Enhancing current living standards is the main goal around which technology revolves these days. Whenever a technological advancement occurs, we witness a two-fold improvement in our quality of life. Smart cities gather data from various sources through electronic, sensory, and voice activation to enhance citizens’ lifestyles. What role does big data play in the improvement of quality of life in such cities? Let’s find out.
A Tour of Smart Cities
We are well aware that technology has crept into our daily lives, and it is surely a much-needed intervention. Urbanization thrives on technology, which is why smart cities depend on data-driven decision-making to enhance their operations. A smart city analyzes data collected from IoT devices. It aims to improve the functioning of everyday operations and enhance access to public transportation, power and water supply, schools, law enforcement agencies, and hospitals.
Technologies of Smart Cities
- Smart Utility Meters
These are the electronic devices that measure the energy consumption of a particular area and improve energy flow from the smart energy grid to the selected building. We can see a positive financial impact resulting from the installation of smart utility meters; as it enables users to keep track of their energy consumption, they are more careful and adopt energy-efficient energy sources. Smart utility meters will positively increase the financial revenue of utility companies as they will be able to save huge amounts of money in the future by installing smart utility meters.
- Smart Grids
Another important smart city technology consists of smart grids. A smart grid is connected to the energy storage units given to buildings in a smart city. We are constantly being depleted of natural resources, and smart cities surely do not want to be a part of a world that exhausts natural resources. Consequently, smart grids enable smart cities to rely on natural resources to manage day-to-day living efficiently. Smart grids are connected to solar panels present in the residential areas to conserve energy. These solar panels ensure that energy is stored during off-peak hours so that the load on smart grids is reduced. Users have another incentive to use smart grids; they can sell any excess energy to the grid; this creates a win-win situation for both the users and smart grids.
- Smart Waste Management Solution through big data
If not managed efficiently, the waste buildup can lead to various health issues and pollution in cities. Determining how much waste a city produces is a costly and time-consuming task. It is practically impossible to keep track of waste present in the waste management bins scattered around the cities. Smart waste management solutions aid the management of trash cans by keeping a constant eye on the trash cans’ condition. It notifies the trash management department every time a trash bin needs to be emptied. Hence, it reduces human labor, and waste management companies can reach their target area through the quick possible route. A smart city that does not rely on human labor to manage waste on a day-to-day basis is often cleaner than other areas.
Components of Smart Cities
- Internet of Things
It utilizes the connection between the internet-connected devices and sensors to send data to data management companies. The Internet of Things (IoT) enables smart cities to solve problems efficiently.
- Sensors
They detect physical sensations such as temperature, number of vehicles, heat, and movement. Sensors are responsible for collecting sensory information and conveying it to smart cities for streamlining their operations.
- Information and Communication and Technology
Smart cities enhance the communication between residents of an area through their Information and Communication Technology. It improves the modes of communication through data analysis and user feedback.
Five Ways through which Big Data Improves Quality of Life in Smart Cities
- Safer Cities
Big data enables users to gain a comprehensive insight into the collected data. It aids the analysis purposes as big data captures every aspect and complexity of data. Smart cities are shifting to effective safety measures by bringing big data into action. Unlike cities with no proper data utilization, smart cities rely on big data to determine the areas that are more likely to face safety challenges. Big data’s predictive analysis capabilities predict crime locations and take quick measures to protect the area from criminals. Avail of Ascend’s predictive analytics to forecast future trends and improve the performance of your smart cities.
Previously, cities were managed by human beings, unaware of the next crime scene that could occur in a city. Fortunately, with the emergence of smart cities, big data analysis notifies the crime management department of cities about the areas that could operate as crime hubs. The relevant authorities and citizens take swift action and can live without any external threats. Safety measures should never completely rely on human aid as human beings can often fail to predict the occurrence of an unforeseen event. Therefore, utilizing big data that comprises historical and geographical information about a city reduces the city’s crime rate.
