Connected city: everything you need to know
The digital revolution, with the growing development of connected objects and the integration of artificial intelligence into our daily lives, is revolutionizing the way our urban centers operate, giving birth to the connected city. A connected city is a urban center that uses digital technologies to transform and optimize city life. Thanks to smart infrastructure, hosted in edge data centers such as those set up by UltraEdge across France, these cities are improving the efficiency of public services and the quality of life of their residents. Explore the definition of a connected city, the technologies used, the innovative services offered, and the challenges and opportunities they present.
Definition of the connected city concept
A connected city uses digital technologies to improve the efficiency of urban services, reduce costs and resource consumption, and enhance the life quality of its citizens. Connected cities (or smart cities) rely on advanced communication infrastructures with AI and big data to integrate transportation, energy, and waste management systems, while actively involving citizens through participatory digital platforms.
This concept is at the core of sustainable development, aiming to create resilient and adaptable urban environments. Connected cities also turn their residents into information providers through their use of urban networks and services. In this way, they inform residents in return and empower them to drive a collaborative dynamic of resource conservation and optimization.
Technologies used by the connected city
Internet of Things (IoT)
The Internet of Things (IoT), coupled with smart sensors, is fundamental to a smart city. It enables connected equipment to communicate with each other and collect data in real time. IoT sensors provide information on resources and services, and monitor the urban environment, optimizing elements such as street lighting, traffic management, and energy consumption in buildings.
As a result, infrastructure efficiency is maximized, with ultra-pushed reliability and high responsiveness of services using IoT on a daily basis, sustainably improving the livability of the connected city, while optimizing maintenance costs.
Communication networks
The development of communication networks, including 5G, ensures the fast and reliable connectivity required for smart cities. Today, free Wi-Fi is becoming increasingly widespread in urban areas, facilitating the massive transfer of data between systems and enabling urban services to operate efficiently. This connectivity is essential for the optimization and management of public services in real time. The data collected enables administrators of these connected cities to better meet the expectations of their citizens by using AI tools to make strategic decisions.
AI and Big Data
Artificial intelligence and Big Data play a central role in analyzing the vast amounts of data collected by IoT devices. The advent of edge data centers makes it easier to adapt tools to better understand and improve the services provided by the city. These technologies enable us to anticipate citizens' needs, optimize resources, and make more informed decisions to improve urban services. They are essential for growth and innovation in the development of smart cities.
Utilities in a connected city
New technologies play a fundamental role in the evolution of “traditional” cities into smart cities. The IoT and AI used in smart cities are transforming the presentation and use of services to residents, such as urban transportation, environmental issues, and the construction of more energy-efficient buildings.
Energy management
A smart city relies on the adoption of innovative energy management strategies to meet the growing energy needs of its citizens. Energy management in a smart city is optimized to reduce consumption and improve energy efficiency. It focuses on innovative and systematic energy supply and distribution without compromising consumer demands. The IoT embedded in energy solutions offers smart systems that adjust energy use according to needs, integrating renewable sources to minimize the carbon footprint.
An innovative approach to energy management involves using an energy management system (EMS) to collect data useful for optimizing energy supply, distribution, and consumption, ensuring that smart cities meet energy requirements.
Urban mobility
Urban mobility encompasses a dynamic ecosystem of digital and physical infrastructure engineered to optimize the movement of people and goods. It is being transformed by connected cities through the integration of intelligent transportation systems. This includes connected public transportation, shared bicycles and scooters, and autonomous vehicles, facilitating smooth traffic flow and reducing congestion. However, urban mobility in connected cities is not limited to optimizing urban transportation, but includes optimizing traffic through AI. Cities can now limit traffic congestion, reduce emissions, and build cost-effective transportation networks.
Safety and monitoring
Connected cities inevitably go hand in hand with security. The speed with which the digital revolution has taken over our daily lives is dramatic, with new uses linked to the IoT and AI. Security is enhanced in smart cities by advanced surveillance systems and security sensors. These tools make it possible to monitor public spaces, detect incidents in real time, and improve the response of emergency services.
The challenges and opportunities of connected cities
Privacy and data security
Connected cities involve the mass collection of data, which raises concerns about privacy and data security. Ensuring the protection of citizens' personal information is a major challenge. It is imperative to implement data protection and privacy mechanisms to ensure that this sensitive information is not misused or disclosed to unauthorized third parties. This requires smart cities to use infrastructure such as UltraEdge's Edge data centers to guarantee secure environments and implement robust security protocols and strict regulations.
Digital inclusion
Digital inclusion is crucial to avoiding the digital divide and ensuring that all citizens benefit from smart city innovations. Cities must ensure that technologies are accessible to all, regardless of age, ability or socio-economic status.
It is essential to provide equitable access to connectivity, offering digital skills training and providing services that are accessible to all, regardless of the level of technological expertise of the individuals and administrations involved.
Environment and sustainability
Connected cities must balance economic growth with environmental sustainability. Implementing green solutions and using renewable resources are vital to minimizing environmental impact and ensuring a sustainable future. With the deployment of numerous sensors in connected cities, they contribute to environmental sustainability by enabling monitoring while managing energy consumption, waste production, and emissions. This leads to a reduction in a city's environmental impact and helps combat climate change.
Why is New York a connected city?
Following Hurricane Sandy in 2012, which continued to wreak devastating havoc, the transformation of the American megalopolis into a smart city became a pressing necessity. New York is an emblematic example of a connected city that places people at the city's heart. The city integrates advanced technologies to improve urban management. It uses IoT sensors to optimize traffic, reduce energy consumption and improve public safety, while aiming to ensure system interoperability. Digital initiatives foster citizen engagement, making New York a global leader in smart cities.
In New York, projects related to IoT, AI, Big Data, and machine learning are beyond imagination, making the city more connected than ever and reaching all sectors. Examples include securing hot spots with smart microphones and managing surplus energy that could be redistributed. Continuous data collection and analysis is improving the daily lives of New Yorkers.
Why is Paris a connected city?
Paris has implemented various smart city projects to improve the quality of life for its residents. The city uses AI and Big Data to optimize waste management and reduce CO2 emissions. Paris is also at the forefront of urban mobility, with sustainable transport solutions and an advanced communications infrastructure. To support France's leadership in the development of connected cities, UltraEdge has an extensive network of edge data centers that actively contribute to users' storage, data security, and connectivity needs.
Connected cities represent the future of urban planning, integrating cutting-edge technologies to create more efficient and sustainable urban environments. Although there are many challenges, the opportunities created by smart cities in collaboration with Edge data centers are immense, promising continuous improvement in life quality and urban efficiency.
Connected cities require citizen buy-in and trust to succeed. It is becoming crucial to communicate seamlessly and actively involve citizens in the planning, design, and implementation of initiatives for better accommodation. Drawing inspiration from examples such as New York and Paris, cities around the world can adopt smart strategies for a more connected future.