Smart Solutions in India: A Step Towards Developing Smart Cities

[Janos Sztojka]

Smart Solutions in India: A Step Towards Developing Smart Cities

Good ideas come in many shapes and sizes, and are designed to improve quality of life. They may involve technology, institutional or managerial reforms, and the involvement of citizens. The choice of solution is only smart if it is right-sized to the challenge it aims to address; bigger isn't necessarily better.

What's The Real Mean of 'Smart City'?

A city can be defined as 'smart' when investments in human and social capital and traditional (transport) and modern (ICT) communication infrastructure fuel sustainable economic development and a high quality of life, with a wise management of natural resources, through participatory action and engagement.

Experts predict the world's urban population will double by 2050 - which means we're adding the equivalent of seven New York Cities to the planet every single year. As our planet becomes more urban, our cities need to get smarter. To handle this large-scale urbanization, we'll need to find new ways to manage complexity, increase efficiency, reduce expenses, and improve quality of life.

With this rapid growth ahead of us, imagine if our cities could talk-if they could give us live status updates on traffic patterns, pollution, parking spaces, water, power and light. Imagine how that kind of information could improve the economic and environmental health of the city for residents, merchants, and visitors. Imagine how it could improve working conditions and productivity for the people who maintain the city.