Page 75 - U4SSC Simple ways to be smart

5.2 Planning to be smart

Smart city planning needs to be integrated into existing city planning processes and budgets, so
as to be problem-driven and not driven by technology-solutions or vendors. Most cities have some
level of planning already in place. City plans typically anticipate the key challenges in the city and
map out city responses to those. They also include plans for the major functions of the city such
as the provision of energy, waste management, mobility, sanitation, buildings and infrastructure
as well as emergency management. Smart city planning can be incorporated into these city plans.

Smart city planning begins with the diagnosis of city problems. A good way for cities to become
smarter is to start by using the data that they already have, and analyses of this data to better
understand and frame city problems as part of their planning process. Once problems have been
identified, cities need to ask: “How can smart technologies assist us with these?” What is important
is that the problem and the intended benefit need to drive the solution, rather than a specific
technology or vendor.

Cities have been encouraged to make use of models such as the Smart City Wheel to identify
areas in which smart solutions can be applied, but they should be aware that such tools are often
designed to create demand for smart solutions, rather than to address city challenges. Prioritization
of interventions too, should be based on the priorities for cities. So, for example, a city might face
the challenge that many residents struggle to feed themselves. Such a problem is addressed only
indirectly by most smart city models, through initiatives to strengthen the economy, while a city
many need more direct and immediate interventions.

It is not necessary to have or to allocate a separate budget to smart city projects; rather the resources
for those projects can form part of the city’s regular budgeting process. Many smart solutions, such
as the smart lighting case discussed, can actually save money for cities and so can be used to free
up resources.

There is one aspect of planning for smart cities that is different from traditional city planning, and
that is the need for coordination across different city functions. One of the advantages of smart
solutions is the ease of sharing of information across departments. This makes it possible to craft
solutions that address multiple needs at once, such as resident feedback systems to more than one
service area. For this reason, there needs to be good communication between different parts of
the city, sharing of plans and the active search for solutions that can address different challenges
through the same mechanisms. As a city becomes smarter, smart infrastructure will proliferate, often
installed by different agencies, departments or private companies. It is useful if the technologies
employed are compatible so that they can communicate with each other and share information.

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