IoT for Smart Cities: Top Applications, Benefits & Real-World Examples

IoT technologies for smart cities can unlock entirely new approaches to urban planning and living. What has once been a utopia is now a reality – the Internet of Things is widely applied in the urban setting.

In our new article, we explore the notion of IoT in smart cities. We also provide an overview of points to consider while working on a smart city project using IoT.

The combination of IoT and smart cities is aimed at improving the way urban environments function. In fact, IoT applications in smart cities can:

• Measure traffic patterns
• Assess energy consumption
• Track air quality
• Analyze water usage
• Monitor waste levels
• Identify public safety signals

And these are not the only implementations for such technologies. The ultimate goal behind the idea of a smart city with IoT is weaponizing data.

Better data → better decisions → better city life

The combination of the Internet of Things and smart cities can bring urban communities the following benefits.

When everything from water pipes to streetlights can “talk,” cities stop guessing and start acting. Smart meters spot leaks early, grids adjust themselves, and entire districts stop wasting energy just because someone forgot to flip a switch.

The network of cameras, sensors, and alarms can play a crucial role in crime prevention. On the one hand, once any issue occurs, an emergency team or the police receives an automated alert. Secondly, the understanding of the fact that there is always something watching can prevent criminals from committing possible acts of misconduct.

Real-time traffic signals, intelligent parking systems, and IoT-backed public transport finally give cities a way to untangle their own roads. Drivers get nudged toward open parking, buses stay on schedule more often, and planners get actual data instead of “gut feeling.”

It is one of the most common applications of IoT in smart cities. With such solutions, authorities can monitor pollution levels and notify citizens about related threats.

IoT smooths out dozens of micro-annoyances. In fact, it:

• Monitor transport schedules
• Notifies citizens about traffic jams
• Automate document management across city offices.

These are the most popular examples of IoT usage in smart cities:

• Many urban areas involve smart transportation systems with GPS-enabled public transport, traffic jam detection, and smart management of traffic lights.
• IoT-powered energy grids help urban areas optimize electricity loads.
• Cities lean on all sorts of connected tools now—cameras that spot trouble early, fire sensors that shout before anyone smells smoke, even buttons people can hit when things go sideways.
• Trash is smarter too. Routes shift on the fly, recycling gets sorted better, and data hints when a bin will overflow before it actually does.
• And for the environment, tiny sensors watch the air, water, weather, and noise so the city always has a snapshot of what’s really going on outside.

A few cities are already deep into the IoT experiment.

Barcelona, for example, has sensors practically everywhere—parking spots, streetlights, watering systems, even the power grid—quietly keeping the city running smoother than it probably looks on paper.

Singapore takes an even bigger swing with its “smart nation” idea, using connected tech for everything from traffic flow to waste pickup and public safety alerts.

While cruising across Chicago, you can find a great number of sensor boxes. These are designed to help local authorities monitor air quality and noise levels.

“Weaponizing data is the best way for city authorities who want to improve the quality of living in their areas. The Internet of Things for smart cities becomes a transformative force that allows the authorities to collect various data that helps them come up with tailored policies.”

Volodymyr Shynkar, Founder at AppRecode

LinkedIn

Behind every network, there are crucial technologies. These are the main technology solutions that power IoT systems for smart cities.

To collect real-time data, city authorities apply:

• Environmental sensors
• Traffic counters
• Cameras
• Meters
• Building monitors

The most common types of networks applied for connecting devices and sensors in smart cities are:

• LoRaWan
• 5G
• NB-IoT / LTE-M
• Wi-Fi
• Ethernet

To host the software part of IoT systems and to connect it with devices, companies use solutions from the major cloud providers. These include:

• AWS IoT
• Azure IoT Hub
• Google IoT Core

Analytical tools combined with IoT can provide insights on:

• Power usage
• Traffic patterns
• Climate conditions

Surely, there are always challenges associated with data exchange across IoT networks:

• Data privacy and security risks
• Device interoperability issues
• High initial costs
• Concerns regarding system scalability
• An abundance of privacy laws and regulations that should be considered

To avoid all the challenges mentioned above, it is important to take a responsible step-by-step approach to IoT implementation in urban settings.

1. First, define the problem faced by your city. Whether you need to optimize traffic or improve air quality, problem definition proves to be crucial.
2. Try to start with a localized, small-scale implementation. At least, this will help you make necessary estimates and assess whether your idea is valid.
3. Consider your goals and the city’s specifics to make the right technology choices.
4. Make sure that devices and networks work well together.
5. Ensure fortified security and efficient data governance.
6. Plan for long-term project implementation and project scalability.

Handling complex smart city IoT projects might be extremely challenging. There are just too many things to consider. One way to complete such a project is to rely on a team with strong IoT in DevOps experience.

AppRecode can provide such a team. We have solid expertise in developing IoT solutions and apply the best DevOps practices to ensure continuous growth and upgrades for your system. Check out our Clutch profile to know more about our projects. Contact us to build a revolutionary IoT for smart city.

The Internet of Things changes the entire doctrine of urban planning. With the growing usage of IoT solutions, authorities have unprecedented possibilities for improving the quality of life in the cities.

The ultimate goal is to overcome the main challenges with the help of experts in designing smart cities with IoT.

With data from IoT systems, city authorities can focus on improving:

• Mobility
• Safety
• Comfort
• Energy of use
• Quality of life
• Public services

IoT in smart city is primarily used for:

• Traffic control
• Smart grids
• Waste management
• Public safety systems
• Environmental monitoring

Such solutions can:

• Reduce energy waste
• Track pollution
• Optimize water usage
• Support general mobility in the cities

These are the common problems:

• Security concerns
• Interoperability issues
• High initial investment
• Scaling complexities