Since 1950, the number of people living in cities has almost doubled, rising from 751 million in 1950 to 4.2 billion in 2018. It presents several issues in managing densely populated metropolitan regions. Making the Rise of IoT in smart cities is the answer.

1. The Fascinating Story Of
The Rise Of IoT And
Smart Cities
 By CIO Women Magazine
Since 1950, the number of people living in cities has almost doubled, rising from
751 million in 1950 to 4.2 billion in 2018. It presents several issues in managing
densely populated metropolitan regions. Making the Rise of IoT in smart cities is
the answer.
It may seem to be a futuristic concept, but owing to Internet of Things (IoT)
technologies and other developments, they are now being implemented. What
technologies are used in smart cities, and how quickly will they grow? Continue
reading to discover.

2. What exactly are smart cities?
Smart cities, also known as digital cities, intelligent cities, or wired cities, are
technologically advanced metropolitan regions that collect electronic data from
citizens, assets, and gadgets to more efficiently manage available resources.
A smart city’s primary goal is to optimize and encourage more economical and
sustainable development. At the same time, it enhances the quality of life for
residents via the use of smart technology and data analysis. For example, by
making municipal services more accessible, such as online transaction portals, free
public Wi-Fi, real-time information, and services and events viewable through
mobile applications.
According to Statista, smart city infrastructure is predicted to produce more than
40% of total smart city revenue by 2025.
Technologies for smart cities
In smart cities, information and communication technology (ICT) is used to
improve operational efficiency, transmit knowledge to the public, and improve the
quality of public services and citizen welfare. Several software, communication,
and interface networks link smart cities. The Rise of IoT in smart cities is the most
widely used technology for correctly operating digital Time because it enables
connection and data sharing between things.
Some prominent smart city technologies include:
 AI stands for Artificial Intelligence (AI)
 Services for cloud computing
 Learning by machine
 Application Programming Interfaces for Machine-to-Machine Communication
(APIs)
 Wi-SUN Dashboards are examples of mesh networks.
The use of technology solutions in European smart cities is included ‘to enhance
the management and efficiency of the urban environment’.
Rise of IoT in smart cities
As previously said, the Rise of IoT in smart cities idea is founded on the adoption
of Internet of Things technology, implying that smart cities and IoT are
inextricably linked. Sensors and cameras, for example, enable IoT devices to
gather data on many aspects of people’s lives.

3. Everything in wired cities is networked, from automobiles, buildings, and
household appliances to sensors, Rise of IoT in smart cities and smart grid
technology, enables power distribution, increased integration of energy sources,
and enhanced management systems. Citizens may also interact with smart cities
via their cell phones, linked automobiles, or residences. Combining devices and
data enhances sustainability and reduces expenses, benefiting not just inhabitants
but also the environment.
Smart city and sustainability
Communities may utilize IoT to distribute energy more effectively, speed up
garbage collection, reduce traffic congestion, and improve air quality. Sensors, for
example, might be fitted to garbage cans to measure how full they are and more
efficiently plan disposal. Another example is the usage of sensors linked to traffic
signals to reduce traffic congestion. The data from sensors and moving vehicles
allows for real-time changes in the timing and cadence of their lights in response to
traffic.
A municipal charging point for electric vehicles. The charging station and concept
automobiles were all designed in 3D.

4. The feature of a sustainable environment is critical for popularizing the notion of
smart cities. Incorporating energy sources and efficient transportation systems,
such as EV automobiles or bike-sharing programs, are examples of how to promote
sustainable mobility. The data collected by these devices is stored on servers or in
the cloud to enhance the efficiency of the public and commercial sectors, improve
citizen lives, and provide economic rewards.
Smart city challenges
Smart city development is a practical solution to improve urban living conditions.
Smart cities have the potential to shape urban life in the future by optimizing
municipal operations, reducing environmental impact, and increasing inhabitants’
quality of life.
But, smart city development is not without challenges. The most serious problems
are privacy and security vulnerabilities, particularly when collecting and analyzing
enormous amounts of data. Moreover, owing to the substantial expenses involved
with adopting and maintaining smart city technology, not all municipalities have
the financial means to participate in these initiatives.
Another difficulty is that the government has agreed to foster extensive public
engagement. Moreover, for everyone to have a beneficial influence on the
neighborhood, the business and governmental sectors must work together with
residents.
It is also a test for IoT devices, since it requires hundreds, if not millions, of linked
devices to communicate and work with it.
Incorporation of edge & cloud computing
To address some of the issues raised above, the high-level connection must be
maintained via the use of tried-and-true devices. Fortunately, some corporations
are supporting the growth of smart cities and providing solutions.

5. For example, using edge computing by multiple IoT devices to boost security is a
common method. It ensures that only the most relevant and crucial data is sent
through the communication network. A security system is also put in place to
protect, monitor, and govern the data Rise of IoT in smart cities, as well as to
prevent unauthorized access to the city’s data platform’s IoT network.
Seeed studio environmental monitoring architecture
Seeed studio focuses on enhancing environmental monitoring by providing system
integrators and service providers with trustworthy edge computing solutions. Their
objective is to develop and offer best-in-class solutions and services to provide
edge computing power to sectors such as Industry 4.0, infrastructure, smart cities,
smart agriculture, and others. Human-machine interfaces (HMI) to edge computing
servers are all included.
The Odyssey Blue J4125 is a quad-core 2.0GHz CPU with 2.7GHz bursts based on
the Intel Celeron J4125 that is ideal for a next-generation modular computer. A
built-in ATSAMD21 Core, an ARM Cortex-M0+ MCU that allows Arduino
programming on an x86 architecture, is also included.
Another Seeed Studio product is the reServer, which is built on an ODYSSEY X86
v2 board and provides powerful CPU and AI performance for a range of
applications. It has two fast 2.5-Gigabit Ethernet ports and supports 5G, LoRa,

6. BLE, and Wi-Fi hybrid connections. Because of its small size, reServer can work
efficiently in almost any environment. The reServer’s neat design also allows you
simple access to the PCIe slots, RAM, and hard drives for rapid installation,
maintenance, and upgrades.
Phoenix Contact digitization
Phoenix Contact’s highly integrated and networked information and
communication technology is assisting in the methodical transformation of urban
regions into the Rise of IoT in smart cities. Phoenix Contact is developing devices
with AI characteristics that will improve people’s lives.
For example, using the Phoenix Contact smart city box, you may gather sensor
data and transmit wireless data. Because of open system designs, the box may be
readily incorporated into municipal data centers or other IoT systems.
Moreover, PLCnext control devices that may be included in the ecosystem’s
hardware enable the anonymous transfer of processed image data in the cloud.
Long-term, this will allow for the optimization of the city’s traffic flow using
optical sensor technologies such as vehicle counting.
Additionally, solutions such as remote maintenance in industrial remote
communication will be critical in smart cities in terms of public safety. Through

7. the use of Internet technology, metropolitan areas will be able to be observed from
any place at any time via linked devices and systems. See our article on ‘AI and
Machine Learning in Cybersecurity and Industrial Security’ for additional safety
information.