A smart city is a technologically advanced urban area that uses different types of electronic methods and sensors to collect specific data. Information gained from that data is used to manage assets, resources and services efficiently; in return, that data is used to improve operations across the city.[1] This includes data collected from citizens, devices, buildings and assets that is processed and analyzed to monitor and manage traffic and transportation systems,[2]power plants, utilities, urban forestry,[3]water supply networks, waste disposal, criminal investigations, information systems, schools, libraries, hospitals, and other community services.[4][5] Smart cities are defined to be smart both in the ways in which their local governments harness technology as well as in how they monitor, analyze, plan, and govern the city. In smart cities, the sharing of data is not limited to the city itself but also includes businesses, citizens and other third parties that can benefit from various uses of that data. Sharing data from different systems and sectors creates opportunities for increased understanding and economic benefits.[6][7]
The smart city concept integrates information and communication technology (ICT), and various physical devices connected to the Internet of things (IOT) network to optimize the efficiency of city operations and services and connect to citizens.[8][9] Smart city technology allows city officials to interact directly with both community and city infrastructure and to monitor what is happening in the city and how the city is evolving. ICT is used to enhance quality, performance and interactivity of urban services, to reduce costs and resource consumption and to increase contact between citizens and government.[10] Smart city applications are developed to manage urban flows and allow for real-time responses.[11] A smart city may therefore be more prepared to respond to challenges than one with a conventional "transactional" relationship with its citizens.[12][13] Yet, the term itself remains unclear in its specifics and therefore, open to many interpretations.[14]Many cities have already adopted some sort of smart city technology.
Smart city initiatives have been criticized as largely driven by unreliable corporations,[15][16] poorly adapted to residents' needs,[17][18] as largely unsuccessful,[citation needed] and as a dangerous move toward totalitarian surveillance.[19]
^Komninos, Nicos (22 August 2013). "What makes cities intelligent?". In Deakin, Mark (ed.). Smart Cities: Governing, Modelling and Analysing the Transition. Taylor and Francis. p. 77. ISBN978-1135124144.
^Department for Business, Innovation and Skills (2013), p. 7 harvp error: no target: CITEREFDepartment_for_Business,_Innovation_and_Skills2013 (help) "As consumers of private goods and services we have been empowered by the Web and, as citizens, we expect the same quality from our public services. In turn, public authorities are seeking to reduce costs and raise performance by adopting similar approaches in the delivery of public services. However, the concept of a Smart City goes way beyond the transactional relationships between citizen and service provider. It is essentially enabling and encouraging the citizen to become a more active and participative member of the community"
^Chan, Karin (3 April 2017). "What Is A 'Smart City'?". Expatriate Lifestyle. Archived from the original on 24 January 2018. Retrieved 23 January 2018.