Page 79 - U4SSC Simple ways to be smart

6 Conclusion

Smart cities are often depicted as futuristic, high-tech spaces that are efficient, clean, beautiful and
good to live in. The problem with this vision is that many cities then conclude that being smart is
beyond their capabilities; it is something that other, bigger, more developed, or better-resourced
cities do, or it is something to aspire to once the city is functioning effectively. The reality is that all
cities are messy and complex with parts that work and parts that don’t. New technologies and new
ways of working create opportunities to improve cities and these opportunities should be used by
all cities, regardless of their size, capabilities, resources, or stage of development. Indeed, cities
that are inefficient and struggling stand to gain the most by becoming smarter.

Becoming smart has also been presented as a massive, costly process that involves special budgets
and dedicated structures, big infrastructure projects and the contracting of large consulting
companies; something accessible to only the most advanced and wealthiest of cities. While cities
do successfully implement special smart project offices and design and implement city-wide
infrastructure projects, this is not the only way to be smart. The smallest cities or communities can
become incrementally smarter by learning about the power of data and information and taking
steps to address their challenges smartly. The most dysfunctional of cities can use smart principles
to improve the ways in which they operate.

This report examined simple ways to be smart that are relatively easy to implement. Informed by
input from over 100 experts, seven features of simple, smart interventions were identified. Such
interventions are (1) relatively low-cost, (2) can achieve results within a year, (3) can be piloted or
started small and scaled up, (4) make use of proven technology, (5) use available skills, (6) have no
complicating factors and (7) are sustainable. Using these criteria cases were identified of simple,
smart interventions that are within the capabilities of most cities.

The cases identified fall into five categories that illustrate the range of benefits that can result from
smart interventions. There are cases that (1) improve city administration, (2) have environmental
benefits, (3) change the role of people in the city, (4) improve the experience of living in the city
and (5) improve the resilience of the city. These five areas of city improvement are discussed in
Chapter 3, but they are not intended to be the only areas in which cities can get smarter. They are
intended rather to illustrate simple ways to be smart and to provoke cities into thinking about how
their specific problems can be addressed in a smart manner.

The smart interventions discussed here include web-based applications and services, traditional
information systems, infrastructure projects and programs for services. They make use of sensors,
public technology platforms, cloud storage and simple feedback devices, but also low-tech
procedures and policies to change the city and how people live in it.

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