· 7 min read
More than half (55%) of the world’s population now lives in cities, and by 2050 this figure will increase to 68%. Due to demographic shifts and urbanization, about 2.5 billion people will appear in megacities by mid-century, according to UN forecasts. At the same time, about 90% of this growth will occur in Asia and Africa. The number of cities with a population of more than 10 million people will also increase on the planet.
Smart districts to protect the environment
Given the growth of urban population, climate change, environmental pollution and resource shortages, the concept of smart cities and districts has been rapidly developing in many countries in recent years. Their main feature is the integration of various modern technologies for the efficient use of urban resources. At the same time, the quality of life of people in such cities should reach a fundamentally higher level.
Many solutions help to cope with current and future challenges, as well as transform the approach to urban development. Among them:
• sensors for collecting data and monitoring the environment,
• IoT (Internet of Things) devices,
• big data analysis,
• weather-sensitive design,
• emphasis on greening,
• conscious consumption of resources.
Examples of smart tech districts
In different parts of the world — from Amsterdam to Singapore — projects have already been implemented to integrate innovations into urban infrastructure to improve the quality of life of people. Each of them is unique and adapted to the needs of a specific locality. We tell you what urban planners, urbanists, and engineers can learn from such projects.
Schoonschip (Amsterdam)
Photo: Isabel Nabuurs / archdaily.com
A project called Schoonschip has been implemented in Amsterdam. The area was founded in 2010 by a group of like-minded people who decided to create an energy-independent community. It was developed by the architectural studio Space&Matter. Now the area consists of 46 residential buildings, which are located on 30 water sections of the Johan van Hasselt canal, connected by a pier. More than 100 people live in Schoonschip.
The houses are equipped with an intelligent network of solar panels, which helps residents exchange energy with each other. There are underwater heat exchangers for heating and cooling, and water purification technologies for extracting energy and nutrients from wastewater.
Neom (Saudi Arabia)
This is what one of the built-up areas of the Neom project looks like — Sindalah (Photo: neom.com)
Neom is an ambitious project to build futuristic cities in northwestern Saudi Arabia. It was launched in 2017, and construction is currently ongoing. The project is part of Saudi Arabia’s 2030 strategy to diversify the economy and transform the energy sector, aimed at reducing dependence on oil revenues and creating new jobs and industries. The cost of construction is estimated at $1.5 trillion.
The project involves the development of several areas; their total area will be 26.5 thousand square kilometers. According to the authors, Neom will use the latest technology, such as robots, to perform repetitive and complex tasks. All areas will strive to use renewable energy sources and reduce carbon emissions. Basic utilities and transport services are planned to be integrated underground.
The areas that will be included in the project:
• Sindalah — an island resort and the first physical site of Neom, opened in late December 2024;
• Magna — a coastal resort with an area of 120 km²;
• Oxagon — the world’s first automated port;
• Trojena — a tourist resort in a mountainous area;
• The Line — a smart city with a length of 170 km.
Toyota Woven City (Japan)
Photo: forbes.com.au
In 2021, Toyota began construction of the experimental city Woven City at the foot of Japan’s Mount Fuji. Its area will be 708 thousand square meters. The city will become a platform for experiments and innovation.
Woven City combines traditional aesthetics with advanced methods. The buildings are made of wood using ancient Japanese wood processing techniques, but at the same time, they are made by industrial robots. The city’s electrical grid will be completely powered by hydrogen fuel cells, and the houses will be equipped with Toyota’s domestic robots and AI assistants.
The city is designed for 2 thousand people, but it will be populated gradually. The first 100 residents will be able to appreciate Woven City in the fall of 2025. Mostly, they will be Toyota employees. Later, the list will expand, and another 260 people will join them. In the future, the population of Woven City will be made up of entrepreneurs, developers, representatives of partner corporations, and ordinary people.
The specific technologies that will be tested are already known. The first five companies will begin research into new air conditioning systems, vending machines, food, coffee, and education. Thanks to the fact that people, buildings, and vehicles will be interconnected, creators will be able to test new technologies in both the virtual and physical worlds.
Sino-Singapore Tianjin Eco-City (China/Singapore)
Photo: chinadaily.com.cn
Tianjin Eco-City is a flagship project of the governments of Singapore and China. Its construction began in 2008, 45 km from the Tianjin area and 150 km from Beijing. At that time, the authorities of the two countries decided to turn a wasteland into an economically sustainable city. Now Tianjin is home to 170 thousand people and 7.7 thousand companies with a capital of $ 42 billion.
All buildings in the eco-city are certified as environmentally friendly and resource-efficient. Renewable energy sources of wind, solar, and geothermal energy meet the daily needs of residents and businesses. The city uses not only traditional (rivers, lakes, groundwater, rainwater), but also non-traditional water resources (treated wastewater). 19 types of sensors (water, gas, and heat meters) are installed throughout the city and constantly transmit information about the state of the systems.
At all city junctions, traffic is analyzed by AI and adjusted in real time if necessary. This system has not only reduced traffic jams by 13%, but also increased travel speed by 20%. For residents who support eco-friendly transportation, a series of “bus stations of the future” has been designed and built in the ecocity. Driverless panda buses run along them.
Robots perform most functions in this city — from delivering food from restaurants to issuing books at the library. In an hour, a robot can count more than 20 thousand books, and sorting and returning them is ten times faster than with a human.
Efficiency has been proven
Cities equipped with intelligent systems are not just technologically advanced spaces. They are necessary to ensure a sustainable future for both residents and the entire planet.
Many technologies implemented in cities have already proven their effectiveness. The installation of air quality sensors allowed Beijing to reduce the amount of deadly pollutants by about 20% in less than a year. Thanks to such devices, the Chinese capital not only monitors sources of pollution, but also regulates traffic and the construction process of any facilities.
In 2018, New York City introduced an automatic meter reading (AMR) system. It saved New Yorkers more than $73 million on water costs in the first year of operation. There are currently 600,000 such devices installed in the city. The system not only constantly monitors residents’ water consumption, recording volumes and time of use, but also identifies leaks. Prompt repair of damaged facilities reduces the volume of water loss. Authorities want to use similar tracking systems for waste collection, air quality, and fire prevention.
In a densely populated city with an extensive transit system, smart technology can reduce a passenger’s commute time by about 15 minutes each day. For example, Detroit’s Larned Street uses a system of sensors and cameras to adjust traffic lights, alert drivers to pedestrians, and prioritize emergency and freight vehicles. The system has reduced commute times by 30%. In general, cities with extensive, well-used transit systems benefit from software and apps like these.
A smart city approach doesn’t always have to be technology-driven, although technology plays an important role in improving the quality of life. Simple but well-thought-out ideas can help address urban issues and environmental concerns in a holistic manner.
illuminem Voices is a democratic space presenting the thoughts and opinions of leading Sustainability & Energy writers, their opinions do not necessarily represent those of illuminem.
Track the real‑world impact behind the sustainability headlines. illuminem's Data Hub™ offers transparent performance data and climate targets of companies driving the transition.
