Smart Cities and the Role of IoT in Architectural Innovation
Dealing with smart city architecture can become quite challenging when trying to implement basic operations and daily services without the use of the Internet of Things (IoT). It makes it apparent that trying to design a smart city ecosystem should be done through the list of complex functions and the requirements of an average person. While it is possible to expand the services and functions, one should focus on several challenges at once. Some of them include an improvement in efficiency, dealing with safety, reduction of daily costs, and an adjustment of residents' way of life. One should remember that the use of the Internet of Things should be adapted to age and cultural requirements, which is why one should focus on sociocultural aspects as well. It means that while we can implement Bluetooth sensors, different metric systems, and tracking solutions, it won't be sufficient without adding an element of human analysis and strategic thinking.
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Smart Cities and the Role of IoT in Architectural Innovation
Instructions and Accessibility
The first step that must be taken to make an architectural innovation work is the presence of clear instructions. The use of smart technology has to assist instead of making things even more complicated for the end-users. If writing clarity represents a problem, approaching My Great Essay can work as a helpful solution for the creation of manuals and instructions. One has to use an explanatory tone in writing to make the Internet of Things accessible on all practical layers. Since most instructions will appear on sensor panels and small screens, readability factor and being concise should always come first.
The Presence of an Invisible Aspect
This is where we talk about the use of the Internet, the television network, the presence of the power grid, and the endless distance between points of connection. In building a smart city, one has to focus on architectural limitations first. In the next step, one should find the right balance between what's possible in a physical realm for the end-user and the virtual environment where things can be extended. One has to start with the management of the networking and implement automation for the information processing, various coordination work, human management, data storage, and more. The trick is to make all of these processes mostly invisible to the smart city by creating an “invisible” layer where no end-user involvement is possible.
Security Matters
It is one of the most challenging aspects where a smart city has to remain secure. The problem is that the Internet of Things is always connected and does not have a particular firewall that would include the common rule. Even if one installs a central architecture hub, it has both cons and pros. Since we have a lot of networking coordination and no central base, it becomes impossible to control every single user with his or her preferences and workshops for beginners. When we have mobile games with global participants and different sensitive data, the use of an emergency control must be implemented to help avoid the blocking and failure of the smart city system.
Flexibility Aspect
Now, we have to keep things flexible to have an opportunity for improvement when building a smart city. This is where not only architecture specialists must work together with civil engineers. A creative approach must be used to help everyone explore and add various smart city phases. One has to keep things flexible to avoid the limitations of the network. It should become a foundation that helps specialists of diverse scientific backgrounds enter the stage and provide solutions. Even if a person has a unique control network, you still have automation and sensors that will have to process large amounts of data. It means that even a single failure can create havoc. This is where one should have special smart city branches where one can fix things and establish alternative connectivity that can become an emergency.
Business District VS Downtown
It is one of the most challenging aspects when it comes to architectural innovation. This is where the Internet of Things comes into play, as one has to manage the management of available data and bandwidth expansion possibilities. The demand for smart services will be different as well, as there is a density factor and the presence of less populated areas. One has to focus on the free real estate space and the installation of smart technologies on the sidewalks. The same is true for traffic control management systems, where additional control and safety zones must be present and made accessible.
Local Leaders and Policymakers
No matter how many technical solutions we might install for the future smart city, the presence of strict policies and leadership should always come first. The difficult part here is the readiness of inhabitants to follow the rules and live within existing limitations. Since there will be those who will ignore smart policies, one has to provide safe environments and instructions with immediate alerts and violation policies. One has to invest in the right infrastructure that will encompass all types of people. It has to create an example or a template that everyone will be able to see. This is what has to be done before a smart city unveils itself. It can be compared to regulation of the traffic jams by implementing policies and making them known. One should remember that it all comes down to morals and economics because we all live in the same environment where large portions of data circulate all the time. It is necessary to avoid the punishment by making people listen and learn, more on CADdetails.com. While we cannot bring everyone to the same variable, it is still possible to help people understand and learn the rules of smart city management.
Automation VS Human Analysis
While this aspect is rather complex, innovative architectural solutions should not focus on automation all the time. The use of smart technologies should not replace our analysis and the list of physical actions. The smart city should not block itself once an emergency situation occurs. When automation prevents something from happening, it can become a problem. The same is true when dealing with a virus in the system, as people won’t be able to control or change things. This is the danger of smart city implementations where automation takes a greater role. One has to allow people to stay in control and implement so-called “analog” solutions. As every engineer will tell you, there is an old method to get things fixed while the system will not even notice an error. Therefore, one should provide instructions that can help to get things fixed when the smart part of the city fails or becomes irresponsive. It has to be made accessible and offer more than one language. One must see that technology should not replace human analysis. It will help to have a “Plan B” and increase the overall security of the smart city.
The Cultural Element
The implementation of a smart city and the use of IoT should not ignore the presence of cultural factors and socio-geographical elements. While these may not be visible right away, installing a smart city in the Middle East is not the same as doing that somewhere in California. While we have cultural weekend days and religious holidays, one should add more cultural points to the smart city architecture to show respect and care. It will help to make the technology more accessible and eliminate various generational or cultural gaps. Respect should always come first when designing things!
The Four Major Layers of a Smart City Architecture
No matter what architectural innovation you plan to choose, you will deal with at least four layers that will outline the structure of a smart city. While we are dealing with basic networking, we still have to focus on reflective and analytical work. The four layers that we shall encounter include the sensor layer, the network layer, the so-called platform layer, and the final application layer. To make things simpler, one should talk about the connection between physical things and the technical side of building a smart city correctly. This is exactly what a person should explore as one has to connect what we can see and touch with the artificial platform that helps to guess what we need as we deal with a transportation route or a sensor layer where we control air conditioning. This is what we experience through the application layer. Understanding these layers will help to apply all four concepts and provide a practical smart city architecture without missing all the vital elements.
Author Bio: Jodi Williams is a technician and an educator who pursues artificial intelligence, virtual reality, augmented science, and the Internet of Things studies. She loves to explore and share helpful tips for students who want to learn various complex aspects and seek innovative solutions. Follow Jodi to learn how you can use smart technologies for educational and professional purposes and creative work.
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