Five Trends Driving the Future of Smart

Based in Maryland, Emily Buttorff is a senior business executive who draws on over a decade of experience in the wireless technology industry. Currently, Emily Buttorff is the vice president of strategy and program development at Vivacity Networks, which focuses on developing services and networks to create smarter cities.

Smart cities are characterized by the use of the Internet of things (IoT), information and communication technologies, and mass data analysis to improve life and address urbanization challenges. Here are a few trends driving smart cities in 2021 and beyond:

Widespread Adoption of 5G

The adoption of 5G is expanding across industries, and its superior speed, connectivity, and reliability facilitate seamless communication between the tech-based frameworks behind cities’ infrastructure. Its potential applies to areas ranging from manufacturing and the supply chain to public transportation and traffic control, as well as projects that involve integrating parking sensors, traffic lights, and other systems into one automated network.

AI Opens New Possibilities for Public Services

Innovations in machine learning and other forms of artificial intelligence (AI) have created new possibilities for public services, such as parking automation and automated fare collection. AI developments have helped to advance solutions reliant on efficient data gathering and analysis. Moreover, they have fostered improvements to AI platforms, such as virtual assistants that help citizens to navigate and engage with local services.

An Emphasis on Sustainability

As the consequences of climate change mount, smart cities are prioritizing sustainability, clean technology, and green power. This includes investments in LED-powered street lighting, rooftop solar panels, and automation.

Increased Demand for Data Privacy

Heightened digitization and data flow have led to elevated vulnerabilities and a need for cybersecurity safeguards, particularly as applications grow in complexity. Additionally, more citizens are expressing privacy concerns due to the real-time monitoring systems that AI technologies use.

Growth in Contactless Technologies

The COVID-19 pandemic has sparked a renewed emphasis on safety and health in shared and public spaces. As result, many cities are pursuing safety enhancement and health-oriented initiatives, such as contactless technologies and methods to close communication gaps among emergency responders, dispatchers, police, medics, and 9-11 callers.