The 7 smartest cities in the world


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Smart tech is very popular these days. It seems to have become critical for all of our devices to have a Wi-Fi connection along with a number of other technological capabilities. But what if you applied that concept to an entire city? Enter Smart Cities, the next step in technological innovation on a grand scale.

Cities in the real world are taking a step towards becoming smart, but which cities are considered the smartest right now?

1. Hong Kong

Hong Kong landscape photo

Hong Kong has been making smart developments for a number of years. In 2017 the city released a blueprint that should be used to gradually make the city smarter. This draft comprised 76 different initiatives, including “Smart Mobility”, “Smart Living”, “Smart Environment”, “Smart People”, “Smart Government” and “Smart Economy”. These initiatives aim to create a more sustainable, well-connected city that is generally more comfortable to live in.

A particularly technology-oriented component of this blueprint is the “Smart Living” initiative, which aims to provide the population with free WiFi in all areas and to promote digital payment methods, for example using smartphones via NFC. Improved health care and support for the elderly and disabled is also a goal.

There is also the “Smart Mobility” initiative, which focuses on an “intelligent” traffic system with an all-in-one app called “HKeMobility”. This app can be used to find hiking trails in all areas of the city. In addition, this initiative includes the installation of 1,200 traffic detectors that provide real-time traffic information around the clock. All in all, it looks like this city is going to get hyper efficient in the next decade or so.

2. Oslo

Oslo pictured at night

The Norwegian capital Oslo is not considered a big city like New York or Hong Kong, but it is still developing its intelligent skills. One of the main goals here is to improve the lives of civilians by making the city more sustainable and connected.

A key technology to achieve this goal is the Internet of Things (IoT). These are devices or other items equipped with software, sensors, and other technological features that form a network with other devices in order to communicate (usually through an internet connection). This technology is a popular choice in smart cities and is used in Oslo to manage key areas of the city such as waste management, urban mobility and water management.

Other areas are also being developed in Oslo. Electric buses, industrial development and emission-free construction sites are also in focus.

3. London

London sidewalk photo

England’s capital, London, is the busiest in all of the UK, so it’s no surprise it is getting smarter and smarter. There are several projects linked to this move towards smart, including Talk London, an online community that enables Londoners to have a say on various city-related plans and guidelines.

Related: Smart Glasses: What went wrong the first time and are we ready now?

In addition, the Connected London project aims to improve digital connectivity across the city. Part of this project includes working on the Connected London Full Fiber Network, which will provide 400 km of interconnected underground tunnels, 500 km of roads and 80,000 street furniture.

In addition, the city’s Connectivity Map can now be used to see which areas of London have the best and worst broadband coverage. An ongoing focus on sustainable energy, low-carbon accelerators and the implementation of electric vehicles is also moving the city further towards a smart future.

4. Dubai

Dubai pictured at night

Dubai’s incredibly rapid development over the past few decades has been nothing short of amazing. Now the city is being led into the smart age. Some smart services have already been launched, including the Smart Nol card, which allows civilians to use public transport via NFC payment.

The city has also launched the DubaiNow app, which civilians can use to pay for public services such as healthcare, education, housing and transportation. Dubai’s smart car rental service has also been implemented, which allows individuals to rent private vehicles using two different smartphone apps: Udrive and Ekar.

Another major Dubai project is its Autonomous Transportation Strategy. 25% of urban traffic will be automated by 2030. One can only wonder what that will look like!

5. Amsterdam

amsterdam river picture

Amsterdam is known for its rich history and culture, and now it is also known for its intelligent skills. This is open source city data that anyone can access at any time and add relevant data if they wish. This transparent system is great for educating and informing the civilian population about the specifics of the city.

In addition, Amsterdam and the Netherlands together have the fastest internet speeds in the entire European Union. This ensures super fast connectivity and helps with certain areas of the Amsterdam Smart City Initiative (ASC). The ASC began in 2009 and includes a long list of different projects that focus on improving the city as a whole, including cleaning rivers, managing the road network, and improving the lives of residents.

Hopefully this improved quality of life will be provided by the city’s Wyzer app. The app allows civilians to explore the city’s more bohemian avenues while discovering the “hidden gems” highlighted by the app. The launch of the Amsterdam Social Glass project also enables the collection of real-time city data analysis and forecasting, which provides vital insights into the attitudes and circumstances of the public. Pretty revealing thing!

6. Barcelona

Barcelona city landscape photo

The vibrant Spanish city of Barcelona is known for incredible food and even more incredible views. But who would have thought that this historic city would produce smart innovations? Get ready to see Barcelona in a much more modern light. Indeed, it was the first European city to introduce intelligent technologies.

Related: The Best Smart Kitchen Gadgets for Every Home

Like Oslo, Barcelona uses the IoT for technological developments, especially in the field of waste management. IoT is implemented, for example, in urban garbage cans, which can inform the respective party about how much garbage has been given out at a given time. Other installations such as smart street lights, early warning systems for natural disasters and smart parcel lockers are also being rolled out across the city.

Other green technologies are also being implemented across the city, including air quality monitors, car sharing services, and systems for monitoring home energy use. There will even be behavioral tracking of water usage. Pretty futuristic stuff.

7. New York

New York skyline photo

Yes, as you’d expect, one of the world’s best-known cities is taking steps towards smarter innovation. The integration of smart lighting, smart water meters and smart waste management is quickly making this city one of the smartest in the world. For example, a smart trash can called BigBelly is equipped with a trash compactor and a wireless sensor that tracks how much trash is disposed of per trash can.

In addition, given the current air pollution issues, the city is focusing on monitoring air quality. Other environmental initiatives have also been launched, including the Clean Neighborhoods Challenge and renewable energy projects that enable the city to use greener fuels.

Singapore: Honorable Mention

Singapore night photo

While Singapore is technically not a city, it is one of the most technologically advanced places in the world. The Smart Mobility 2020 initiative focuses on the development of an intelligent transport system. This is paired with the Travel Smart program, which aims to more efficiently distribute traffic density and peak demand on Singapore’s rail network by encouraging citizens to think more carefully about when and how to travel.

Singapore also launched the Smart Nation app, which residents can use to order self-driving vehicle services, receive air quality and temperature warnings, and report community issues. Power to the people!

One day, every city could be intelligent in its own way

With smart technologies becoming more prevalent in locations around the world, there is no doubt that more and more governments will choose to take smart initiatives and improve their sustainability, connectivity and the lives of citizens. What an exciting thought is that!


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