that have already embraced intelligent technologies provide a glimpse of what is possible. Copenhagen has recorded an impressive 75% reduction in emissions since 2005, supported by renewable energy programs and forward-thinking urban policies. Shenzhen offers another compelling example. Its use of artificial intelligence in traffic systems has lowered CO₂ emissions by 20%, and its adoption of smart meters has reduced energy use by 15%, saving more than 1.6 TWh each year.
Weiterlesen: 7 Hidden Smart Green City Planning Tools That Cut Energy Costs (2025)
The world is rapidly stepping into the digital future, and megacities are already struggling to become the most convenient, technologically and environmentally friendly. According to the 2025 Global Innovation Index, published by the World Intellectual Property Organization, cities that implement technologies not for trends, but for the quality of life of their population, took the leading position.
Weiterlesen: The world's most innovative cities have been identified in 2025
Cities are deploying AI agents, digital twins and computer vision to turn fragmented urban infrastructure into intelligent, responsive spaces. Cities worldwide face unprecedented challenges as urban populations surge and infrastructure strains to keep pace.
Operational challenges like traffic congestion and coordinating emergency services are compounded by fragmented data pipelines, siloed local government processes and disparate systems. Technical barriers prevent cities from accessing the comprehensive, real-time insights needed for effective decision-making and city management.
Weiterlesen: Into the Omniverse: How Smart City AI Agents Transform Urban Operations
Cities are the epicenter of economic prosperity and global innovation. Their leadership, in increasingly competitive environments, requires them to be able to attract talent with integrated policies of innovation, sustainability, and governance that create harmonious and resilient living environments. Three rankings can help us understand the new urban roadmap.
The 21st century is moving towards redefining the urban model. Three leading reports - IESE Cities in Motion, Sustainability Magazine Top10 Smart Cities, and IMD Smart City - paint a broad picture for Smart Cities interested in cutting-edge technology, the fight against climate change, and seeking a housing balance that achieves social coexistence between their traditional residents and the talent they need to design their innovation and sustainability hubs.
Weiterlesen: Smart Cities: Urban Landscapes With More Innovation, Sustainability, and Comfort