5 Parameters That Define the Success of Smart City Initiative

As the cities from around the world are turning to metropolises, advanced technologies have a crucial role in urban water security and integrated water and resource management.

The Indian government is going big on its smart city project and has named twenty cities that will be developed as smart cities in the first phase of the project.

The ambitious project will integrate multiple technologies including Internet of Things(IoT) solutions to make cities smart and secure enough for people to actually benefit from it. 

The main aim of this mission is to harness technology and facilitate development in order to enhance the quality of life of people residing in the cities and to drive economic growth. This mission will run for a duration of five years (2015-2020) and cover 100 Indian cities. 

While cities such as Singapore are at an advanced stage of smartness, for India to arrive at the starter phase, proper deployment of technologies, the right combination of processes and timely monitoring of relevant metrics have to be ensured. This will also warrant a seamless collaboration of all stakeholders including security agencies and active participation of the actual users that is public. 

The key drivers of success 

1.  Robust broadband networks  
When talking about using IT to improve the services and quality of life, the first step is always the connectivity. You need broadband networks available throughout the city, which are not only accessible by citizens, but are also compatible with all digital appliances. These broadband networks will help improve the quality of life for citizens by facilitating their access to smart city applications such as the municipal services. 

2.  Big Data Analytics  
According to studies, the volume of data in organizations is estimated to grow 50 times every year till 2020. On top of this, the data that is collected by smart devices from public transportation, electricity board, water department, and more must be effectively analyzed for swift results. This huge amount of bulk data is bound to create some strain on the existing technology. This is why Big Data analytics play such a critical role in smart cities. In reality, when you are trying to transform a city into a smart city, managing big data and acting on insights would be vital to for cities to move to the next level. 

3.  Security of Internet of Things  
Sensors that are being used to control traffic, track the garbage trucks, energy management, and to monitor water leaks need to be secured. Internet of Things is what is used to join these sensors or embedded devices. This ensures that they communicate with each other with minimal human intervention. If used proficiently, IoT can be used to deliver citizens the smart access to various public services and facilities. 

4.  e-Services and Applications  
When all the IT infrastructure is in place, the next thing on the list of smart cities is to develop e-Services and web-based applications. By offering e-commerce services for communications, businesses, and entertainment, the government can actually change how citizens work in a smart city. 

5.  Government Data Centers  
Just like RTI, open government data centers can foster efficiency in the public services and also improve government accountability and transparency. By doing this in a smart city, the citizens are encouraged to participate and engage themselves in the planning of their city. 

When all these five parameters work in tandem with each other, the success of the smart city initiative on the IT front is imminent. 

Source: Tech Radar India

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Taxonomy

• Integrated Urban Water Management
• Integrated Water Management
• Urban Water
• Urban Water Supply
• Infrastructure
• Urban Design