In smart cities, citizens and essential services are connected, use clean energy, reuse water, treat waste, share products, services and spaces, move easily and enjoy quality public services. In addition, the smart city creates cultural ties that unite its inhabitants, promote economic development and improve the quality of life.
In pursuit of Smart City status, cities from all regions of the planet will invest between US$ 930 billion and US$ 1.7 trillion a year by 2025. However, more than investments, the city, to be smart, needs smart initiatives from the executive and legislative power.
The private sector has gathered in world forums, such as SmartCity Business America, to point out solutions and business opportunities in the Smart Cities market. Among the adaptations, which follow the wishes of the population, are the adoption of sustainable concepts and technologies; urban inclusion, as opposed to the isolation of the peripheries; inclusive education to avoid radicalization; full focus on face-to-face and inclusive education up to the age of 18; and urban planning that includes spaces for teaching and education, which today is not just an academic issue.
With these new characteristics, smart cities will have an increase in the offer of jobs in the public sector, hospitality and, mainly, in the creative economy, an area that has grown exponentially, having the creative act as its main process and resulting, among others, in the transformation of local culture into economic wealth.
This social and cultural evolution promises to generate new desires, making the city increasingly used for pleasure and promoting ideals such as inclusion, approximation, connectivity, relationship and sharing. The concept also addresses the verticalization of cities, with sustainable practices and shortening distances with intelligent transport solutions, with the car no longer being a consumer dream; and a legislative transformation, which should enable and shorten paths for the majority's will.
The new technologies will also allow people to work at home, in addition to not having to travel to buy the basics or solve bureaucratic problems. It makes no sense for people to divide themselves daily between two environments (residential and commercial). Just as there is no logic in standard business hours. Why are most people obliged to travel at the same times? We will soon see the end of commercial buildings as we know them. The residential buildings will gain new concepts and functionalities.
It is clear that the coming years will see intense transformations in large urban centers. The concept of Smart Cities has gained strength on all continents and, soon, its benefits will be present in our lives. In an increasingly degraded environment and with religious and political dichotomies, smart cities, betting on inclusion, shared solutions and effective public services, may represent the opportunity to live in an ideal society.Warning: The opinion presented in this article is the responsibility of its author and not of ABES - Brazilian Association of Software Companies
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