Creating Smart Cities

Smart Technology cannot exist unless we create smart cities. These smart cities need smart policies. Our citizens and our civic bodies must do away with orthodox thoughts, obsolete unproductive culture and bureaucracy which is becoming huge burden on the states, day by day. Israel under the able leadership of Benjamin Netanyahu did exactly that. Israel reduced bureaucracy, privatized all sectors that were becoming a burden and made way for reforms. Israel created an environment where people had no choice but to innovate. This talent was mentored and guided by able leaders and visionaries. Today the world knows Israel as the land of innovation.

Internet of Things (IoT) will not evolve or even sustain if states across the globe prefer to remain conservative, orthodox and support biased thoughts. The fourth industrial revolution (4IR) could be the most haphazard one and cause existential threat to mankind if this revolution lacks masterminds. The traction that IoT is gaining with technologies like Artificial Intelligence (AI), Machine Learning (ML) and User Behavior Analytics (UBA) is immense. IoT will soon enter industrial automation, transportation, Cyberspace and many other areas where few expected IoT to dominate. Cyber-security, privacy and personal right protection will play a key role in the success of IoT.

IoT will make cities smarter, safer, cleaner, more efficient and above all sustainable. Thus, it is very important for countries that are expected to play a big role in IoT such as Brazil, Canada, China, Germany, India, Israel, Russia and USA to create a modern framework in a digital age. Countries that rapidly adapt to this framework will progress. China under the great leadership of Xi Jinping is one such example. Canada is slowly accepting change and doing its best to create a modern climate neutral country. India needs to fasten the pace at which things are moving. Now with an absolute majority, people have a lot of expectations from the Indian Parliament in New Delhi.

The very emergence of smart cities as a concept presents a new, lucrative market, not only for businesses but also countries that face a declining economy. Technology will provide states, private sector and citizens with the hardware, software and support services for smart cities. These businesses need regulations, frameworks, reforms, riddance from outdated and obsolete bureaucratic procedures and a vision.

Artificial Super Intelligence (ASI) is still a long journey. We, collectively as humans are not even prepared for AI to start with. If we expect change, we need to track governments driving policies, engage the municipalities driving change, get the architects to plan at least 100 years ahead, deploy urban planners to create livable pastures with lots of plantation and wildlife sanctuaries around and create new cities in areas where human race can sustain. At last but not the least is the question of natural resources. Our planet cannot survive for long if a stark reduction in human population through awareness, regulation and governance is not planned. Excessive human numbers on a planet with limited resources is nothing but a huge disaster. This is where technologies like AI, ML and UBA will fail and thus the very concept of smart cities based on IoT will not succeed. A new rational and logical approach is required to ensure that regulation and governance get precedence over orthodoxy and age-old bureaucracy.

Thanks to Pixabay.com for the lovely images!