In the last year, interest in smart cities has risen considerably as everyone, from public safety and municipal governments to The Big Three, recognizes that the future is now.

What are the features of a smart city? And what is the role of smart cities in the next few years? Today we’ll explore both what smart cities are and should be as well as how they may change life in the next few years.

Smart Cities are Not New

First things first, smart cities, although increasing in Google search and on tech blogs, are not anything new. They’ve been developing over time as the Internet of Things, WiFi and smartphones have become more prevalent in American life. What is changing is the technology that allows these things to be possible and the fact that we are on the cusp of a massive shift as 5G becomes the new normal for data transmission. With increased speed and security, it’s now possible to digitize and automate more.

What are the Features of a Smart City?

While smart cities are not defined by any governing body, experts agree on several things that smart cities will have and do.

Traffic Management. One of the goals of the smart city revolution is to avoid things like vehicle traffic in and around large cities like Los Angeles. That’s a tall order, but with vehicle-to-vehicle and vehicle-to-infrastructure communication it’s a possibility. Sensors can monitor how to time traffic lights, and space and pace autonomous vehicles, alleviating congestion. Autonomous cars will affect traffic in another way. Fewer accidents thanks to smart technologies means delays from rubber-necking and cleanup could be a thing of the past.

Flow-Through Architecture and Enhanced Security. Security has been important throughout modernity but in the post-9/11 world it’s rare to enter any space—urban, suburban or rural—without passing through security. Facial recognition technology will be faster, thanks to 5G, and will eliminate the need for slower checks like paper identification. This opens architects up to designs that use multiple entry and exit points, saving time.  

How Will Smart Cities Change America and its Workforce?

Similar to the 2008 debate over whether or not the internet would dumb down the masses (spoiler alert: it didn’t!), many are fear-mongering over how the world will become a procession of automatons on moving walkways being carted from point A to point B without thought (Converge).

At Computer Resources of America, we’re of the mindset that smart cities will make commerce stronger.

Smart Cities Will Create Jobs. Technology is already a strong industry but the boom of smart cities will mean more jobs in tech.

Increased Productivity. Smart devices have most of us checking our work email outside of the office. With increased WiFi this trend will only go up. By getting administrative tasks out of the way, workers will have more control over time on site. Therefore, productivity should see an increase.

In addition to creating jobs, commutes will be far less stressful and shorter. Workers will regain necessary downtime and gain time working on their commutes, making them far more productive. With shorter commuting times workers will also have more hours of downtime, increasing productivity at work even more.

Finally, worker health will likely improve with a return to a more traditional schedule thanks to the cut in commutes making more time for exercise and sleep and less instances of eating en route.

The Green Byproduct of Smarter Cities

As transit becomes more efficient and car-sharing increases, it’s not just people who will become healthier. Our cities will experience a robust greening. Some predict that the lessening need for parking structures will mean more parks and green spaces. Add to this continued growth of alternative energy and green practices—like banning single-use plastic bags and recycling—and smart cities will be a solution we can’t wait to see embraced fully throughout the country.