Cities of the future will operate intelligently, leveraging Metaverse
technologies to deliver higher quality living standards for their citizens
A smart city is an approach to urban development that utilises digital twins, VR, ML, IoT technologies and tools to gather data such as those relating to transport networks, utilities, commerce or city governance functions. Intelligence from the data is then used to manage resources and aid in more effective running of services. It is also used in planning for civic activities such as construction, emergency response and reducing environmental impact. Never has there been a more crucial or pressing need for cities and urban development to become intelligent through driving for better efficiency in their operations, prioritising sustainability when planning, and embracing digital interactions in order to engage with and improve the lives of citizens.
Legacy cities, especially western capitals and urban centres are feeling increasing pressure to upgrade their ageing infrastructure.
Urban growth is not slowing down as populations continue to rise, city planners need to be able to accommodate the increasing population.
Sustainability commitments and targets remain a persistent challenge.
There are constraints on resources, some of which have been exacerbated by the Covid-19 pandemic.
If there was a time to harness knowledge, both historic and real time, about a city’s infrastructure and gather it together into one cohesive vision in order to improve the various systems operating within it such as emergency services, refuse collection, telecommunications, education or civic administration, it is now. There are already a number of pioneers in the Smart City space.
Smart Wellington was developed to improve understanding of social systems, develop more engaged communities and business sectors, create better environments and rebuild and recover following a 7.8 magnitude earthquake. The smart city utilises an IoT digital backbone to gather data, machine learning and analytic processing to derive insights from the data and VR engagement platforms to ensure that the data being disseminated is relevant and accessible.
Already one of the world’s most connected cities with a government provided network of free Wi-Fi and 4G or 5G readily accessible to over 95% of citizens, Seoul is probably one of the most advanced cities in terms of Metaverse readiness. The tools underpinning this smart city are digital twins, VR and virtual collaboration. Right now, the focus is on using Metaverse technologies to improve city services. Additional services include an education portal, a business development and other civic administration services.
Ten years ago Neom may well have been dismissed as the stuff of science fiction but the fact is that the technology has come to align with the aspirations for the city. Promoted as a prototype for a better future, it will be a hub for innovation and is being positioned as a strategic location for global connectivity. Web3 technologies such as 5G, AI, MR, AR and VR, advanced robotics and much more will all be brought to bear in the creation of a cognitive technology infrastructure that will make Neom a fully autonomous city.
