There is no doubt that information and communication (ICT) technologies such as broadband internet, sensor networks, and Internet of Things (IoT) platforms are important building blocks for implementing a government’s smart city vision. But citizens’ acceptance and engagement will determine eventual success or failure of any smart city initiative.
Below is a list or 10 best practices-based recommendations for creating smarter cities — helping (local) governments to initiate, optimize and evaluate smart city initiatives.
Start with a realistic vision on where and how you want to go. There are many drivers and many different definitions of a smart city, and no 2 implementations are the same. Clearly state your urbanism, social, economic, and/or other objectives. Define your budget and plan your project. Resist the temptation to compare brownfield and greenfield reference cities.
Implement your (network) infrastructure “first time right”. Create a broadband IP and IoT infrastructure that is scalable, manageable, and secure by design. Remember that you’re laying the foundation for all government-to-government, government-to-citizen, government-to-business, business-to-citizen, citizen-to-citizen, machine-to-person, and machine-to-machine communication applications.
Embrace open data and open government policies. Public data and information from government and other sources can help solve civic problems and create new business opportunities. Define the rights and privileges associated with collected data. Position data governance as a means to improve value for both data producers and consumers.
Incorporate smart requirements into publicly funded infrastructure programs in areas such as mobility, healthcare, security, lighting, environment, energy, construction, and communications. Concentrate on your key role as a government. Fund or build the ”need to have” infrastructure for your residents, and make sure that the ”nice to have” applications are covered by private initiatives and partnerships.
Launch and support cross domain initiatives, such as smart transportation, smart energy, or smart home programs that leverage across sectors and applications. For example, a holistic approach to urban mobility addressing cars, buses, and trains. Deploy (or adopt) a horizontal platform that enables data sharing, application creation, and device management.
Stimulate ecosystems and cultivate a collaborative culture. Private industry partners such as project developers, utilities companies, service providers, and technology vendors have a key role to play in developing smart cities (startup ecosystems). Governments should boost innovation and collaboration through initiatives like innovation labs, developer contests, and application playgrounds.
Think big, but start small. Unless you’re an autocratic government or have unlimited resources available, don’t try to boil the ocean. Rome (even when it wasn’t a smart city yet) wasn’t built in one day. Start by creating network test beds, deployment blueprints, and application showcases.
Identify appropriate milestones and metrics to measure performance and monitor progress. Define a multicriterion framework, mixing quantitative and qualitative indicators, customized for your city’s specific objectives. Don’t limit your evaluation to technical aspects only, but also consider parameters like digital economic growth, sectoral sensorisation, accessibility of open data, digital service adoption, etc.
Build a city for the people. Community engagement is key. Smart city projects should be inclusive, participatory, and social. Launch digital equality initiatives and organize end-user education, let locals participate in technology and field trials, and get their feedback through frequent surveys and group sessions. And don’t neglect including “happy citizens” in your list of evaluation criteria.
Connect, communicate, and celebrate. Connect with citizens via community portals and social platforms, keep them informed about progress through communication sessions and social media, recognize collective achievements, and celebrate (even small) successes.
Each city is a unique and complex microcosm of infrastructure, humans, and machines, characterized by a continuously evolving flux of opportunities and challenges. A smart city is a city , capable of reinventing itself by setting (and achieving) new standards for the welfare and well-being of its population.
When creating smart cities, technology is king. But a royal monarchy can only exist if has the full support of the people. Broadband internet, sensor networks, and IoT platforms are key components for implementing smart cities. But it’s their citizens’ acceptance and engagement that will eventually determine success or failure of any government initiative.
Further Reading
About the Author
Marc Jadoul (News - Alert) is Market Development Director for the Internet of Things at Nokia. In this role he is evangelizing IoT technologies and applications, and promoting Nokia’s (News 
- Alert) credentials as a powerhouse in an emerging market.
Marc has over 20 years experience in the ICT sector. He has held positions in research & innovation, strategy, marketing and communications, business development, and solutions consulting for fixed and mobile telecom service providers.
Edited by
Peter Bernstein
