Microcities to drive adoption of urban tech
Source: Smart Cities World Published: February 5th, 2021
More than 13,000 ‘microcities’ are predicted to drive global urban tech adoption bolstered by new urbanisation concepts, a new study finds.
According to global tech market advisory firm ABI Research’s Smart Urban Concepts – Microcities and Cities-in-a-city application analysis report, current cities are dominated by microcity clusters – dense aggregations of economic and social life.
Concentrated urban zones
Microcity clusters are in and around airports, ports, international rail stations, venues, malls, corporate and university campuses, office parks, and other highly concentrated urban zones.
ABI’s analysis notes while Covid-19 has exposed the vulnerability of dense urban clusters, their role as engines of economic growth will remain unchallenged. This is in spite of categories like shopping malls, which are expected to decline in specific regions due to the accelerated adoption of digital lifestyles, like e-commerce.
“In any case, microcities will remain hotbeds for urban technology innovation,” said Dominique Bonte, VP end markets and verticals at ABI Research.
“Common technologies deployed across all microcity types include smart cameras and biometrics, robotics and automation, digital signage, private wi-fi and 5G networks, and micro-grids.”
These technologies allow specific challenges to be addressed related to people flow management, access and security, overall customer experience, and environmental impact while generating cost savings through maximising operational efficiencies.“In any case, microcities will remain hotbeds for urban technology innovation,” said Dominique Bonte, VP end markets and verticals at ABI Research.
“Common technologies deployed across all microcity types include smart cameras and biometrics, robotics and automation, digital signage, private wi-fi and 5G networks, and micro-grids.”
These technologies allow specific challenges to be addressed related to people flow management, access and security, overall customer experience, and environmental impact while generating cost savings through maximising operational efficiencies.
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