INSIGHTS
Each city has a distinct personality, so no smart project is alike. “Smart cities in various parts of the world need different approaches and solutions as the issues they face are quite unique,” said Faiyaz Shahpurwala, Senior VP of Advanced Services and Emerging Solutions, Cisco Systems. “Urban areas in developing countries are dealing with massive scale, and, therefore, there is a need for sustainable access and availability to community resources, including basic access to education, health care, energy and utilities. Although developed countries face similar problems, they are more focused on green-energy sources, better education and health care, easier and more productive commutes, and citizen services.”
Worldwide Smart City Projects Reports
Date: 2012/02/23
Source: by a&s International
EMEA
Most European cities have existed for centuries, with city management most
concerned about efficiency. “Europe has more history in smart cities,” Yang
said. “There is more emphasis on the green city to meet citizen needs, improve services and manage traffic. Efficiency and going green are another effort for enterprises; they wish to waste fewer resources and utilize people better.”.jpg)
“The ‘Strategic Energy Technology Plan,' adopted by the EU to support the European energy and climate policies, drives the so-called ‘Smart Cities' initiative, which focuses on ‘models and strategies to progress toward low carbon emissions,'” said Maria Ruiz, Strategic Project Manager, Fire Safety and Security Strategy, Siemens Building Technologies.
.jpg)
At least two smart-grid projects are underway, with the U.K. installing 50 million smart readers in 26 million homes over the next five years. In Italy, national energy provider Enel spent $2.6 billion on SIM cards for smart meters. “All public-sector projects are being constrained,” Gorshkov said.
“But there are programs where people are spending to save. Governments
understand the use of more reliable surveillance systems can reduce manpower and have cost-effective solutions for their guarding and security requirements.”
The Middle East has less demand for public transport, as most citizens drive. Security and infrastructure development are higher priorities. “For Cairo, waste management is a huge issue — rubbish and dead animals are poisoning the city's rivers, while the local garbage collection is at the point of collapse,” said Erika Gorge, Communications Manager, Bosch Security Systems.
The Americas
.jpg)
There is strong demand for smart solutions in the Western hemisphere. “Sao Paulo's latest super traffic jam was 293 kilometers long,” Gorge said. “Intelligent transport systems are urgently needed there.”
While demand is high, governments are strapped for cash. “In the U.S., there was some force with a smart-grid grant earlier this year,” said Cosimo Malesci, VP of Sales and Marketing, Fluidmesh Networks. “But as soon as the grant passed, the money ran out.” .jpg)
Even relatively prosperous nations such as Canada cannot afford completely smart infrastructure. “Vancouver is gradually rolling out water meters, power meters and traffic sensors, but it's not a transformative thing yet,” said Richard Smith, Professor in the School of Communication and Director of the Centre for Policy Research on Science and Technology, Simon Fraser University.
National security is a pressing concern for the U.S., after dealing with terrorist attacks. While the emphasis has been on monitoring, congestion also factors prominently in smart projects.