Smart Cities

Smart cities are communities that utilize communication and information technology for the purpose of managing people and resources in highly efficient and sustainable ways.  Today, more than half of the world’s population now lives in urban areas.  This shift from primarily rural areas  to cities or megacities is projected to continue for decades to come, increasing the need for urban reform.  As more and more people continue to cluster into larger urban centers, city planners will be faced with a number of emerging problems, including resource management, business development, education, public safety and so forth.  Additional and less obvious  are the unique challenges associated with city planning and environmental sustainability. 

        
The goal of smart city technology is to leverage the collective intelligence of the city and its major constituents by coordinating community resources and skill sets.  A smart city is comprised of various stakeholders, including but not limited to government, business, education, public safety, healthcare, energy and utilities, religious centers, transportation as well as parks and recreation. 
The word Smart refers to a new generation of integrated hardware, software, and advanced analytics that provide real time information that help decision-makers involved with strategic and operational planning activities.

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