Key Technologies To Be Implemented In Smart Cities

Key-Technologies-in-future-smart-cities

The Smart Cities Mission launched by the Narendra Modi Government in 2015 is well underway with 90 cities already having been selected for urban renewal and retrofitting program. The aim of the Smart City Mission is to develop 100 cities and satellite towns into citizen-friendly and sustainable smart cities. Except for West Bengal, all the states and Union Territories are participating in this five-year program. The Government of India is investing an amount of 1,91,155 crore INR in the development of the 90 cities selected to be developed under the Smart Cities Mission.

These Smart Cities, once developed, will stand apart from the rest of India with certain key technologies which will make them unique. Let’s have look at the technologies that are going to be implemented.

LED Lights

The very first step towards developing into a Smart City would be to go green by switching to Light Emitting Diode (LED) technology which is energy efficient and reduces the strain on the environment. All the street lights, pelican crossing, CCTV cameras, street furniture, Wi-Fi network, and environment sensors will be replaced by LED lights. LED bulbs can cut CO2 emissions by 50-70 per cent and when combined with smart controls, they can save up to 80 per cent of the energy usage.

Rooftop solar panels

Usage of Renewable Energy is certainly the demand of the present times given the condition of the environment resulting in global warming. It is imperative that India uses lesser fossil fuels and enhances its dependence on nature-based clean and renewable energy sources. Keeping this in mind, the Smart Cities will be equipped with rooftop solar panels of various capacities for green power.

Fully mechanised waste management

India has forever faced the issue of poor waste management resulting in the pollution of the environment as well as the water bodies. Keeping this in mind, the smart cities will have a fully mechanised collection, transportation and disposal of waste. Technology will be adopted for solid waste management wherein stainless steel dustbins tagged with radio frequency identification (RFID) systems will be installed and thus GEO enabled. Thus there will be real time waste management system to check the fill level of dustbins. There will also be zero waste colonies in smart cities.

Smartphone App To Book Parking

A Smart Parking Management System is essential to avoid wastage of time as well as traffic jams. Smart city citizens can avail of an app in the smartphone which will work towards booking a parking slot well in advance.

Digital Libraries

Public libraries in India are in shambles due to lack of funding. Keeping in mind that the most important expected derivative of a Smart City would be its ability to turn the society into an educated society, which would be  possible through ‘smart libraries’, the schools across the Smart Cities will be equipped with Digital Libraries with 3D printing labs.

Smart Toilets

India has forever faced the bane of inadequate public sanitation due to lack of public toilets resulting in rampant public urination and open defecation. Smart Cities will not face this problem and will be equipped with self-cleaning smart toilets which will also have water ATM, vending machine and sanitary napkin vending machine.

Water ATMs

The Smart cities will be equipped with Water ATMs. Water ATMs are automated water dispensing units. They are solar powered with a robust and tamper proof structure and will be able to provide communities with 24/7 safe water access.

Other Features

The Smart Cities will also have the following:

  • Mini Sewage Treatment Plants (STP)
  • Phytorid STP wherein a constructed wetland will be exclusively designed for the treatment of municipal, urban, agricultural and industrial wastewater.
  • Interactive digital panels with Wi-Fi and touchscreen facility.