Page 30 - U4SSC Blockchain for smart sustainable cities

For example, it is possible to have artificial intelligence algorithms analyzing traffic flows and adjust
traffic lights to make traffic flow better. It is also possible to use cellphone data to understand where
bus passengers are waiting and to dynamically increase or decrease the number of buses on a route.

New technologies, like driverless cars, platforms for car sharing, public transport vehicles with larger
capacity and lower environmental impact and the use of drones or small delivery robots in the city
streets all point to the possibility of reconfiguring the city in the future. As individuals find that they
depend far less on private cars, cities should experience reduced traffic and demand for parking and
be able to increase the space allocated for pedestrians in the city. Cities of the future will change to
reflect the adoption of these new smart technologies.

(3) Smart environment

Smart technologies promise long-term improvements on how natural resources are used. Cities are
able to change their power supply to cleaner, renewable sources. Changes in transportation services
and more efficient heating and insulation can also significantly reduce the demand for power, as can
responsive lighting systems. Feedback on usage enables better planning and management of power
supplies. Monitoring levels of pollution has helped cities and communities to develop strategies for
cleaner air, quality water provision and the improved use of natural spaces.

Smart systems can be used to better understand the climate-related risks that cities and communities
face and to put in place mechanisms for dealing with them. The holistic and systemic approaches used
in smart city management sensitize managers to the inter-connectedness of city systems and the need
for multiple systems to function in harmony. In particular, ubiquitous sensors that detect changes in
temperature or in the environment (e.g. pollution-levels or weather changes) can detect hyperlocal
toxicity levels and also warn about natural catastrophes such as fires, floods or earthquakes. Smart
tools and drones can also be used to keep residents informed about what to do in an emergency and
can be used to manage emergency situations more effectively.

(4) Smart people
There is an understanding that a smart city is more likely to thrive when it is populated with smart
people. Smart people are understood to have certain characteristics such as being well educated and
life-long learners, having a cosmopolitan and open-minded approach to life, being flexible and creative
and being engaged in city life. Smart people are more likely to be highly-skilled, entrepreneurial and
to contribute their skills and energy to the city. As part of the regulatory role, several cities reposition
their city-wide ecosystems, allowing greater private sector participation. By transitioning to smart cities,
cities worldwide are providing a conducive environment through supportive policies to encourage
entrepreneurs to innovate and develop ideas relating to advanced smart city solutions to cater to the
needs of the citizens.

Smart city initiatives thus include ways to encourage smarter residents by offering them opportunities
for self-development and growth through technologies designed to teach skills and expose them to
new and different ideas and engagement channels. Such initiatives have the potential to transform
the workforce in a city.

20 U4SSC: Blockchain for smart sustainable cities