Imagine a world where everything is connected. All information and communication technologies are integrated into a single, consolidated platform. With the rapid increase in smart city capabilities, this idea may soon become our reality. The smart cities vision is to seamlessly integrate information and communication technologies with the internet of things (IoT) to increase efficiency, reduce costs, and enhance communications between networks. The end goal is to enable cities to leverage their IoT devices to create a more cohesive and connected environment.

Songdo, South Korea has already begun implementing smart city features. Key features include automatic climate control, computerized access, and electronic sensors that enable the city’s so-called “brain” to track and respond to the movement of residents. As for the US, many cities are working diligently to incorporate smart city features. For instance, some cities have installed sensors in their water mains to identify costly and wasteful water leaks, others are conducting computer-based analysis of live video feeds in an effort to aid law enforcement and solve crimes; yet other cities are implementing sophisticated traffic flow and available parking space prediction and management systems.