Smart City Concept - Essay Example

Whereas a sustainability report by the United Nations (UN) points out that approximately half of humanity, “3.5 billion people,” currently reside in cities (2015), Brauch, et al. identify that majority of these individuals still live in slums (2011). Comparatively, although cities only occupy 2 to 3 percent of the total earth’s surface, they are responsible for about 75 percent of carbon secretions and 80 percent of the total energy consumption (Haftor, Mirijamdotter, & Bradley, 2010). It is thus in this context that, to be livable in the future, cities require efficient urbanization plans with a huge emphasis placed on the concepts of sustainability, smartness, and livability.

Essentially, various factors characterize and define Smart Cities. According to Sanseverino, these factors include smart economy, sustainability, smart mobility, economic development, smart people, high quality of life, and smart governance among others (2014). Thus, these factors are essential for the improvement of the lives of individuals residing in cities. It is worth noting that these factors can be enhanced through the appropriate and effective use of infrastructure, Information Computer Technology (ICT), as well as social capital (Galbraith, 2014). As such, a Smart City creates an environment that not only presents the residents with numerous opportunities to be tapped, but also a broad range of actions and activities as embraced in its voluminous definitions. According to Giffinger, et al., a Smart City can be defined as “an innovative city” which makes use of ICTs and other strategies to increase urban competition, improve efficiency in the services offered and improve the general quality of city life (2007). It is however worth noting that to achieve this, it is important to not only meet the needs of the present generation but also the future generations.

Notably important, six important dimensions are key to the creation of a Smart City. These dimensions can be identified as smart mobility, smart economy, smart people, smart environment, smart governance, and smart living (Saaty, 2013). To illustrate, a smart economy refers to the successful combination of an idea/innovation economy and an enterprise economy to pave way for an efficient environment that will focus on better use of natural resources, and energy, as well as build social cohesion. Equally, smart mobility generally refers to creating a transportation system that enhances environmental, human, and economic resources. As such, a Smart City requires a smart mobility structure that is composed of a convenient, suitable, accessible, fast, and safe mode of travel.

Comparatively, smart people refer to a society that is generally intelligent, modern, and highly exposed (Martin & Christensen, 2013). For that reason, a Smart City is composed of citizens or individuals who possess high physical and intellectual skills, high levels of education and are highly socially integrated, more so in the essence of their human capital. Comparatively, the World Health Organization (WHO) identifies smart living as a life in which individuals have high cultural and uphold traditional values about their concerns, expectations, and goals (qt. in Munier 2007). Therefore, smart living generally refers to a situation whereby individuals gain access to free quality of life and are given many opportunities to thrive. Equally, in brief, smart governance includes the active participation of citizens in political decisions, efficient use of government resources, and the use of electronic platforms to govern and manage resources.

Factually, Dubai is an authentic example of learning the concept of a Smart City. This is basically because Dubai possesses all the factors that make up a Smart City. For instance, due to its efficient economy, the competition level in Dubai is high. This can be further illustrated by the innovative entrepreneurial spirit, high productivity, international involvement, and flexibility in its labor market. Equally, Dubai has a smart mobility system as presented by its efficient, sustainable, safe, and innovative transport systems such as the electric trains and the Emirates Airlines among others. Furthermore, Dubai has a smart governance system since the citizens are involved in the decision-making process that involves public services. Thus, in general, Dubai possesses a multitude of indicators that make it an authentic example of a Smart City.