The phenomena linked to the declining quality of life in cities, pollution caused by traffic, and the constant growth in energy demand have prompted the European Union to consider smart cities a solution to the problems affecting our planet. Planning the transformation of a city into a smart city means implementing a set of intelligent strategies capable of making urban infrastructure systems both competitive and ecologically sustainable.

Everything you need to know about smart cities

Here are the rules that local authorities must follow in order to invest their resources in the best possible way and transform cities into true smart cities.

Sustainable mobility

Smart cities are car-free. In intelligent cities, movement takes place via an electric transport system connected to a network of underground car parks — genuine interchange hubs on the outskirts of the urban core — where parking spaces can be booked online. The initial costs of an efficient sustainable mobility network are very high; nonetheless, this type of investment yields economic and environmental benefits and improvements to quality of life by reducing journey times and pollution.

Clean energy from waste

Our waste is our resource. The intelligent city is equipped with a waste recovery system for the production of fuel and clean electricity. Household bins and street-side litter bins are connected to underground points for sorted waste collection. Biogas and the fuel needed to heat buildings through district heating — a kind of centralised heating system for the entire city — are produced from waste.

The ecological network and public green spaces

The smart city is a highly technological city immersed in greenery. The ecological network — that is, green areas such as parks or simply rows of trees along streets — performs a great many functions within the smart city. Urban greenery produces oxygen by reducing CO2 levels in the air; provided that native species are used, it forms what is known as an ecological corridor for the proliferation of biodiversity, and it makes urban spaces pleasant and safe while ensuring soil stability against hydrogeological instability.

Green buildings

Green properties are a crisis-proof investment. Intelligent buildings, certified to energy efficiency standards, are low-environmental-impact structures that can reduce CO2 emissions by up to 70 per cent. The initial outlay is offset by cutting waste of water, heating and waste disposal. Smart homes and offices benefit from sunlight and natural ventilation which, in well-insulated environments, can serve as the sole source of heating and cooling for many months of the year.

ICT — information and communications technology

Technology is the smart heart of cities. In smart cities, all information is shared through a digital telecommunications network accessible on an integrated platform. A network of sensors records and shares data on the web, making it accessible via an app. Information on traffic, parking availability, energy consumption, pollution or public transport arrival times can be consulted on smartphones and tablets, as can the ability to monitor and manage waste and improve the energy efficiency of homes.

Informed citizens

People are the first smart building block with which to construct an intelligent city. The social dimension is almost more important than technological innovation in the formation of a smart city. Residents must be informed and aware of the potential of a highly technological city and must be given the means to be able to "use" it. For this reason, social sharing — that is, the world of social networks (facebook, twitter, amazon) — along with coworking spaces and social housing must be the first strategic and operational step for smart cities that wish to grow together with and around the needs of their inhabitants.