"Smart Cities": Will Innovation Ensure Better Life Standard?
Smart Cities - what is it actually?
Basically, ´Smart Cities´ is a concept that builds on digital, information and communication technologies in order to improve quality of life in towns. It harnesses new, advanced technology "resources", contributing to improvement of our environment. Nowadays it is a commonly used expression, because we all certainly want to maintain the beauty of our planet.
The United Nations organisation predicts that by 2050 almost 70% of world population will live in urban environment which will have stable and sustainable public services and security. Smart cities will thus have to be fully prepared to fulfil this reality. Smart Cities in themselves encompass areas such as infrastructure, economy, environment or housing.
The Czech capital faces new challenges
Before 2030, the citizens of Prague should feel a marked change as regards transport mobility. This should include luxury self-driving cars and electric cars plus the charging infrastructure. Shared transportation services should offer bikes of electric scooters for hire.
In future, your smartphone application will show you which underground carriage has empty seats. Modern technologies will offer visitors attractions around the whole of Prague and a universal tourist card will facilitate movement around the city and access to main attractions. The green roof project on Prague buildings may help in the struggle against the so-called heat islands, which are, simply put, concrete surfaces heated by strong sun rays. It is green roofs which can significantly reduce this effect.
Barcelona, Stockholm, Amsterdam: it already works there
Here we can mention for example Barcelona. This city applies smart approach in respect of its greenery, namely its parks. An incredible share of 68% of public-park areas are closely monitored and subsequently supplied by water. Savings are achieved effectively and that is always worthwhile.
Amsterdam deals with the problem of pollution by installing “tree WiFi” facilities, which also create a network of free WiFi, if the levels of air pollution are low. The WiFi device is attached to the tree and contains sensors, which measure levels of air pollution created by combustion processes within a 100-metre radius.
Stockholm´s transport infrastructure is its pride. The city complex public transport network consists of ferries, high-speed trains, up to 2,000 city buses, 1,000 local trains and trolleybuses (most of them using green energy). Public transportation vehicles use fuel manufactured from two sewage treatment plants. It invests a lot of resources into self-driven buses.
Isn´t it a dream?
