In recent years, the concept of Smart Cities has become increasingly popular, particularly in political, academic and social discourse, symbolising how governance strategies at municipal and governmental levels aim to promote economic, social and environmental benefits for current and future societies. However, this phenomenon inevitably raises some fundamental questions: What does it mean for a city to be considered “smart”? And at what point can it be granted this status?
Smart Cities and their (in)definition.
It is essential to acknowledge that the concept of Smart Cities is not entirely new. Although it does not yet have a universally accepted definition, its origins date back to the 1990s, possibly driven by the growing impact of technological innovation and globalisation on urbanisation processes. Since then, it has been the subject of intense academic research, focusing mainly on the role of Information and Communication Technologies (ICT) as a fundamental foundation of smart cities, driving the development and experimentation of new digital architectures, data models, big data, the Internet of Things (IoT), cloud computing and artificial intelligence, to design the cities of the future supported by innovative technological solutions.
Without intending to start a necessary debate on the different levels of technological maturity, I invite you to reflect briefly: are we not, after all, envisioning a digital twin? Indeed, the creation of urban digital twins constitutes a concrete possibility in the context of Smart Cities, allowing not only the real-time monitoring and control of various city services but also the anticipation of flows, identification of faults, and prevention of congestion. This approach thus contributes to mitigating negative impacts and enhancing positive effects on everyday urban life, while simultaneously promoting more transparent systems and facilitating citizen inclusion in decision-making processes.
In the absence of a widely accepted definition, the term "Smart Cities" often appears as a continuously idealised concept: a constantly shifting horizon that projects a vision of a more efficient, sustainable, and inclusive urban future. The most common response to this challenge has been to invest in ICT, also a constantly moving horizon, aimed at improving the quality of life of citizens and promoting efficiency in the provision of services and the use of resources, enabling decision-makers to make better, data-driven decisions more quickly.
When and to what extent do we want a city to be smart?
A city is brilliant when it uses data strategically to make informed, inclusive, and sustainable decisions, promoting civic participation and enhancing the quality of life for its citizens. It is characterised by the ability to adapt and optimise public services, adjusting them to the real needs of the population, through effective collaboration between government, business, academia and civil society. In this context, technology is a means - and not an end - to achieving inclusion, social equity and urban resilience, with the true essence of a Smart City being its ability to learn, evolve and adapt to emerging challenges continually.
Cities, historically marked by chaos, spontaneity and a specific creative disorder, are now moving towards becoming more organised, controlled and predictable spaces. But could this functional balance, however desirable it may seem, not compromise the human essence, made of discovery, surprise and unpredictability? For future reflection, I will reformulate the initial question: when and to what extent do we want a city to be intelligent?
The role of CCG/ZGDV in urban transformation
In practical terms, at the CCG/ZGDV Institute, we support our partners — municipalities, technology providers, and service providers — in integrating smart components into their solutions and organisational practices. We act as a one-stop-shop partner in this ongoing process towards urban efficiency, with a highly qualified multidisciplinary team that responds to current and future challenges.
We utilise our installed technological infrastructure and expertise in computer graphics, ubiquitous computing, information engineering, and human factors to facilitate decision-making and transform the way cities evolve. With a focus on systems integration and the creation of predictive algorithms, we promote a test-before-invest environment to create more efficient and human-centred technological solutions, reducing risks and increasing the usability and effectiveness of innovations.
Opinion article by: Rúben Oliveira, Science and Business Manager
