While the world is still coming to terms with smart homes and offices, the next logical step is for this technology to be used to form smart cities. And while some may think we are years, if not decades, from the rise of smart cities, key technologies and capabilities are already in place.
CBRE’s data centre solutions group pointed out that remote building environmental controls, traffic mapping apps, automated parking systems and several other smart technologies are already up and running in cities across the globe. The problem has been implementing and integrating them to work as one. It was noted that this, and not technology limitations, is the main challenge of smart city development.
According to Nicholas Jeffery, director of CBRE’s data center solutions group, in order for smart cities to be operational, current technological advancements must work together in harmony. Jeffery used the example of a morning commute to highlight this issue.
In London, there are smartphone apps that can chart the most efficient driving route based on real-time traffic data generated by users. Once in central London it is possible to pay the city’s congestion charge electronically before heading to a parking garage which will also have its own app. If all of this was integrated, however, one app could do everything from choosing the best route to locating an open parking space and paying for it.
“The application could tell me, ‘Nicholas, the best car parking space that has space left is not the one you usually go to, please allow me to direct you to another one,” Jeffery detailed. “And when I get to that space, it is already reserved for me. And when I drive in, the camera recognizes my car and it tags me as arriving at 9:15 in the morning. When I leave, it tags me on the way out and bills me.”