Five ways in which cities can become more sustainable through technology

Rapid urbanization, climate change, and economic and geographic shifts mean that urban leaders around the world are facing one of the greatest challenges in the history of cities.

However, turning these challenges into opportunities is the best way to address them, by adopting innovative measures to improve transport, and urbanization and implement green and equitable policies. Here’s how to do it!

Current situation in the cities

Megacities are already home to 56% of the world’s population, and forecasts only show this proportion rising further by 2050. In terms of pollution, cities generate more than 70% of global greenhouse gas emissions. These figures are putting increasing pressure on city leaders to provide sufficient infrastructure and services to meet the needs of city dwellers.

This is leading to these issues being tackled as a springboard for reinventing cities in innovative and equitable ways, through actions such as:

• Create liveable neighborhoods that are also economically inclusive.
• Expand urban transport.
• Adapt to current climate challenges and build resilience for the future.

Ways to become more resilient and sustainable

Create economically inclusive neighborhoods

No more cities where the majority of people have to commute en masse to the center to work. Multiple economic zones must be created to drive more inclusive growth while catering to changing labor preferences.

Employment and services can be brought closer to households through a policy of decentralization, using planning to change the urban structure of cities.

One example is the city of Vancouver, which is creating neighborhoods that return to old models of community, where there are neighborhood shops, libraries, community centers, business centers, green spaces, etc.

Expanding public transport

Improving public transport systems is key to achieving a balance between sustainability and resident satisfaction. This helps cities to have liveable and connected neighborhoods, as well as meeting emission reduction targets.

Switching to electric buses, encouraging citizens to make the switch, or expanding the metro network can be key to reducing the most polluting journeys.

It is also important to cover the maximum city area to make cities equitable, expanding access to jobs and key services, as well as attracting investment.

Adapting to current climate impacts and building resilience for the future

The good news is that the growing trend among cities is to incorporate sustainability, nature-based, and circularity principles into their policies and plans.

By restoring and protecting their natural environments, they can mitigate and adapt to climate change, while building resilience to extreme weather events.

Examples such as Singapore with its Green Plan, which includes coastal and flood protection measures, and in Copenhagen if public building projects using more than 50% recycled materials have raised awareness of circular approaches among local developers.

On the other hand, they are also incorporating blue spaces, such as rivers and lakes, giving flexibility and citizen participation in their planning and engineering, which have wider social benefits.

Relying on smart solutions

Digital technologies are helping to reduce inequalities between the poorest and richest inhabitants. One example is the smart meters found in Kenya, which allow people to pay for utilities and transport using mobile money, providing more equal access.

In addition, these mobile money services facilitate transfers between urban and rural areas and are particularly useful for female-headed households.

IoT sensors are also helping to improve traffic, and energy use or monitor the state of infrastructure.

Creating the right mindset and ecosystems

Following on from the previous point, many cities are already using digital technologies and data to become more sustainable. Cape Town has also implemented smart meters and advanced metering technologies to help address water scarcity.

Forward-thinking cities are working with citizens, community groups, private sector organizations, and leaders from other cities to generate change. Also embedding this mindset in the education system will be crucial for this change to be sustained over time.

Making a difference to the cities of the future

Sustainability and digitalization must go hand in hand, as they are fundamental pillars for our planet, society, and economy. Thanks to digital technologies, global CO2 emissions could be reduced by 20% over the next few years, but they also present sustainability challenges.

At Plain Concepts we know that sustainability is a fundamental pillar for society and for building strong businesses. We strive to do things differently and constantly improve, both for our customers and employees, as well as for the community around us.

One example is the project we have developed for Heijmans, where we have used digital twins to improve sustainability and user experience across the entire road and infrastructure network in the Netherlands.

Smart cities offer us the possibility of improving the quality of life of the population thanks to their potential to collect data from different information sources and apply them to asset and resource management solutions. Moreover, adopting these models is the way to ensure sustainability in our cities. If you want to know more about how we do it, visit our Smart Cities solutions page.

If you also want to join the models of more sustainable and resilient cities, contact our experts now!