By Xolile Mxo, Senior Business Development Manager at ITEC Tiyende
Cities are critical ecosystems in their own right and will play a key role in a sustainable future for millions of people in South Africa and across the continent. They’re increasingly driving innovation, collaboration, and economic growth. But as our cities grow, upwards and outwards, it’s more important than ever to ensure that they offer a sustainable future for all their citizens.
We’re living the age of Big Cities. Fuelled by trends like migration and urbanisation, our cities are growing at an unprecedented rate. Over half of the world’s population already live in cities – and by 2050, this will have risen to 66 percent, says the United Nations.
How do we do this? The only way we’re going to ensure our cities, from Johannesburg to Cairo, become more sustainable, resilient, and inclusive is by using technology smartly. With limited resources, we have to achieve three big goals: protect and include the marginalised; ensure equal access to basic infrastructure and services, including water, sanitation, utilities and transportation; and create opportunities for people to work and make a meaningful living.
One of the biggest opportunities that technology holds for our cash-strapped cities right now is the ability to improve efficiencies, reduce costs and maximise outputs. How can we use technology to deliver cheaper, cleaner energy? What opportunities are there to co-ordinate public transport systems to run more cheaply and effectively, and deliver a safer, better service? How can we leverage modern construction techniques to meet the overwhelming need for affordable housing? These are the type of questions we should be asking – and answering with the help of technology.
The technology already exists. In Buenos Aires, for example, sensors embedded into city infrastructure like sewer systems and drains can help save people from natural disasters. In Cape Town, they’re making good progress in using data from sensors in water utilities, electrical smart meters, and even rubbish bins to improve basic services. Many cities are using software to better manage their finances and improve the collection of revenues.
Sensors can even collect information about the state of roads and other infrastructure – often alerting city officials to the need for maintenance long before it becomes a problem.
We often hear the term ‘Smart Cities’, and immediately think of futuristic scenarios where cars drive themselves. The reality is far more down to earth and pragmatic. All a ‘Smart City’ does is to collect data and use this data to manage assets and resources efficiently. ‘Smart Cities’ improve the quality of life for all of their residents across a range of areas: the environment, safety, access to health and education services, mobility, and social interaction. This is vital if we’re going to create cities that allow everyone to thrive and develop.