What is a Smart City?: Part 2 - Living the Dream

What is a Smart City?

Fast forward to a time when we live in what is dubbed as the "City of the Future" or a Smart City. In this city, the average day to day problems we face in our city have been minimized or eliminated thanks to technology.

Let's take a look at that scenario we talked about in Part 1 of this Smart City series.

Picking up from the moment you get off from work. Before you get into your car, you pull out your phone and check which store has all the items you need. In an instant, you already get the information you need. It is the store that is close to your house. You get in your car and drive off.

The drive to the store is relatively smooth. That is because traffic has been minimized--or eliminated in some areas--thanks to state of the art traffic control monitoring systems. These systems collect data on which roads are congested and using this data, it is able to adjust the traffic lights to signal which lanes need to be in the green and which roads should stop for now. This adjustment helps to ease the traffic congestion and cars don't end up getting stuck on a road for an hour.

On the way, an accident takes place. A car loses control an slams into the bumper of the car in front of it. Normally, it would take a while for the authorities or paramedics to arrive. But with the new smart monitoring cameras on the road, the proper authorities are contacted and the nearest unit is immediately dispatched on the scene to assist and solve those issues.

You arrive at the store parking lot and find a parking spot in no time thanks to the parking finder app that the store has created for customers. You are in and out of the grocery store in 30 mins.

You arrive home, prepare dinner, and watch some T.V. at around 9 pm, the garbage truck drives by to pick up the neighborhood's trash. Data gathered on the city about what time of the day has the least people on the streets have given the City Sanitation Department a clear idea of when the best time to collect garbage is so it won't affect anyone with its foul odor.

At around 10:30 pm, you get into bed and a few minutes later you drift into peaceful slumber. There are no more regulated power outages since the city has implemented green energy technologies. Thanks to satellite imaging, the government has determined what areas see the most sunlight and have placed solar panels all over these areas to make sure there is enough energy to sustain the city.

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What is a Smart City?: Part 1 - Painting a picture

What is a Smart City? 

To first get a better understanding and appreciation of what a smart city is and how it would be great to live in one, let's first paint a picture of what most of us usually go through in daily life.

You ready? Okay, let's start!

Imagine yourself driving to the store to pick up some groceries for dinner. It's a Monday and you just got off from a VERY stressful day at work. A few minutes into the drive, you find yourself stuck in the middle of a heavy traffic jam. 

Thirty minutes later, you've only managed to move about 20 feet. You start to get frustrated until you finally reach the intersection and find the cause of the traffic jam. Right in the middle of the intersection, three cars are locked together in a three-way metal bending accident.

You're anger at this point turns to worry as you see that one of the drivers seem to be badly hurt and there are no paramedics in sight. You do see a traffic enforcer to the side barking orders into his radio so you assume that help is on the way and continue driving to the store. 

When you finally arrive, you are confronted by another problem... Where do you park? You spend the next 20 minutes circling the parking lot until you finally come across an empty parking space. You let out a sigh of relief and park your car.

You are in the grocery store now, walking down the isles with a basket in hand. You pick up a few things on your list until you come across the most important item that you cant seem to find. You search everywhere until you finally decide to ask one of the merchandisers for assistance. He informs you that they are out of stock already but they might have stocks in their smaller branch opposite the direction you drove from the office. You groan and tell yourself that you knew you should have just gone to the other store since it was closer to your house, but you thought the bigger branch would have more stocks on everything.

You pay for your items and leave the store. You decide to stop by the other store tomorrow and head home. On the way the traffic seems to have cleared up a bit, but is still moving pretty slow. As you sit in the car, you can't help but to gag and roll your windows up, fast, because in front of your car, is a garbage truck. You get pretty upset about the garbage truck route and the location of the city dump. Why does it have to be here at this time when a lot of people can smell the foul odor?

You finally reach your house, prepare and eat your dinner, and call it a night. As you settle into bed, the power goes out... again. Figures, you whisper to yourself. Why do regulated power outages have to be at a time when people are at home? You drift off to sleep thinking: this day was pretty bad, but not unlike other days you've had before. If only you lived in a city that were better, and more efficient. Not just with traffic, but with everything. Electricity, parking, accident response, etc. Maybe in the future I will.

