{"id":60783,"date":"2019-07-26T11:49:56","date_gmt":"2019-07-26T10:49:56","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.pbctoday.co.uk\/news\/?p=60783"},"modified":"2022-09-29T11:06:57","modified_gmt":"2022-09-29T10:06:57","slug":"data-smart-cities","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.pbctoday.co.uk\/news\/digital-construction-news\/data-smart-cities\/60783\/","title":{"rendered":"How data can build the smart cities of the future"},"content":{"rendered":"<h2>Nathan Sykes, tech writer for <a href=\"https:\/\/www.kolabtree.com\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Kolabtree<\/a>, discusses the role of data science in smart cities and how urban planners depend on data to learn about housing trends and transportation habits<\/h2>\n<p>Urban planners depend on data to learn about housing trends, transportation habits, the most frequently used areas and more. Entire smart cities are based on\u00a0data science\u00a0and IoT and it won\u2019t be long before data is the primary element that helps officials make decisions about citizens and their needs \u2015 in some places, it\u2019s already happening.<\/p>\n<p>The link between data science and smart cities is getting stronger by the day, allowing us to build cities that are not just smart but safer and friendlier.<\/p>\n<p>Although modern society has some extremely robust big data platforms, they often fail to provide the context needed to determine the full meaning of statistics. For example, a noise sensor might show an extraordinary amount of loudness on a certain date and big data analytics could confirm that the noise issues have never been quite so extreme previously.<\/p>\n<p>However, what impact does it have on citizens, and how can city representatives find that out unless citizens used a platform that allowed residents to weigh in on how the sounds they heard adversely affected their lives? The technique of blending statistical insights with context\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/www.theguardian.com\/science\/political-science\/2018\/apr\/18\/smart-cities-need-thick-data-not-big-data\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">collectively results in thick data<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p>Residents of Pla\u00e7a del Sol in Barcelona were approached in 2017 by activists looking to use technology to spur positive change: in this case, to control the noise levels in the neighbourhood.\u00a0They needed participants for a project titled\u00a0<a href=\"http:\/\/making-sense.eu\/campaigns\/placa-del-sol\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Making Sense<\/a>, funded by the European Commission. The goal was to give people noise sensors they could use to measure levels of sound pollution in their area, compare the readings to established permissible levels and use the data to put pressure on city representatives to make improvements. The dozens of people who took part in the project periodically met face to face in a workshop space to collectively figure out how to bring about solutions. Those gatherings turned noise issues into a group concern, not just one grumbled about by individuals in their homes. The data collected is being used to measure and analyse the problem and find sensible solutions to it.<\/p>\n<h3>Data sharing could present new opportunities<\/h3>\n<p>Some people who analyse the potential for data usage in cities point out that it\u2019ll be significantly easier to meet goals if planners share information with other officials elsewhere. Then, they\u2019ll be able to see whether the things they\u2019re doing are working as well as they should or if different cities came up with superior methods.<\/p>\n<p>Such collaborations could become easier thanks to a March 2018 development involving a framework released by The Alliance for Telecommunications Industry Solutions (ATIS). The information suggests ways for cities to develop their data sharing ecosystems and facilitate secure transfers of the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.pbctoday.co.uk\/news\/planning-construction-news\/modern-technology-construction\/50705\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Internet of Things<\/a> (IoT)\u00a0data between trusted parties. It\u2019s also part of a broader effort by ATIS representatives to encourage city representatives to explore ways to utilise and monetise data.<\/p>\n<h3>Open data and smart cities<\/h3>\n<p>Although some kinds of confidential data must remain secure and only be viewed by authorised representatives, some cities are also experimenting with open data. Not surprisingly based on the name, it\u2019s data that\u2019s accessible for anyone to see and use regardless of restrictions.<\/p>\n<p>Officials in London released over 80 open feeds for Transport For London (TfL) data. In turn, developers reportedly added select content to more than 600 apps\u00a0<a href=\"http:\/\/www.itpro.co.uk\/smart-city\/31433\/how-open-data-is-driving-uk-smart-city-innovation\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">used by 42% of Londoners<\/a>.\u00a0The decision to offer open data gave a substantial economic boost to the city, but it has educational purposes as well. Some beginning coders and school programs use the data to stimulate learning.<\/p>\n<h3>Data as fuel to the economy<\/h3>\n<p>The rising prominence of data collection in cities also creates business opportunities for forward-thinking start-up companies that figure out how to appeal to the needs and challenges city planners face.<\/p>\n<p>One of them is a\u00a0San Francisco-based company called Compology.\u00a0It uses IoT sensors on city-owned trash collection containers that detect fullness levels and signal to garbage truck companies when it\u2019s time to empty them.<\/p>\n<p>According to Compology, such an approach\u00a0<a href=\"http:\/\/www.govtech.com\/civic\/Smart-Garbage-Startup-Cuts-City-Trash-Costs-by-40-Percent.html\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">could cut waste management costs<\/a> by 40%. Plus, the company doesn\u2019t require city officials to replace their existing bins. Instead, they can simply attach the sensors to the containers they already have, allowing technology usage via an investment that\u2019s less than some people might expect.<\/p>\n<p>Smart cities aren\u2019t actually very intelligent if data analysis isn\u2019t part of the equation. Information helps city officials choose areas of focus and highlight areas for improvement. Even though smart city data uses are still emerging, the amount of progress already made and the potential for the future are both immensely hopeful.<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p><strong>Nathan Sykes<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>Tech writer<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.kolabtree.com\/\">Kolabtree<\/a><\/p>\n<div class=\"mk-custom-module-container\">\n<\/div>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Nathan Sykes, tech writer for Kolabtree, discusses the role of data science in smart cities and how urban planners depend on data to learn about housing trends and transportation habits.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":16,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"_monsterinsights_skip_tracking":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_active":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_note":"","_monsterinsights_sitenote_category":0,"footnotes":""},"categories":[141293],"tags":[724,129390,574,172718,573],"stakeholder_rel_tag":[],"contributor_rel_tag":[],"class_list":{"0":"post-60783","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","6":"category-digital-construction-news","7":"tag-asset-management","8":"tag-data-analytics","9":"tag-data-management","10":"tag-smart-cities","11":"tag-smart-infrastructure"},"acf":[],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO Premium plugin v26.9 (Yoast SEO v26.9) - https:\/\/yoast.com\/product\/yoast-seo-premium-wordpress\/ -->\n<title>How data can build the smart cities of the future<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"Nathan Sykes, tech writer for Kolabtree, discusses the role of data science in smart cities and how urban planners depend on data to learn about trends\" \/>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/www.pbctoday.co.uk\/news\/digital-construction-news\/data-smart-cities\/60783\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"How data can build the smart cities of the future\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"Nathan Sykes, tech writer for Kolabtree, discusses the role of data science in smart cities and how urban planners depend on data to learn about housing trends and transportation habits\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:url\" content=\"https:\/\/www.pbctoday.co.uk\/news\/digital-construction-news\/data-smart-cities\/60783\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:site_name\" content=\"Planning, Building &amp; 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