Researchers are urging a reset in how smart cities are understood and governed, arguing that urban digital transformation has moved too far toward infrastructure, automation and optimization without enough attention to public value, inclusion and long-term resilience. A new research published in Encyclopedia says the next phase of smart city development will depend less on how many advanced tools cities deploy and more on whether those tools are embedded in systems that protect human well-being, environmental goals and institutional trust.
The study, titled "Human-Centric, Sustainable and Resilient Smart Cities in Industry 5.0", presents a broad conceptual framework for understanding how cities should move beyond earlier technology-led smart city models and instead organize digital transformation around the three core Industry 5.0 values of human-centricity, sustainability and resilience.
Weiterlesen: Tech-driven smart cities must shift to governance-led models
Where sustainability, productivity and efficiency are keywords for businesses and governments, it’s no wonder the concept of a “smart city” is gaining worldwide appeal. The developments aim to create spaces that leverage advanced, interconnected technologies to optimise daily routines, create economic and cultural hubs and raise living standards for all residents of the settlement.
Today, smart cities are no longer flickers in the backdrop of fictional realms. They are settlements in active development across multiple locations globally, as evidenced by the smart city technology market, which projections estimate will grow to over USD 5,000 billion by 2034.
Weiterlesen: The Role of Airports in Smart City Developments
The current automation of governance is an evolution in the long-standing tension between democratic responsiveness and technocratic executive power.
Across the world, city governments are adopting systems that promise to make urban life smarter. Sensors regulate traffic. Algorithms assign police patrols. Software flags welfare applicants. Cameras recognize faces. To advocates, these technologies offer efficiency, safety, and objectivity. To critics, they threaten privacy and freedom. But the political meaning of smart cities is more subtle than either side usually admits. What is at stake is not simply a clash between technology and democracy. It is the evolution of a long-standing tension inside liberal democracy itself: the tension between democratic responsiveness and technocratic executive power.
Urban environments are undergoing a structural transformation driven by data, connectivity, and digital infrastructure. As cities face mounting pressure from population growth, climate constraints, and resource limitations, technology is increasingly being deployed to improve operational efficiency and quality of life. Within this context, Smart Cities have emerged as a strategic framework for integrating digital systems into urban planning and services.
At the core of Smart Cities lies the Internet of Things (IoT), enabling real-time visibility across infrastructure, mobility networks, and public services. By connecting physical assets to digital platforms, cities can optimize operations, reduce costs, and support more responsive governance. However, the implementation of Smart Cities raises complex technical, organizational, and economic questions that extend far beyond sensor deployment.
Weiterlesen: Smart Cities and IoT: Infrastructure, Mobility and Urban Services
The expansion of smart cities and industrial deployments means infrastructure must be built to withstand harsh, evolving environments while maintaining reliable connectivity and power.
The expansion of smart cities and industrial deployments means infrastructure must be built to withstand harsh, evolving environments while maintaining reliable connectivity and power.
Ruggedized Power of Ethernet (PoE) is emerging as a key enabler, designed to support scalable, resilient edge networks across outdoor and distributed systems.
Weiterlesen: Powering Smart Cities: Designing Rugged PoE for Outdoor and Industrial Edge Deployments