The post-COVID world will be different. While no one can predict with 100% accuracy the permanent changes, it’s fair to say that new systems will be put into place to improve the resiliency of working, learning, and delivering services.
Consider, for example, the transformation of some dispatch and first responder organizations during the height of the pandemic. Calltakers and dispatchers added COVID-19 questions to their workflows, and that information directed the actions of the first responders and healthcare staff. Moreover, some dispatch centers relocated operations, and others changed scheduling practices to limit employee crossover.
That type of collaboration is at the heart of a truly resilient – and smart – city.
So what exactly is a smart city?
The common perception of a Smart City is a city that leverages technology and innovation to solve citywide problems. Some of those technologies include Wi-Fi hotspots, security and traffic cameras, and intelligent streetlights.
While each of those technologies has value, a true Smart City is an ecosystem in which all participants gain value from investments in technology. It is also one wherein public and private organizations share the benefits – and data – from the technology.
Current challenges
In a typical city, communities, governments, and businesses rely on the services and infrastructure of diverse organizations. Each organization performs a specific and valuable function for the city. Under this model, the organizations tend to be siloed; processes, data, and operations are housed separately and there is limited shared awareness or coordination across those organizations. This results in missed opportunities to inform planning and improve performance, efficiency, and safety for day-to-day operations. It can also create conflicting actions, delays in identifying and responding to issues, and error-prone communications.
Practicing collaboration
Cities that have begun investing in smart city technologies and systems to bring organizations together are already seeing early positive results.
Consider this example: a violent crime occurs without witnesses, but on a public street where there are traffic cameras and privately-owned business security cameras. The video footage can be used to identify a perpetrator and the vehicle used in the crime. On a larger scale, bringing all available video feeds within a municipality into one central location can provide a full network of surveillance and security.
In other communities, acoustic gunshot detection systems provide instant location and timestamp information to law enforcement when a gun is fired.
Outside of pure public safety initiatives, smart traffic lights save energy and help prevent frustrating and costly traffic jams. Other cities have invested in Chief Resilience Officers to bring together organizations and take on challenges most large cities face, including public safety, delivery of government services, environmental concerns, and more.
Something big is coming in Smart City collaboration
The future of Smart Cities will be rooted in connected data communities that enable users to work with diverse people and information irrespective of their organization and IT. Users will finally leverage rich data for their own workflows and coordinate with users in other roles and organizations.
Hexagon will soon enable forward-thinking communities around the world to experience shared awareness and coordinated action across diverse operational functions, organizations, and sectors.
It’s big, and you’re going to want to be involved.
Want to learn more? Watch this short video and visit Hexagon’s Reimagine Collaboration page.
