According to the United Nations, more than 55 percent of the world’s population now lives in urban areas—and by 2050 that number could jump to 68 percent. With rapid urbanization on the rise, cities around the world face pressure to keep up with the pace of change and meet the growing demand for better, faster, and more efficient services.
Today’s government leaders must respond to these challenges by building smart cities that are innovative, inclusive, accessible, and sustainable. To do that, they’re turning to data-driven intelligence and technology like AI and the Internet of Things (IoT) to transform the way they handle services such as transportation, public safety, municipal activities, operations and public works.
Typically, a city can be recognized as a smart city when it utilizes information and communication technologies to enhance the quality and performance of urban services (such as energy and transportation) so that there’s a reduction in resource consumption, wastage, and overall costs.
Smart City and its AI-Powered-IoT Use Cases
A smart city has lots of use cases for AI-powered IoT-enabled technology, from maintaining a healthier environment to enhancing public transport and safety. Let’s have a look at some of the most popular ones:
Traffic Management
In an efficient smart traffic management system, road-surface sensors and closed-circuit television cameras would send real-time updates about the traffic flow to a central traffic management system. The data feed from the sensors and cameras is analysed, and it would notify the users of congestion and traffic signal malfunctions.
The launch of automated vehicles embedded with sensors can provide both the location and speed of the vehicle; they can directly communicate with the smart traffic lights and prevent congestion. Additionally, using historical data, future traffic could be predicted and used to prevent any possible congestion.
Parking Management
In addition to the road, surface sensors embedded in the ground on parking spots, smart parking solutions can determine whether the parking spots are free or occupied and create a real-time parking map. This would greatly ease the struggle of finding a parking spot, especially during the holiday time in urban areas.
Energy Metering
Smart meters are an application of AI and ML which hold high potential in the energy and utilities field. AI, ML and the Internet of Things (IoT) form a crucial component of the government’s vision of smart cities and smart industrial zones. Cities provide a wealth of information that can be captured using IoT devices in real-time, including energy consumption. Power inputs can be adjusted automatically, leading to important savings, more secure supplies, and fewer outages.
Security Cameras
A surveillance system supported by a robust AI looking for patterns of criminal behaviour is the equivalent to a team of detectives that never sleep analysing all video in real time. AI-enhanced security cameras can be used in schools, malls, public places and businesses to cut the response time whenever action needs to be taken.
Pollution Management
IoT sensors and AI are used to collect and analyse air quality and levels of pollutants and temperature in the city. This data combined with AI can be used to potentially predict where air quality issues are present and are likely to crop up and to ultimately help mitigate the effects with effective preventive measures and decisions.
Waste Management
Smart waste management solutions use sensors placed in waste receptacles to measure fill levels and to notify city collection services when bins are ready to be emptied. Over time, historical data collected by sensors can be used to identify fill patterns, optimize driver routes and schedules, and reduce operational costs.
Smart Tourism
IoT sensors in the form of beacons are placed at the famous tourist spots and strategic locations throughout a city. Complete information about that particular venue or monument is provided to the user on the fly on their mobile devices when they are at that venue or just passing by.
We at AppleTech have successfully developed and deployed a smart city solution in the city of Vadodara, India. We possess the expertise and experience in developing AI & IOT based solutions. Reach out to us today to see your concept transform into reality.
