Digital technologies are making cities more livable, more workable, and more sustainable. The term ‘smart cities’ refers to cities in which the public sector seeks to offer better services with fewer resources, pushing governments to adopt digital technologies to increase efficiency. It’s estimated that by the year 2050, more than 60% of the world’s population will live in cities. As more and more people migrate to urban centres, cities need to undergo smart and sustainable growth. 

“With roughly 3 million people migrating to cities every week and more than half of the world’s population now congregated in these urban centres, these regions will be the first to host an array of digital technologies… that will fundamentally change every aspect of human life” – Dr. Jonathan Reichental, CIO for the City of Palo Alto

 

A bright idea

Light bulbs are the universal symbol for innovation, ideas, and opportunity. The invention of electricity introduced unparalleled opportunities for urban growth and development in the same way that digital technologies are propelling growth today. Digital technologies hold untapped potential to improve efficiency in the world’s largest cities.

 

Am-smart-dam

Amsterdam is growing in every way – the number of people living and working in Amsterdam is on the rise, and tourism is booming. Amsterdam Smart City challenges business, citizens, government, and knowledge institutions to create innovative ideas and sustainable solutions to existing challenges. The result? More than 70 projects are transforming Amsterdam into a global leader on sustainable economic growth, efficient use of natural resources, and quality of life. Initiatives range from mobile apps allowing locals to rent out unused bikes and other modes of transportation, to electronic parking signs that allow drivers to identify available parking spots across the city.  

“By working together smartly and openly sharing knowledge and data, we expand our horizons and are able to come up with new ideas and solutions” – Amsterdam Smart City

 

A Living Lab

When you think of scientific studies, you probably imagine a scientist in a white lab coat and goggles carrying out experiments in a controlled lab environment. You probably don’t picture entire communities as test subjects, but that is becoming increasingly important in studying and optimising cities and urban development. In fact, Amsterdam has become a ‘living lab’, where entire communities act as ‘petri dishes’, testing the feasibility of projects before they scale up elsewhere.

 
Using traffic data collected in real-time, Smart Flow provides drivers live tips on best routes and cheapest places to park. The data is already there; the app just synthesises it and translates it into information that can be used. The premise is actually quite simple, but would not be possible without cross-sectorial collaboration and the adoption of digital technology. The project is currently in its implementation phase and shows promise for preventing traffic jams, improving the city’s accessibility, and reducing noise and urban air pollution.

 

Conclusion

Ranked the 16th smartest city in the world, and 2nd most technology intelligent, Amsterdam is quickly becoming a global leader in digital technologies for urban innovation and development. Amsterdam proves that digital innovation is not just for the private sector; the public sector has much to gain too. As more people flock to urban centres, governments need to make the most out of limited resources. Collaboration across business, government, and the public can generate ideas and innovations to transform cities.

Written by David Hill

---

DISCOVER MORE TOPICS ON DUEDIGITAL.COM

---

 

Why do executives need design skills
to digitally transform their organisation? How Leadership
is Changing in the Digital Age
Are You Up to Date with?
Facebook’s News Feed Algorithm?

The best opportunities in Digital Jobs, Programs and Conferences

Join DueDigital.com

---