Part 2 will be coming out soon so stay tuned! 

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PARIS, FRANCE - City of Light and Love

Paris, France - City of Light and Love

When we talk about nice cities, you usually end up mentioning the night scene. And when you talk about the night scene, one thing comes to mind: Lights!

WELCOME TO THE CITY OF LIGHT!

Fun fact: Paris is referred to as the "City of Light" for two reasons.

First, is because during the 18th century, the city was considered as a place of enlightenment being the center of education, philosophy and learning.

Second, is because Paris was one of the first cities to start using gas street lights. Back in the 1860s, around 56,000 gas lamps burned to illuminate the streets and boulevards of Paris. The streets grew safer as a result of the increased visibility. People also started to go out at night and the streets became more productive.

Today, Paris stands as one of the most iconic cities in the world. A popular tourist spot for Euro-trippers, and honeymooners alike. There are now over 296 illuminated sites in Paris, including the Eiffel Tower, which takes 40 km of sparkling bulbs to illuminate the famous structure.

During Christmas, the Champs-Elysées lights up to become the world's most beautiful boulevard. Over 2.4 km of lighted trees sparkle along the way from the Place de la Concorde to the Arc de Triomphe.

NEW YORK - The City that Never Sleeps

New York - The City that Never Sleeps

The Big Apple. The city that never sleeps. They say if you can make it here, then you can make it anywhere. From the breath-taking views of the Empire State Building (once crowned as the world's tallest building), to the serene atmosphere of the grassy meadow in Central Park, New York is a city that is one of the most recognized and iconic places in the world.

Being a highly developed city, New York is basically a global hub for almost everything. For aspiring talents, Broadway is the ultimate goal. Regarded as the highest level of commercial theatre among English speakers, if you make it here then your'e practically a star.

For those that love nature with an urban feel, Central Park is definitely a place to check out.

New York is also home to hundreds of historical sites and museums, including the Museum of Modern Art, Hall of Science, and the famous American Museum of Natural History. If you love to spend your free time looking at art then you will love this city.

VIENNA – The Musical City

Vienna – The Musical City

Vienna is city that is rich in Culture, Art, and History. For those wanting to move to a better city, Vienna is certainly a good option. This city has a dazzling array of attractions and is known for being the birthplace of some of history’s greatest musicians and artists. So it really comes to no surprise that it is often referred to as “The City of Music”

For the culturally refined, Vienna has concert halls, dance and music festivals to suit their taste. 

There are also many coffee houses or wine taverns as well as art museums for those seeking a quieter getaway. 

For those seeking a pleasant visual as well as auditory experience, one can always admire the local films and dance festivals.

HONG KONG - The Perfect Place?

HONG KONG - The Perfect Place?

An interesting fact about Hong Kong is even though ¾ of the territory is rural, it still boasts a very large collection of skyscrapers (one of the largest in the world). At one moment, you can be deep in the heart of this concrete jungle eating wonton noodles, and in the next moment you can be at atop Victoria peak admiring the scenic view of northern Hong Kong.

From the crowded markets of the Kowloon shopping district, to the authentic dim sum restaurants and noodle houses, Hong Kong is a territory that certainly has a lot to offer.

For starters, let’s talk about the food. Hong Kong is no doubt a haven for foodies. The influence of the Eastern and Western cultures has earned this territory the title of the “World’s Food Fair”. In one city alone, one can indulge in authentic cuisines from different places around the world. The wide variety of food choices include: Japanese, Indian, European, and American food to name a few.

Next on the list of awesome things found in Hong Kong, we have the attractions. Of course if you ever find yourself in Hong Kong it would be a sin if you didn’t stop by the world famous Avenue of Stars (currently closed for repairs and improvement. Some of the exhibits are displayed at the garden of stars.) From here you can see the iconic skyline of Hong Kong and this is also where you can get a picture with Bruce Lee, himself well… a statue of Bruce Lee anyway. 

The city also boasts 2 theme parks, which are locked in a fierce competition to become the city’s best. Good news for kids and adults alike! 

For A more spiritual experience one can also go to Lantau Island to find the “Big Buddha” of Hong Kong. From here, one can rest and admire the peaceful and religious ambiance from the Po Lin Monastery.

