For the first time in human history, more people now live in cities than in rural areas. We look at some of the social, economic, environmental, and engineering challenges of this transformation
In the next 20 years, the world population will grow from 6.9 billion to 8.3 billion people. The urban population will grow even faster, from 3.5 billion to 5.0 billion. Smart city initiatives can improve living standards, reduce carbon emissions. Cities are responsible for between 60% and 80% of the world’s energy use and about the same percentage of greenhouse gas emissions.
According to a recent report from Pike Research, “smart” information and communication technologies that improve the efficiency and effectiveness of urban systems and services will not only help mitigate the environmental effects of mass urbanization, but also improve the lives of the people who inhabit the world’s burgeoning cities. Cities are the focus for new approaches to energy efficiency, building design, transportation, waste management, and energy use. Huge investments will be required to implement these approaches. Pike Research forecasts that investment in smart city technology infrastructure will total $108 billion during the years from 2010 to 2020. By the end of that period, the cleantech market intelligence firm anticipates that annual spending will reach nearly $16 billion.