What are smart cities?
- A ‘smart city’ is an urban region that is highly advanced in terms of overall infrastructure, sustainable real estate, communications and market viability.
- It is a city where information technology is the principal infrastructure and the basis for providing essential services to residents.
- There are many technological platforms involved, including but not limited to automated sensor networks and data centres.
According to the documents released on the Smart Cities website, the core infrastructure in a smart city would include:
— Adequate water supply
— Assured electricity supply
— Sanitation, including solid waste management
— Efficient urban mobility and public transport
— Affordable housing, especially for the poor
— Robust IT connectivity and digitalisation
— Good governance, especially e-Governance and citizen participation
— Sustainable environment
— Safety and security of citizens, particularly women, children and the elderly
— Health and education
