NP - WD365 - 2021 - 2a - RM (Maggie) Setwaba - 2

Gurda 1
Patricia Gurda
Written Communications
Ms. Marisa Wang
March 18, 2021
Smart Cities: Technology-Driven Communities
A smart city installs sensors to collect data that people and systems use to manage resources and
improve city services (Martinson). For example, a smart city might use technology to reduce energy
consumption and pollution, ease traffic congestion, and attract investment. The goal is to provide a
higher quality of life for citizens.
In the United States, about 80 percent of the population lives in cities, while about 50 percent of
people worldwide live in urban centers (Kaya). Because cities are a major engine of economic
growth, their future matters to businesses of all types. Today, their future looks to be smart.
The concept of the smart city came to public attention in the early 2000s. 1 Since then, cities have
rolled out smart initiatives in three distinct phases. Some cities remain in the first phase, while
others have progressed to the other two (Burns).
Smart cities 1.0 – Technology companies present systems to city planners and developers as
solutions for urban problems. The solutions connect buildings, roads, and devices to increase
efficiency, especially through savings in transportation and energy consumption. Toronto
converted a declining part of the city into a vibrant neighborhood using the smart city 1.0
approach when a local technology company introduced electric shuttle buses to replace private
cars and intelligent traffic lights to regulate the flow of pedestrians, bicycles, and vehicles
(Frankl).
However, these technology-driven innovations omit citizen participation.

1
The Idea of a smart city was introduced in 1974.
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Smart cities 2.0 – In this phase, city planners take the lead to determine how technology can
improve quality of life. For example, the city of Columbus, Ohio, worked with a power company
to create stations for charging electric vehicles. The city’s goal was to create insentivesincentives
for people to buy and use electric cars and shared ride systems.
Smart cities 3.0 – Instead of having technology or city administrators set the agenda for smart
development, the third phase features citizens generating innovations. City managers provide
data collected from sensors and other digital sources, and citizens use the data to spur changes
in quality of life, economic competitiveness, and environmental sustainability.
The third phase of smart cities emphasizes sharing, such as tool-lending libraries for
homeowners, bike-sharing and car-sharing services, and bartering networks for exchanging
expertise.
One example of a third-generation smart city is Amsterdam in the Netherlands. City residents
worked with software developers to create an app called Mobypark. Owners of parking spaces
can now rent them to citizens and visitors. The city uses data generated by the app to track
parking demand and forecast traffic patterns.
Medellín in Colombia has ambitious smart city 3.0 goals. In a program sponsored by city
government, universities, and social organizations, Medellín uses smart technology to exchange
information with its citizens. Goals include reducing inequities and promoting cooperation. The
city provides Internet and Wi-Fi connections so residents can access government, health, and
educational resources. In turn, citizens suggest improvements to basic services, react to
initiatives, and propose ideas and solutions. Once one of the most violent cities in the world,
Medellín has watched its homicide rate drop 80 70 percent since 2007 (Ortiz).
For businesses, one of the benefits of smart cities are smart workplaces. Data-gathering sensors
can communicate with smart devices to make offices more comfortable and conducive to

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productivity. Smart offices are also more secure and efficient for employees, vendors, and
customers.
Because smart cities focus on sustainability, businesses in smart cities also participate in energy
conservation efforts. As a result, they reduce costs and incur the favor of customers, who
increasingly consider a company’s record on environmental and social change in their
purchasing decisions.
As centers of innovation, smart cities attract innovators, members of the creative workforce that
can transform organizations and encourage economic growth. Businesses depend on these
talented employees.
Finally, smart cities are important to business because cities are important to the economy. As
urban centers continue to expand, they can suffer from the strains of additional population
through increased crime, poverty, traffic, and congestion. Smart cities offer an alternate, more
sustainable way to grow and prosper.

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Works Cited
Burns, Scott. Brief History of Smart Cities. 2 March 2020. Website . 1 March 2021.
Frankl, Richard. "City as Network." Urban Planning (2019): 22 - 24. Print .
Kaya, Glen. Fast Facts 2020: Demographics. 5 November 2020. Website. 1 March 2021.
<http://www.mr.cengage.com>.
Martinson, Cheri B. "Three Eras of Smart City Development." Urban Anthropology 15 February 2021: 32.
Print.
Ortiz, Edgar. "Transformations in South American Cities." Municipal Innovations (2020): 14-16. Print.

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Gurda 1

Ms. Marisa Wang

March 18, 2021

Smart Cities: Technology-Driven Communities

higher quality of life for citizens.

others have progressed to the other two (Burns).

efficiency, especially through savings in transportation and energy consumption. Toronto

However, these technology-driven innovations omit citizen participation.

This file created specifically for RM (Maggie) Setwaba

in quality of life, economic competitiveness, and environmental sustainability.

parking demand and forecast traffic patterns.

educational resources. In turn, citizens suggest improvements to basic services, react to

This file created specifically for RM (Maggie) Setwaba

increasingly consider a company’s record on environmental and social change in their

sustainable way to grow and prosper.

This file created specifically for RM (Maggie) Setwaba

Frankl, Richard. "City as Network." Urban Planning (2019): 22 - 24. Print .

This file created specifically for RM (Maggie) Setwaba

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