Let's Talk about Smart City
The world’s cities are getting smarter, but what is a smart city? In a nutshell, a smart city can be described as an urban development that provides for the needs of the present population while also continuing development on infrastructure which can meet the needs of future generations sustainably.
How Smart Cities Function
At their core, smart cities are a complex web of connections and interactions between IoT (Internet of Things) devices. The network is akin to the body’s nervous system, with signals traveling to the various components that allow the city to react to the demands of its citizens.
The underlying infrastructure is essential, but data is the real source of a smart city’s ability to respond efficiently to the needs of its populace. In general, a smart city will use:
Data collection using smart sensors covering the city.
Data analysis to understand the demands put on the city’s infrastructure and track the daily activity of the population.
Communication between decision-makers to develop solutions based on the conclusions drawn from the data analysis.
Implementing new infrastructure and optimizing existing infrastructure based on insights pulled from the data.
While the government plays a significant role in developing a smarter city, resources provided by smart oriented technology companies are also integral to its success.
What is a Smart Oriented Technology Company?
Smart energy and smart technology are the cornerstones of creating a smart city. So, a smart oriented technology company is one that utilizes technologies to create sustainable, more efficient cities. Examples of smart technologies include smart metering, wireless sensor networks, and artificial intelligence.
Smart technology-based industries are involved with developing technology-based solutions to create smarter cities, including:
Collecting real-time data to analyze the movement of traffic, crowds, and the usage patterns of different areas of the city, such as malls and parking spaces.
Technology that is environmentally and economically sustainable.
Technology that adapts to the demand of the city’s populace, such as smart parking systems.
Smarter Parking and its Role in Creating a Smarter City
A significant problem facing every city in the world is the increasing amount of traffic flowing into and out of the city every day. In a typical crowded city, a great deal of time goes into finding a suitable parking space, and the process of entering the parking facility.
ALPR (Automatic License Plate Recognition) is one example of smart technology making its way into smart cities. Using ALPR in conjunction with a cloud-based management system, intelligent parking systems automatically recognize an authorized vehicle and allow it entry into a parking lot.
Queues during the lots busiest times are reduced or prevented, as no physical access or monitoring is required. Typically, the use of key cards or key fobs adds 30 seconds to the arrival before a vehicle can pass through, while ALPR can do the same thing automatically in as little as one second.
Freely Technology are a smart oriented technology company creating more intelligent parking solutions for increased production, efficiency, and improved customer experience. If you want to get involved in helping create smarter parking solutions, you can find out more on their website at freely.io.