Last on this list is of course, the shopping. Hong Kong boasts an impressive number of markets. You can find here almost anything and everything you didn’t know you wanted or needed! There is even a street that sells pet fish (aptly named Goldfish street), a market for furniture, Electronics, etc. It is a place where you brush up on your haggling skills as you sinfully spend your money for things you say you will buy for friends and family, but mostly end up keeping to yourself. 

Hong Kong truly is a magical place.

SINGAPORE: The Merlion’s Den

SINGAPORE: The Merlion’s Den

Singapore is one of South East Asia’s smallest nations, but by no means does it mean that this city lacks tourist spots. In fact, for first time traveler’s, this city is one of the top choices. There are many sites one can visit, including the iconic Merlion Park, the Sentosa Zoo, and Sentosa Island.

But what truly makes this city great, the thing that truly defines this city, is the strict enforcement of the rules and the law. There are steep fines for littering (as much as $300), jaywalking (as much as $1000, or jail time), and even fines for failing to flush public toilets. Public disturbances will not be tolerated and even selling gum is illegal.

All of those may sound like the place is ruled by a dictator, but in actuality Singapore is a democratic country. And people that live here actually enjoy a lot more freedom due to the safety that is brought about by the strict imposition of these laws. It is one of the few places where you can walk around at 3am with a wad of cash in your pocket and still feel safe. 

DUBAI – City of Wonder

DUBAI – City of Wonder

Dubai no doubt is one of the best cities in the world. The modern architecture and sky high buildings are truly an engineering marvel to behold. This city even boasts the tallest man-made structure in the world—the Burj Khalifa. But there’s more to this city than just a great panoramic view and rapidly changing skyline.

This city also hosts a plethora of different activities that you can fill your time with. From one of the biggest malls in the world, to the immensely diverse food available. There is almost no shortage of things you can do if you plan to travel to this magnificent place. Dubai is also a perfect holiday destination, with numerous holiday destinations spots just a few hours away.

Ride the camels.

Or go boating! 

 Visit the Mosques.

Take an early evening stroll.

Tokyo: Commuting to the future!

Tokyo: Commuting to the future!

Tokyo, the megacity. A sprawling concrete jungle full of popular districts, interconnecting railways, and massive skyscrapers. By day, this urban anthill is bustling with busy people rushing to and from office buildings. Everything is on the clock, and movement is precise and efficient. But by night, this urban jungle transforms into an ocean of neon signs, and a utopia for bar hoppers and leisure lovers.

Tokyo is one of the biggest cities in the world with a total population of a whopping 13.62 million. But despite the super dense population and size of the city, the urban planning for transportation is a marvel in its own right. With over a hundred different surface routes and 13 subway lines, Tokyo has one of the most sophisticated public transportation systems in the world.

Almost anywhere (if not completely anywhere) in the metropolitan area can be accessed via public transport. During rush hour, trains can get a little cramped, but during the off hours, commuting is pretty much a dream. You can also expect to arrive on time to your destination since the Japanese are very punctual.

Here, even if the people have cars, they still mostly use the public transport, or they ride bikes, which certainly helps to ease the traffic situation there. Overall, the success of the Tokyo’s transportation systems is largely attributed to the unwavering discipline of the city’s good people. 

WHAT MAKES A GOOD CITY?

From an abundance of good jobs, to how good the food is, a lot of factors are taken into consideration when we think of what makes a city great. The following factors highlighted below are what a lot of people usually mention when we talk about great cities.

Transportation – A commuter’s worst night nightmare is having to wait hours just to be able to get on a stuffy public vehicle only to get stuck in even worse traffic.

Buildings – While tall buildings may not be a requirement for a city to be great, there’s no denying the great view of a spectacular city skyline silhouetted against a beautiful sunset. Not to mention bigger buildings means more office spaces which can usually mean more jobs.

Law enforcement – Public safety plays a big role in determining whether a city is livable or not. You can have huge buildings and great views, but in the end no one wants to live in a city where you can get easily robbed while walking home.

Food – One of the top things people say when you ask them why they love the city. A wide variety of food and restaurants make for new and exciting experiences. If the restaurants theme is authentic, then it can also be a cultural learning experience.


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