Many cities around the world are changing their cities from ordinary traditional cities to smart cities, which aim to provide an environmentally friendly digital environment that stimulates creativity and learning that contributes to building a sustainable environment that promotes a sense of happiness and health.
Smart cities are also known as digital cities or eco-cities, as their goals vary according to what those responsible for their development choose.
Smart Cities and Communications
Smart cities rely mainly on information and communication technology infrastructure, and the most important characteristic of these cities is their interest and focus on people. It is the centerpiece of this new civilization, as these cities can respond to changing economic, cultural and social conditions unlike traditional cities. Although smart cities and their purposes are different, they all share three main features: ICT infrastructure, the carefully defined integrated administrative framework for smart cities, and that users have the required technical skills, which allow them to deal with smart services and make the greatest possible benefit from them.
Models of smart cities in the world
Barcelona, Spain, is one of the first major cities to become a smart city. The successful and innovative use of smart technology systems has contributed to a significant saving in energy use and a reduction in carbon dioxide emissions; To confirm that economic and tourism success can only be achieved with a clean environment. Indeed, at the time when smart systems were used in the city, the economy, industry and tourism flourished, which led to an improvement in the quality of life. Especially the conditions of the elderly, as there are many smart tools that help them communicate with their children and doctors and remind them of medication appointments, and this is indeed the meaning of sustainability. Cisco Systems, the company that transformed Barcelona into a smart city, confirmed that it targeted 12 different areas in the city, which are managed by 22 major programs. The Danish city of Copenhagen aims to improve the lives of citizens. They have the tools that help them report any problem anywhere to the authorities. These tools contribute to making traffic flow more smoothly, and keep drivers informed of vacant parking spaces and heading directly to them; To reduce traffic congestion, in addition to placing sensors in the waste container to indicate that it is full.