Society is warming to the idea of smart cities, says Capgemini

Source: Tech HQ Published: August 6, 2020

The global smart cities market size is estimated to reach US$252.56 billion by the end of 2025
More than half of city inhabitants believe smart cities will improve the quality of urban services

The phrase ‘smart city’ might conjure images of driverless vehicles rolling our streets, or robotic-powered restaurants – or even more sinister visions of surveillance culture, or overzealous access to citizen data. And while these kinds of visions may one day become a reality of sorts, the fundamental concept of smart cities comprises the use of new technologies and data to improve economic, social, and environmental challenges.

And there are no small few challenges faced by citizens today, from public security to transport, cultural issues, and concerns about sustainability. While better employment opportunities may pull citizens towards urban centers, other factors are driving them away. A report by Capgemini dubbed Street Smart: Putting the Citizen at the Centre of Smart City Initiatives was built on the responses of 10,000 citizens across 10 countries and 300 city officials, and it found that nearly one-third of those citizens were considering leaving their city because of the challenges they faced there.