What are Smart Cities?

As Internet-of-Things (IoT) technology has gone mainstream, you may have heard of the smart home, but have you heard of the smart city? If not, you may be hearing more about these soon as smart cities using computer vision AI and a large network of information and communications technologies (ICT) are becoming a reality.

In a smart home, networked automation devices like smart thermostats, automated lighting and smartphone-controlled door locks allow homeowners to keep tabs on everything going on in and around the home using computers and smart devices. In a smart city, the same concept applies, just on a massive scale.

Increasing Municipal Efficiency

One of the biggest goals of smart cities is to improve efficiency. When large numbers of people, vehicles, residences, stores and government offices are crammed into tight quarters, trying to keep the gears of a city running smoothly can be difficult. Government agencies tasked with carrying out official duties tend to have a harder time as city populations grow, but the smart cities concept can help.

Think about this: In a traditional city, traffic management is a big job. If roadwork needs to be completed, traffic needs to be diverted and traffic signal operations may need to be changed. In a smart city, computer vision AI can monitor areas where traffic has been diverted to intelligently change traffic signals to create more efficient traffic patterns. This reduces the labor required for city officials and can reduce accidents as well.

Reduced Crime is a Benefit

Smart cities may also be safer due to connected technologies. In a traditional city setting, a gunshot that goes off in the commission of a crime may go undetected by people outside the immediate vicinity of the shot.

In a smart city, audio sensors that are trained to listen for gunshots can immediately detect the sound of the shot and pinpoint its location by measuring the echoes off of nearby structures. Simultaneously, the sensor can send a recording of the shot along with a video of the area and a notification to the nearest available police unit. A faster response time leads to more bad guys behind bars and safer communities for all.

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