The smart city, a trend that has gained traction in recent years, is a city that has digital and IoT technologies integrated within it, where sensors collect data to help manage assets and resources efficiently.
For example, a smart parking application that shows you where the nearest space is, or a smart bus stop that can update a passenger in real time on the bus schedule and distance away.
What could a smart city look like? The smart city of the future could enhance services in areas from public transport, to citizen safety and building management. Examples could include:
The move towards smart cities has the potential to improve the cities that people live in – making them safer, greener, more efficient, and pleasant places to live – while also reducing cities’ running costs and consumption.
In Scotland, interest in the concept is high. For instance, the Scottish Cities Alliance, in pursuit of this aim, brings together the cities of Aberdeen, Dundee, Edinburgh, Glasgow, Inverness, Perth and Stirling, under the banner of its programme ‘Scotland’s 8th City – The Smart City’6.
The research revealed that most citizens of Scotland feel positive about the idea of smart cities, with 83 per cent overall believing that the IoT could enhance the delivery of local council services.
There were some variances in results amongst different demographics groups; in the 18-34-year old bracket, 92 per cent believe the IoT will enhance delivery of local council services, but in the over 55s, only 76 per cent believe it will.
To what extent do you think the Internet of Things could enhance the delivery of local council services?
When it comes living in a smart city, Scottish residents said the biggest benefit would be easier access to public services (e.g. ability to contact council/public services through digital channels like video or online – 56 per cent); followed closely by creating a safer city (e.g. smart CCTV to alert police to a crowd or disturbance, smart street lighting that turns on when needed – 55 per cent); and improved public transport and traffic management (e.g. smart bus stops that call a bus as you arrive, smart traffic lights, smart parking – 51 per cent).
Other benefits included creating a more environmentally friendly/greener city (e.g. reducing energy consumption monitoring air quality – 48 per cent), and attracting new residents or businesses to the city (28 per cent).
Exploring how different demographics responded to this question, creating a safer city was the most cited benefit for over 55s (55 per cent), while easier access to public services was the most cited for 18-34-year olds (63 per cent).
What do you think the biggest benefits of living in a smart city would be?
Looking more closely at the regional findings to these questions, there are some differences of opinion among respondents from the Highlands.
For instance, in the Highlands, people were more likely to say that the IoT wouldn’t enhance the delivery of local government services (23 per cent), and more respondents than the average (17 per cent) were likely to say that they don’t see any benefits of living in a smart city.
To understand why, it is important to consider the complexities of the Highlands region which may result in slightly more negative perceptions of what technology can offer.
Broadly, the Highlands consists of some larger conurbations such as Inverness, some smaller towns such as Wick, and several remote communities spread across challenging terrain.
There is currently a low level of connectivity outside of places like Inverness, and in some places, residents struggle to even get 2G network reception – so the idea of a smart city may seem like a remote possibility.
The result is that expectations around digital technologies and the IoT are lower than elsewhere, so for councils in the Highlands and similar areas, enabling connected technology and the IoT will require infrastructure that reaches all corners of Scotland.
These findings underline the need for further education around the potential of greater digitisation in public services in this region – helping residents to see what’s possible.
Moreover, the success of a smart city will depend on having an IT infrastructure in place that can offer the required level of connectivity.
A new project will bring gigabit-capable services to 152 sites in the Highlands by March 2021. As part of Capita’s Scotland-wide SWAN programme, the project will bring transformational gigabit-speed services to schools, libraries, offices, hospitals, and university campuses.
The sites across Inverness, Fort William, Thurso and Wick will be connected to a newly built full fibre network.
This project is the result of a collaboration between the Highland Council, Highlands and Islands Enterprise, Scottish Natural Heritage, NHS Highland, the University of the Highlands and Islands (UHI), and the Department of Digital Culture Media and Sport (DCMS).
These Scottish public sector organisations have given Capita the role of delivering these gigabit-capable services, with CityFibre set to construct the fibre network connecting the sites.
Full fibre provides the infrastructure required to develop new digital services and smart city applications such as smart traffic controls and HD CCTV.
Improved connectivity will transform the provision and access of public services, while also accelerating investment in the region by future-proofing its digital capabilities.
Drew Hendry MP, SNP, Inverness, Nairn, Badenoch and Strathspey, said, “The potential for Inverness and the wider Highlands really is enormous through improved productivity, inward investment and innovation.
Instead of following, we will be at the forefront of the digital opportunities and that is certainly cause for celebration.”
Leader of The Highland Council Councillor Margaret Davidson commented, “This is the first step in what will make the Highlands one of the best-connected regions in the UK.
This will ultimately draw millions of pounds of investment to local communities and benefit both businesses and the wider population.”
One key facet of a smart city is the availability of free public Wi-Fi. In recent years, public Wi-Fi has grown to be more of an expectation amongst citizens and visitors, a fact borne out by the research findings.
When asked if they agreed with the statement that “Scottish councils/local government should provide free Wi-Fi/internet access to all citizens in public areas”, 74 percent of respondents agreed.
Many of Scotland’s larger cities, such as Glasgow and Aberdeen, already offer public Wi-Fi; Edinburgh is even considered the UK’s largest Gigabit City7, thanks to its ultra-fast fibre optic infrastructure.
How far do you agree or disagree with the following statement: "Scottish councils/local government should provide free Wi-Fi/internet access to all citizens in public areas?"
Other, smaller towns have had a slower journey, but are now making great strides as the underlying infrastructure to enable connectivity is extended throughout Scotland.
For example, Greenock, a town with a population of 45,000, has become one of Scotland’s first ‘smart towns’8, after investment from Inverclyde Council.
With the aim of delivering a leading-edge, secure wireless solution to offer free public Wi-Fi throughout the town.
One of the core aims of the programme in Greenock, given by Depute Council Leader and Chair of the Greenock Regeneration Forum Councillor Jim Clocherty, is, “…[to] deliver a digital step-change for the town centre to support other projects including the expansion of Greenock Ocean Terminal and the regeneration of West Blackhall Street.”
In fact, the role of free public Wi-Fi in regeneration efforts can’t be underestimated and has been recognised in other renewal efforts.
In West Dunbartonshire, for instance, a large programme of urban regeneration is under way, and free Wi-Fi – enabled by new fibre infrastructure in old industrial areas of the town – is felt to be central to supporting redevelopment, and attracting businesses and residents to the area9.