The document discusses the evolution of thinking about cities from the 1960s to present day and the differing visions of smart cities that have emerged. It outlines a framework for smart cities and examines examples from the UK and EU. The document argues that for cities to be truly smart and sustainable they need visions, partnerships, financing, co-creation, urban innovation, devolution, and integrated solutions that focus on people. It also discusses what a smart and sustainable Reading might look like by 2050.

1. The Future of Smarter Cities
Tim Dixon, Professor in Sustainable Futures in the Built Environment, School of Construction Management & Engineering, University of Reading
http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Smart_City_Nansha.jpg?uselang=en-gb

2. Cities today……

3. Evolution of cities thinking
60s & 70s
•Systems thinking
•Urban crisis
•Sustainable urbanism
1980s
•Knowledge cities
•Broadband cities
•Eco city
1990s
•Sustainable cities
•Digital economy
•Wireless cities
2000s
•Smart cities
•Complexity and network society
•Smart and sustainable……?
‘Systems’
‘Complexity’

4. Differing visions of cities

5. Smart City Framework
Source: BSI Smart Cities Framework (2014)
Source: Danish Smart Cities Report (2012)

6. Smart Cities: EU
Source: EU (2014)
Number
Percentage

7. Birmingham: Smart City Visions
Source: Birmingham City Council (2014)
•Every £1 in broadband has £20 economy impact
•UK public sector data is worth £16b if fully used
•By 2015 90% of all jobs will require IT skills

8. Other smart cities

9. Smart and Sustainable City
“A city that leverages the ICT infrastructure to:
Improve the quality of life of its citizens.
Ensure tangible economic growth for its citizens.
Improve the well-being of its citizens.
Establish an environmentally responsible and sustainable approach to development.
Streamline and improve physical infrastructure.
Reinforce resilience to natural and man-made disasters.
Underpin effective and well-balanced regulatory, compliance and governance mechanisms”
Source: ITU (2014) and Boyd Cohen (2014)

10. Reading 2050: Smart and Sustainable?
BIS Future Cities Foresight Programme (2065 City Visions)
Environment, economy and lifestyle
How can Reading be smart and sustainable?
What would low carbon living look like?
Physical infrastructure, growth and development
What will be the key growth areas?
What are Reading’s key infrastructure requirements?

11. What do we need for cities to be smarter (and more sustainable)?
Visions
Partnerships and networks
Financing
Co-creation and partnership (‘urban transition labs’ & ’urban rooms’)
Urban innovation
City devolution
Integrated solutions (‘It’s the people, stupid’!)

12. Thank you! Contact:
Professor Tim Dixon
Chair in Sustainable Futures in the Built Environment
School of Construction Management and Engineering
University of Reading
Engineering Building
Whiteknights
PO Box 205
Reading
RG6 6AY
t.j.dixon@reading.ac.uk
http://www.reading.ac.uk/sustainability-in-the- built-environment/