Holistic Smart Cities Data Management and Analytics to Improve the Citizen Experience

A popular perception of what makes cities “smart” is rooted in the concept of continuous collection of machine-generated data streaming from a multitude of sensors, devices, meters, mobile devices, and cameras (i.e. the things in the Internet of Things or IoT) distributed across a municipality’s geography.

A modern approach to smart cities does not measure success in terms of the number of deployed sensors or the installation of point solutions. A holistic alternative considers key performance measures tied to the degree to which integrated information and communication technologies simultaneously improve jurisdictional operations while contributing to enhanced quality of life and equitable treatment for all citizens.

This white paper outlines some of the principles influencing the success of a smart city strategy and its holistic approach to collecting, managing, preparing and analyzing data. The paper considers some examples of coordinated smart city projects and their dependence on accumulated data. Additionally, it discusses some of the challenges that can impede the success of a smart city program and offers considerations and suggestions to drafting a smart city system.