- Smooth Flow of Traffic
Due to the presence of crowd-attracting facilities in smart cities, it often becomes a hassle to manage the traffic flow. Roads are always congested as people are on the run to reach their destinations within time. Constant traffic jams reduce the efficiency of cities as citizens are unable to fulfill their duties in time. Smooth traffic flow is crucial to citizens’ well-being and efficiency of work processes. Big data improves the traffic flow in smart cities by notifying the authorities about traffic flow to plan the next action accordingly. Analysis of traffic data aids authorities in identifying congested entrance and exit points of a smart city. After identifying such points, the generated traffic plans help people choose routes that are not congested with traffic. When authorities are familiar with the traffic patterns, it becomes easier for them to generate effective traffic plans. Big data enhances traffic management in smart cities by recognizing traffic patterns and predicting the next move. It is crucial for smoothening the operations of a smart city and saving additional costs a city might have to incur due to a lack of traffic management.
As big data is becoming increasingly significant in smart cities’ operations, Ascend facilitates its clients with Data Analytics Consulting Services to ease big data implementation in smart cities. Now, you can just inform us about your specific business requirements, and we will generate a plan that best suits those needs. By choosing Ascend Analytics, you do not have to be a technical expert to make data-driven decisions efficiently.
- Amber Alert Services
Various reports of missing children every year are filed but is the number of children reunited with their parents improving over time? Not really. As much as we believe that every missing child should find their way home, it is essential to understand that it is a complex process that requires big data analytics. Smart cities are improving children’s safety by implementing Amber Alert services facilitated by Big Data. Smart cities leverage technology to find missing children. In the past, it was a complicated task to track down children as there were no predictive capabilities present in the system. Smart cities have a higher rate of children reuniting with their parents due to the feature and search features that rely on predictive analytics.
Relevant authorities can make use of data consisting of age, gender, vehicle colors, and type to track down the kidnappers promptly. Parents must equip law enforcement agencies with specific details about the missing child. The authorities will filter out the relevant details and enter them into the system to narrow down the search options. The search option allows police officers to obtain a list of children wearing similar clothing in videos. Smart cities have devices that allow facial recognition of missing children in videos, quickly bringing them back home. Data analysis of the missing children’s demographics, appearance, and facial features results in the safe return of such children. Big data allows citizens to live in a safe environment without threats, making this system worth the hassle of obtaining and analyzing data. However, no matter how safe a place might seem, nothing can completely eradicate crimes. Therefore, if an unforeseen situation arises and your child goes missing, smart cities can analyze data to speed up their tracking procedures and reunite you with your child.
- Better Infrastructure Growth
Imagine being part of a smart city but still facing infrastructure issues on your daily commute. Nobody would be able to appreciate and acknowledge the lifestyle in smart cities if the cities lag in infrastructure growth. Smart cities store big data in their systems to analyze which roads are heavily congested and used daily. The data is then utilized to focus on such roads and their improvement. When authorities are aware of the daily usage of a particular route, they will be able to construct bridges and improve the current situation of roads. Big data collects information about the most frequently traveled roads and enables smart cities to enhance their infrastructure facilities. Other than improving the daily commute for citizens, better infrastructure supports trade by speeding up moving goods from one place to another. With millions of roads present in a city, the amount of data gathered would be insane. You do not need to worry about data analysis if you partner with Ascend Analytics, as our Data Analytics Consulting Services can manage and analyze your data which can be used to support infrastructure growth later on.
- Increased Tourism Through Big Data
Along with enhancing the lifestyle of the current citizens, big data brings more visitors to the city as well. Firstly, the facilities and safety present in smart cities attract visitors from all around the world. The application of big data to smart cities sparks curiosity in the minds of potential tourists. The influx of tourism in smart cities surges with time, ultimately benefiting the whole economy. Smart cities can also gather tourist data easily and utilize that data to attract more tourists in the future. Big data consisting of tourists’ demographic and personal information offers an insight into the target market. The tourism department of smart cities can then design strategies that focus on the particular target segment.
By understanding the factors that draw tourists to your city, you can enhance those factors and increase the number of visitors per year. As the tourism industry skyrockets, the flow of money in the economy is worth appreciating. Ascend Analytics empowers businesses to make the right decisions at the right time. If you find it hard to analyze data holistically and make profitable decisions, allow us to do the job for you. Ascend’s Business Intelligence Services deliver useful insights to businesses to analyze their data efficiently and easily. By integrating Ascend into your system, you would be able to analyze big data and come to conclusions faster than usual.
Reach out to Ascend Analytics if you are looking for a top-grade analytics-focused consulting firm. We will provide you with practical data insights to improve your business decisions and accelerate your growth rate. For more information, please email us at info@ascendanalytics.co or click here.