Today, cities are leveraging artificial intelligence, the internet of things (IoT), and 5G technology, leading the cities to become more connected and smarter. As more cities use these technologies, they more able to lower traffic congestion, enhance public safety and safeguard the environment. As cities make use of IoT devices such as connected sensors, lights, and meters, they generate more data that will be helpful in improving infrastructure, public utilities and services, and more by assessing that data.

IoT devices like smart street lamps can save energy by tracking pedestrian volumes, while sensors on roads and bridges supervise vibration and humidity for damage. In a recent report from Daintree Networks, around 60 percent of building managers in the United States are familiar with the IoT. Conversely, 43 percent consider this technology would shape how they operate their buildings in the next two to three years.

As cities are turning to IoT technologies to ease the burden and drive economic growth, one area with massive potential for improvement is in lighting. Reportedly, most building managers could switch to LED bulbs in order to save money and energy.

Smart Cities Using IoT Solutions

Today, the internet of things is assisting to enhance the transformation of municipalities into smart cities with its enormous potential. It delivers optimistic outcomes such as enhanced traffic management, improved safety, reduced levels of pollution, low energy consumption, and better quality of life for people.

Applications of IoT encompasses a large number of areas, such as street and traffic lights, transportation, parking, infrastructure and maintenance, air quality, waste management, energy usage and distribution, traffic flow, architecture, and more.

In the US city of South Bend, Indiana, for instance, IoT sensors in the sewer system monitor water levels and redirect wastewater. According to Indiana University, the system has prevented at least 3.8 billion litres of raw sewage from entering the river each year.

Moreover, London earlier this year announced that it would begin tests on a smart parking project to enable quickly locate parking spaces and remove the need for lengthy searches for an open spot. As a result, this smart parking would lessen urban traffic congestion. In an effort to move towards the smart city, this capital city of England also plans to test electric car and bike-sharing programs.

Meanwhile, Copenhagen makes use of sensors to monitor the city’s bike traffic in real-time that provides actionable data on improving bike routes in the city, as over 40 percent of the city’s residents commute by bike each day.

In the race to become a smart city, New York City also piloted a connected car program in 2015, with the aim of learning where drivers make frequent hard brakes or sharp turns due to traffic. Officials could then leverage the data to enhance road conditions and alleviate traffic. Fountain View, CA also deployed the FlexNet communication system, iPERL residential and OMNI commercial meters to save water, reducing water usage by 23 percent.

There is a myriad of applications enabling city leaders to make their cities smarter and more efficient for inhabitants. It will also be interesting to see how cities can benefit extremely from the use of IoT as the potential of smart cities is nearly immeasurable, and should only expedite in years to come.