Smart Cities: Connecting Citizens, Services, and Systems

The coordination and control of our urban areas is critical right now, whether you’re talking about small towns or a major metropolis. Smart city technologies provide an ever-expanding tool set to intelligently connect citizens, services, and systems.

What exactly is a smart city? It depends to some extent on where you are and what people need. At their essence, smart cities are about using sensors to gather data, then using intelligent networks to analyze that data, extract insights, and share them with people and organizations.

In some places, that might mean helping drivers find parking. In others, it might mean helping people find potable water. Shorter commutes? Reduced crime? Better access to medical care? Fewer traffic fatalities? Smart cities use technology to make life better, balancing the needs of individuals with the broader social good.

Cities don’t get smart on their own, though. They depend on continued innovation—and continued learning. Check out these AU resources that can help you rethink how to design and connect buildings, cities, and systems:

Getting started

• Rebecca De Cicco gives an overview of smart cities and introduces a few start-ups that are offering smart city services and technologies.

• Scalable interactive maps for smart city systems can be created using InfraWorks. Learn how with Marcos Harano Jr.’s 2019 class, Smart Cities 101.

Going deeper

• BIM has a big role to play in smart cities. Vincent Duloup and Vincent Fredon walk you through their workflow for designing a complex urban project in Bordeaux, France.

• GIS data has a big role to play, too. Learn how to assess environmental impact, analyze data from the field, and improve stakeholder communication with Stephen Brockwell and Richard Horrocks.

• The EQ House shows what’s possible in connected architecture. Learn how the team from Takenaka combined IoT and AI to create a smart structure for living.

Ready for more? Check out learning resources about smart cities and the IoT in architecture at Autodesk University any time.