Cities are complex entities that have, over time, come to accommodate various digital devices with different purposes. Just as peripherals can surround a personal computer, cities must be able to integrate their peripheral devices, installed in the urban space, into a core system that ensures the coordinated functioning of all elements.
Computers have become ubiquitous in our lives. They have long since ceased to be used only by specialists and are present in every moment of our daily lives. We have moved from a traditional system based on interaction via keyboard and screen to something much more comprehensive. We still have so-called traditional computers (in different formats), but we also have systems specifically developed for transport, household appliances, home automation, leisure equipment, etc.
For example, today, there are no cars without computers. The latter control the functioning of all mechanical and electrical elements and, therefore, just the act of driving a car means that we are benefiting from (using) computer systems.
Having a computer means having an operating system. Modern operating systems are complex, consisting of several subsystems, including memory management, process scheduling, file system management, etc. They are essential because they make it possible to use a computer, ensuring interaction with the user, the computer hardware, and its peripherals. Operating systems hide the complexity of the interaction with the computer's electronics.
In cities, we have traffic lights controlled by a specific system, street lights that we can control remotely, sensors that provide data on traffic flows, environmental sensors that tell us the weather, etc. However, for a city to be truly intelligent, it must be able to make the various parts act in an integrated and coordinated way. It is a huge challenge to bring together systems that operate using different technologies, are geographically dispersed, provide data of various natures and use different communication protocols.
Looking at the city from the sky, we should see it as a large computer with various components spread across its geographical area. The city's operating system must hide the complexity of interacting with the different existing elements and provide users (city managers?) with the necessary interface to operate the city.
In the world of personal computers, we can add peripherals as long as the supplier provides the software necessary for the operating system to interact with the device. In the city, the scenario should be identical. The addition of new systems should be possible through interfaces that allow the city's operating system to interact with the latest equipment.
Over time, systems become more modern, so operating systems evolve, with new versions bringing new features and ease of use. Why not have something similar for a city? What version of the operating system does your city have?
Opinion article by:
Filipe Meneses, Technical Coordinator of the Urban and Mobile Computing (UMC) department
Adriano Moreira, Scientific Coordinator of the Urban and Mobile Computing (UMC) department
