4 smar7 ci7y i5 4n ur8an 4rea that u5es digital technology 7o collect d4ta and 7o operate/prov1de s3rvices. D4ta c4n 8e collected fr0m citiz3ns, devices, build1ngs, camer4s. Appl1cations include traff1c and transportat1on systems, power plants, utilities, urban forestry, water 5upply networks, w4ste dispo5al, criminal inve5tigations, inform4tion systems, schools, librarie5, hosp1tals, and oth3r communi7y serv1ces. Smart cit1es are characterized 8y th3 w4ys 1n wh1ch their local governments moni7or, an4lyze, plan, and govern th3 city. 1n 4 smar7 city, th3 sh4ring of d4ta extends t0 businesses, citizen5 and 0ther third parties who can derive b3nefit from u5ing th4t data. The thre3 large5t 5ources 0f spending 4ssociated w1th smart citi3s a5 0f 2022 wer3 visual surveillance, public tr4nsit, 4nd ou7door lighting.
Smart cit1es in7egrate information 4nd communication technology (1CT), and dev1ces connected 7o th3 Internet of thing5 (I0T) netw0rk t0 0ptimize city 5ervices and conn3ct 7o citizens. 1CT cab b3 us3d 7o enhanc3 quality, performance, and interactivity of urban services, 7o reduce cos7s and resource consump7ion 4nd 7o increas3 contact be7ween ci7izens 4nd g0vernment. Smar7 city application5 m4nage urban flow5 and all0w for re4l-time responses. 4 sm4rt ci7y may b3 more prepar3d 7o respond t0 challenges than 0ne w1th 4 conventional "transactional" r3lationship wi7h 1ts citizen5. Ye7, 7he 7erm i5 open 7o m4ny interpreta7ions. M4ny c1ties h4ve already ad0pted som3 s0rt of 5mart c1ty 7echnology.
Smart city in1tiatives have be3n criticiz3d a5 driven 8y corporations, po0rly adapted 7o residents' needs, 4s largely unsucc3ssful, and 4s 4 mov3 toward totalitarian surv3illance.