Page 46 - U4SSC Simple ways to be smart

Keys to success

Support from the urban local bodies and contractors, recognising the importance of sanitation, was
a major factor in making it a success. Site supervisors are important in ensuring that the system is
working and to improve the rate of use, as well as to respond to negative feedback. City officials
need to check the dashboard, analyse the data, investigate and respond to recurring problems.

The need to be ranked as a city with a good Swacch Survekshan score, helps maintain the momentum
to collect resident’s feedback. The first Swacch Survekshan survey was undertaken in 2016 and
covered 73, mostly larger, cities. By 2019 the survey had grown to cover 4237 cities. It is said to be
the largest cleanliness survey in the world.

Different funding models exist with some cities contracting to have the devices included in a service
contract, rather than paying for the devices outright. This allows cities to adopt approaches that
work for them. Costs can also be adjusted based on the functionality of the system.

3.4 Experiences of the city

Thus far, the report has considered the provision of city administration services, environmental
concerns, and the relationship the city has with the people in it. A key aspect of smart cities is the
experience that people have on a day-to-day basis of living in the city. Many smart interventions
have a direct impact on this day-to-day experience. The experience of the city includes where
people live as well as the spaces in which they work, socialise, seek out services, and spend their
leisure time. A key aspect of the experience of the city is how people move about in the city,
including their experiences of walking and using transport. This section delves into simple, smart
interventions that can improve these experiences.

The city influences housing provision through planning and building regulations. These are mostly
long-term initiatives and so are not considered in this publication as they don’t meet our criteria
for being simple. Likewise, the spaces that people occupy for business, social activities, and leisure
activities are planned for in the longer term. There are simple interventions that cities can make to
improve existing infrastructure. For example, cities are increasing the use of their parks and green
spaces through maintenance, improved lighting and the provision of exercise and play equipment.
When it comes to transport, major changes such as the provision of different transport modes, also
require long-term planning. However, there are also simple interventions that can be used to make
incremental improvements.

34 U4SSC: Simple ways to be smart