Smart City Design (DP IB Geography): Revision Note

Smart City Design & New Technology

• Smart cities are those which are successful in six areas:

  • Economy

  • Environment

  • Population

  • Living conditions

  • Governance

  • Mobility

• The aim of smart cities is to manage resources effectively so that:

  • The population's needs are met

  • The environment is protected and improved

• Smart cities have a number of characteristics 

Characteristics of Smart Cities

What are the advantages and disadvantages of smart cities?

• The advantages of smart cities include the efficient:

  • Use of resources

  • Disposal of waste

  • Transport systems

  • Housing 

• The disadvantages of smart cities include:

  • Cost: the technology used is very expensive so smart cities are located in HICs 

  • Energy use: technology uses lots of energy, although this may be balanced by reduced energy use for transport, lighting etc.

Purpose Built Settlements

• Several smart cities are in development around the world

• These are purpose-built settlements 

• The advantages of purpose-built smart cities are:

  • Old infrastructure does not have to be adapted it is all built as new

  • There is no existing population who will be disrupted by the changes

Songdo, South Korea

• Located approximately 20 miles southwest of Seoul

• The area has a population of 210 000 (2024)

• The smart city is built on an area of reclaimed land

• Still under development the city is due to be completed in 2025

• Sensors within the infrastructure of the city are used to monitor and regulate a range of activities and processes

  • Water pipes ensure that clean drinking water is not used in toilets

  • The sensors in the streets measure energy use and traffic flow

• Automated rubbish bins connected by pipes to an underground sorting centre 

• The city has the highest concentration of projects in the world which meet the Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) standards

• Large areas of green space

• There is an integrated transport system where there is a bus stop or subway stop within 12-minute walk of each neighbourhood

• An extensive bike infrastructure

Retrofitting Technology in Older Settlements

• Although urban areas can be built from scratch to be smart cities, most smart cities of the future already exist

• To improve the sustainability and resilience of these cities, they need to be adapted

• The adaptations involve adding new smart technology to the existing infrastructure

  • This is known as retrofitting

• Retrofitting is expensive and can lead to lots of disruption because the existing infrastructure has to be disturbed

New York

• A range of organisations, together with City of New York government, are working towards making New York a smart city

• The city is adopting smart technology to improve transport, health, safety and productivity

• The technology also works to reduce waste water and energy use 

Transport

• Sensors to streamline traffic flow

• Charging stations throughout the city for electric vehicles

• Car-sharing schemes to reduce congestion and emissions

Safety 

• CompStat logs crime; it then uses the data to help predict where and when crime will occur

Health

• Air quality sensors to identify areas of air pollution

• Seventy-five temporary air monitoring stations are moved every two weeks to new sites

• There are also eight permanent air monitors

Energy

• The replacement of old bulbs with LED bulbs in 650 government buildings

• Smart meter readings for energy use to discourage waste

• Switching some residents from oil to gas, which has fewer emissions

Waste

• Solar-powered rubbish bins 'BigBelly' which compact the waste 

• The bins request emptying when full

Water

• Automated meter reading (AMR) units have been installed in over 800 000 properties

• The AMR units:

  • Warn of potential leaks

  • Monitor how water is used