SMART CITIES PROJECTS TO INSPIRE YOU IN 2020

Introduction

Cities are more committed to smart cities investments than ever. They have been stepping up their investments in technology projects for several years now and the pace of growth is expected to accelerate even more.

Worldwide, cities are expected to boost their smart cities spending by 18.5 percent this year, according to a forecast by Grand View Research. It’s a rate of growth that’s a full percentage point higher than 2019. And spending is predicted to not only grow but to grow at increasing rates through at least 2025.

There are several driving factors. In a world where you can order virtually anything online and have it in a couple of days, old-style city services can feel downright ancient. Swelling populations are also forcing cities to use technology to become more efficient.

And then there’s the issue of keeping up with everyone else. As demonstrated by Amazon’s search for a second headquarters, companies want to be where their talent wants to live. Cities, or even regions, that invest in becoming more livable may end up taking jobs and economic growth from those who don’t.

Cities seem to be concentrating their efforts into several priority areas, according to the IDC Worldwide Smart Cities Guide.

Mobility is one critical area, with cities investing in both intelligent traffic management and advanced public transit. Public safety is always a priority and cities are making substantial investments in fixed video surveillance. Smart grids also continue to generate investment, as do smart streetlights since they can form a foundation for other smart cities initiatives.

Together, these areas accounted for more than half of all smart cities spending in 2019. Over the next few years, connected vehicles, digital twins, and wearable devices for police officers are expected to generate more growth.

While the level of commitment to smart cities initiatives is encouraging, IDC says cities do need to be deliberate in how they design and fund those projects. The lure can be strong of a quick win with shiny technology, but for lasting results, projects should build off each other. One of the single biggest opportunities for improvement before cities is to find ways to make their projects scale — both for the technology and the way they’re funded.

As you look this year and beyond, we have prepared this guide to highlight some enterprising smart cities projects in key areas. These are projects that are delivering results. We hope they can be used to inspire success in your city.