Urban Intelligence Rising: Why Smart Cities Are Better Cities

Urban Intelligence Rising: Why Smart Cities Are Better Cities

Smart cities that run on data aren't just more efficient to run. They're also more enjoyable to live in. Since the 1990s, the term "big data" has echoed through industry like the sound of dripping water in a cave. What began as a trickle eventually became a torrent. Now, its true potential is finally becoming clear. And nowhere more so than in cities. Cities around the world are replacing educated guesses with data-based decisions that are better for citizens and for the environment. In the process, they're building an entirely new type of infrastructure that marries bits and bytes with steel and stone. Smart cities that run on data aren't just more efficient to run. They're also more enjoyable to live in. The result is a paradigm shift in the urban experience. Instead of being known for their problems “” cities of the past were criticized for being dense, dangerous and dirty “” cities are becoming esteemed for their solutions: Cities of the future will be lauded as safe, healthy and efficient. In a word, cities are becoming smarter. You've heard the term "smart cities" before. What you might not realize, however, is just how much a city's IQ affects