A “Smart City” is an urban area that relies on information and communication technologies to build economic growth, improving quality of life and support governance structures.
According to the given data, the world population will reach a limit of approximately 10 billion (1000 crore) by the end of 2050. As the number grows, we’ll have to encounter challenges regarding providing resources and energy to all of the occupants and, at the same time, avoiding environmental deterioration. In India, the world’s fastest-growing major economy and has the second-largest global population; AI can be transformational.
Artificial Intelligence (AI) services will be a significant enabler for this transformation towards smart cities. The use of AI combined with the Internet of Things (IoT) in smart cities are often life-changing. Cloud-based IoT applications receive, analyse, and manage data in real-time to help municipalities, enterprises, and citizens make good decisions that improve quality of life. There are multiple zones in cities or urban development where AI are often wont to enhance the performance and efficiency of the system. It can address the critical challenges posed by excessive urban population, such as traffic management, healthcare issues and growing energy consumption. IoT data and artificial intelligence technology can improve the lives of the citizens and businesses that inhabit a smart city.
Applications of AI in Smart Cities:
A smart city has many use cases for AI-powered IoT-enabled technology, from maintaining a healthier environment to enhancing public transport and safety. Smart Cities and Artificial Intelligence offer a comprehensive view of how cities evolve as innovative ecosystems through the confluence of technologies incorporating machine learning, geospatial intelligence, data analytics and visualization, sensors, and smart connected objects. The recent upgradation in AI moves us closer to developing urban operating systems that simulate human, machine, and environmental patterns from transportation infrastructure to communication networks.
Smart Traffic Solutions: AI and IoT can use smart traffic solutions to ensure that inhabitants of a smart city get from one place to another as safely and efficiently as possible. AI-supported traffic sensor systems (AISTSS) use cameras to gather the real-time data of vehicles on the road and send it to a control centre, collecting the data fed from other points and adjusting the signal timings to ensure the smooth flow of vehicles.
Smart Parking Slot: Finding a parking slot may be a challenging task, especially during holiday time. With road surface sensors implant in the ground on parking spots or CCTV surveillance, innovative parking solutions can find whether the parking area is free or not and create a real-time parking map on your smartphone, laptop etc. Thus, it will reduce the time that drivers had to wait to find a parking space which would also help reduce congestion and pollution.
Smart Waste Management: The increase in the urban population necessitates the adoption of smart methods for waste management. AI-enabled cameras detect trash thrown on the road and recognize the kinds of garbage for categorization. AI-enabled sensors on dust bins can make waste collection more efficient. Authorities can receive notifications when the containers are about to be complete and ensure operational cost reduction by eliminating unnecessary pickups, providing dynamic collection routes and schedules for optimization of waste management. Adopting AI for innovative recycling and waste management can provide a sustainable waste management system.
Smart Policies: Smart cities require smart policing where enforcement agencies employ evidence-based data-driven strategies that are effective, efficient, and economical. AI devices use cameras and sensors to keep an eye on the surroundings and enhance the security level in the city’s neighbourhoods. Such cameras can easily acknowledge the people and their faces or track unusual activities in restricted areas.
Smart Lights: Street lights are necessary, but they consume a lot of energy, reduced with smart lighting. Besides this, the lamp posts are also fitted with additional sensors or services such as WIFI, network hotspots etc. The lamps also can adjust the brightness supported by the presence of pedestrians, cyclists or cars. Furthermore, it employs a real-time web network to trigger neighbouring lights and creates a safe circle of light around a human occupant.
Smart Governance: The primary purpose of smart cities is to make a comfortable and convenient life for the citizens. Therefore, smart city infrastructure isn’t complete without smart governance. Smart governance implies using ICT intelligently to enhance decision-making through better collaboration among government and citizens. Wise administration would use data, evidence, and other resources that help in decision-making and adherence to the citizens’ needs.
Smart Power Grid: AI can enhance the safety of power grids and improve performance management. Intelligent grids (power networks, such as generation plants embedded with computer technology) can make smart meter readings of extensive data to assess and predict demand response and load clustering. Prediction models can be set up on these grids to forecast energy prices and demand for specific periodic intervals.
CONCLUSION
The assimilation of AI in smart cities has various advantages for humans and nature. From an eco-friendly nature to sustainable development, AI in smart cities ushers in many benefits for everybody. In addition, it’s changing the way cities operate, deliver, and maintain public amenities, from lighting and transportation to connectivity and health services. Completing the smart city project is not a one-day job or overnight project; neither is it the work of one person. It requires various collaboration and support of many strategic partners, leaders, government and even citizens. Building a sensible city will be iterative, with more processing and analysis added at each iteration. Once implemented, the benefits are significant.
