Smart City = Smart Citizen = Smart Economy?
Elizabeth Frank, Gloria Aznar Fernández-Montesinos
Abstract
With a rapidly growing world population, urban populations are estimated to increase significantly over the next decades. This trend is reason for concern since the planet's resources are limited, and climate change is inherent. This chapter focusses on the question about whether new technologies employed in smart cities can be the answer to current and future needs of a city population. Cutting-edge technological advances are reshaping our ecosystem; transforming society, living, and work environments; transport systems; energy grids; healthcare; communications; businesses; and education. How can cities respond to the multitude of challenges by employing technology and at the same time ensure the public well-being, improve the quality of life of city inhabitants, and make sure that the human is still at the center of decisions?