Smart Cities: The future of urban life

Through Information and Communication Technologies (ICT), cities around the world are transforming, combining sustainability with technology. This process gives rise to the so-called smart cities, intelligent urban centers that use data, technology, and innovation to improve the quality of life of their inhabitants, optimize resources, and face the environmental and social challenges of the 21st century.

But what are Smart Cities?

These sustainable and intelligent cities, which we call Smart Cities, are like a virtual and efficient reconstruction of a city, with development based on information and communication technologies. They aim to support the public and private administration of cities, as well as meet the needs of citizens and institutions.

Smart Cities can:

• Optimize the use of financial resources;

• Improve urban transport networks, water supply, and waste management;

• Ensure safe public spaces;

• Monitor air quality and control pollution;

• Promote the conscious and efficient use of energy;

• Improve urban planning and reinforce environmental sustainability;

• Integrate technologies in the health and education sectors;

• Strengthen the relationship with citizens, promoting civic participation;

• Protect the environment with innovative solutions;

• Reduce traffic and improve urban mobility through intelligent transport systems.

The main Smart Cities in Portugal include Aveiro, Penela, Águeda, Viseu, Leiria, and Torres Vedras, where there is a strong focus on 5G, promoting electric vehicles, developing technologies applied to tourism, and applications for citizen interaction.

Elsewhere in the world, cities such as:

• Amsterdam, which since 2009 has promoted the Amsterdam Smart City project, developing new technologies to reduce pollutant gas emissions and excessive energy consumption.

• Copenhagen, which created an information-sharing system to improve community life and has heavily invested in education, housing, and public transport.

• Curitiba, in Brazil, a remarkable example of efficient urban planning, focusing on sustainable mobility and quality of life.

• New York, which in 2017 was considered the smartest city in the world, standing out for creating a public telephone system with free internet access for all residents.

• San Francisco, in the United States, one of the cities with the highest number of sustainable buildings and environmental certifications.

• Singapore, which heavily invests in technology to monitor infractions in real time, as well as applying smart solutions in mobility, housing, and urban management.

• Tokyo, with advanced energy management systems that reduce waste and various sustainable initiatives applied to the urban space.

In short, Smart Cities represent not only the future of technology and the environment but also the hope for a fairer and more sustainable urban model. By meeting the needs of the population, protecting the environment, and promoting the conscious use of ICT, these cities demonstrate that the integration of technology, environmental policies, and social development can transform urban centers into smarter, more efficient, and more humane spaces.

Image: Sasin Paraksa (Getty Images, Reproduction)