Have you ever thought about people being connected as a IoT device? Many of the IoT devices that we wear, carry, use and, in some cases, are embedded in us will interact with the systems in our vehicles, offices, homes, cities, towns and suburbs.
Some of these devices can automatically interact with the smart city infrastructure and the services that are available to city residents and visitors. In a recent survey, more than 34 percent of those surveyed felt IoT is being considered to change the way organizations interact with customers or in this case citizens and visitors.
In 2013 the American Society of Civil Engineers’ issued their infrastructure report card and that was quite troubling. No segment of the U.S. infrastructure received an ‘A’ on that report card. Below are the rest of the infrastructure’s grades.
- B- was given to Solid Waste
- C+ was given to Rail and Bridges
- C was given to Ports
- D+ was given to Energy
- D was given to Drinking Water, Transit, Aviation, Dams, Schools, Roads, Wastewater and Hazardous Waste
- D- was given to Inland Waterways
Many believe it is time to solve the infrastructure crisis in the United States. This feeling has intensified after the Flint Michigan water infrastructure issues that have been grabbing the headlines. That is certainly not the only location in the United States that needs to update its infrastructure.
Perhaps this is the opportunity to take a smart approach. Services for the citizens are on the minds of Smart City planners and developers. Many believe it is time to integrate the concepts of smart infrastructure and smart cities into the strategic plan for the United States and every other country and begin to execute that plan. There is little doubt that the IoT, the connected car, wearable computing, embedded devices and the evolving smart city infrastructure models are poised to change the way citizens interact with their surroundings.
Regardless of size, the state, county and local governments need to investigate emerging smart city models that leverage the IoT and integrate it into their strategic plans for the future.
About the author: Kevin Coleman is a speaker, author and advisor to some of the world’s most progressive organizations, including multiple Fortune 500 businesses, the United Nations, the Congress of the United States and U.S. Strategic Command. Kevin has more than 20 years of experience in the development and implementation of cutting-edge technology strategies and was the Chief Strategist at Netscape.
Edited by
Ken Briodagh
