You may have or have not heard about Smart Cities, 15 minute cities or C40 cities. Many of the videos proclaim that the smart cities will make cities work better. Others feel that they will be under surveillance at all times. We already have cameras at every traffic light that is monitoring people who race through yellow lights. But a smart city camera system will be able to do much more.
In simple terms, Smart cities are urban areas that leverage advanced technologies to improve the quality of life for their residents, enhance sustainability, and to improve efficiency. While there are many benefits to building smart cities, there are also potential drawbacks. I asked the question, what are the pros and cons of smart cities:
Pros:
Improved efficiency: Smart cities will use data and technology to optimize resource use and reduce waste, resulting in more efficient transportation, energy use, and waste management. (example would be garbage bins that have sensors in them to know when to empty them) Efficient transportation? In the city of Windsor there are many complaints that the city doesn’t service areas that employ hundreds of skilled workers.
Better quality of life: Smart cities can offer residents enhanced services such as faster emergency response times, (I need an explanation for this as in our city we often have Code Black for ambulances because the hospitals have such a long waiting list) optimized traffic flows, and more efficient public transportation. (Again, we do not service the areas of our city that need public transportation now, how can that be efficient)
Increased sustainability: Smart cities leverage technology to reduce energy consumption and greenhouse gas emissions, contributing to a more sustainable future.
Improved public safety: Smart cities use data and technology to monitor and respond to crime, improving public safety and reducing the potential for criminal activity.
Economic growth: Smart cities can attract investment and foster economic growth by creating a favorable environment for businesses, entrepreneurs, and start-ups.
Cons:
Privacy concerns: The collection and use of all of this data in smart cities raises privacy concerns, and it’s important to ensure that the data is handled responsibly and with transparency. Will this information be sold? And to whom?
High cost: Building and implementing the infrastructure required for smart cities can be very expensive, and it’s important to balance the benefits against the cost. With the present economic climate in Canada, the idea that smart cities will be built in the next five years seems dim.
Technology dependency: Smart cities rely on technology, and a failure in the infrastructure or software could lead to disruptions and potentially serious consequences. And not to forget the security of this information from hackers, or who this information is accessible to.
Potential for exclusion: Not all residents may have access to the technology required to fully participate in a smart city, potentially leading to exclusion and widening the digital divide. And this information and technology needs to be protected when used over wi fi connections.
Potential job displacement: Smart cities can result in the automation of jobs, potentially leading to job displacement for some workers or job losses. It’s important to develop strategies to mitigate this impact and ensure a just transition to a more automated economy. As we speak, Walmart has self check out aisles with cameras that are videoing you as you scan products. If they can not trust people to do self check out, they need to reassess having them as more people stop using them due to the invasiveness of the cameras.