How the Internet of Things can save cities millions of dollars
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עברית (Hebrew)
The Internet of Things (IoT) is considered to be one of the biggest technological revolutions in recent times, and government officials in the United States see it as crucial for the country’s future in a national strategic level. The American Congress has even established a lobby for this specific cause in order to study it thouroughly and to understand how it can be used for the good of the country. This is why the city of Chicago has decided to turn the city and its streets smarter by integrating the IoT trend in public areas – a decision that could save the city around $2 trillion in 10 years as a result of increasing efficiency of municipal work.
What steps could municipal authorities take in order to produce the most out of the IoT trend and in the best way, thus attracting investors and businesses, as well as saving money from increasing effectiveness and productivity of their city?
- In order to get investors to put forward their money in a certain city, they must believe that personal gain and profit will ensue. Therefore, an authority figure in the city government – the mayor, its deputy or another high-ranked official – must declare their intention of making the city more technological.
- An inspection must be made to address the technological weaknesses and strengths of the city. This will help decision makers understand where there is a substancial need to apply the trend and where it can wait for the next step.
- The city must build a sctructured plan with end-goals and stick to it. Meaning, if the main problem the city must face is heavy traffic on the roads, then the plan will outline the traffic challenge at a higher priority than other goals.
- It’s safe to assume that during the integration of the plan throughout the city, different kinds of difficulties will emerge. Staying focused on the target when the going gets rough is crucial, since eventually the Internet of Things can improve the city’s performance and save a lot of money.
