As more everyday objects are made with network connectivity capabilities, (also referred to as, “The Internet of Things”) the possibilities of staying connected are reaching places they never were before. Out of these technological frontiers, perhaps the most exciting is the public sector and the development of Smart Cities.
As smart city technology advances, what does it mean for transportation? We’ll explain what exactly a smart city is and how ot will benefit infrastructure and citizens. We’ll also discuss how Windshieldink and license plate messaging fits into future smart city development.
How does a Smart City work?
We’re a long ways off from the floating cities seen in sci-fi movies but you can still expect a lot of conveniences and connectivity from smart cities. With the use of sensors, internet connectivity, and data management, smart cities will be able to provide valuable information on safety, energy, waste, water, and transportation.
The trick to an effective and cohesive smart city is connecting all the different aspects that make up a city. Some of the main components include:
- Smart Energy
- Smart Transportation
- Smart Data
- Smart Infrastructure
- Smart Devices
Here’s an example from AT&T in Dade County.
Benefits of a Smart City
Ultimately, the purpose of a smart city is to enhance the quality of life for residents by making urban environments safer, more eco-friendly, and convenient. An example of convenient smart-city technology currently in use is public transit tracking that shows the rider the distance and arrival time of their train or bus. The ability to purchase and use digital public transportation tickets is another example.
Imagine the ability of having your internet history or phone data synced to your vehicle to receive real-time updates or warnings on changing water and quality, traffic, and more. With smart technology, as soon as you purchase tickets to an event, GPS directions to the event location could be automatically synced to your vehicle.
Applications using sensor technology are continuously being developed. As more cities get on board, we could see energy being saved by only lighting streets when a car approaches, or save on water used in public irrigation and monitored plant watering systems of which have already been implemented in some cities. The goal is to bring this convenience and energy efficiency into all urban areas.
What does Smart City mean for transportation?
With the development of smart cars and driverless cars, transportation is already one of the fastest growing components of smart cities.
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration have proposed a new rule which requires automakers to equip all vehicles to include vehicle-to-vehicle (V2V) communication. This technology will allow cars to communicate with each other and alert drivers of traffic and potential dangers ahead of time.
Other benefits for transportation is improved routing of emergency vehicles via GPS, traffic light controls, the use of smart traffic management to help motorists find the fastest routes to take. These changes help reduce the carbon footprint. They also makes life a heck of alot easier for citizens.
How does Windshieldink fit in with Smart Cities?
With Windshieldink’s license plate messaging platform, we’ve provided a way to connect everyone who shares the road. Our goal is for the app to play a role in smart city development, by allowing city officials to contact vehicle owners. Cities have come out with ways of sending messages to the public to warn about street maintenance or weather warnings. The full potential has yet to be tapped into.
The ability of license plate recognition systems contacting vehicle owners can be implemented in a myriad of ways; if you’re driving the wrong way down a one-way street, or if you’ve driven onto a toll road system are examples of why the city sensors might want to contact you.
While Windshieldink has kicked off as a user-to-user community platform, its functionality has been to enable smart cities to take advantage of our communication platform. If you want to be a part of a connected city and help make your roads safer, sign up today and become part of the future!
We hope you enjoyed this article. Continue to read more of our blogs on our website. You can also sign up for our newsletter or follow us on Twitter, Facebook or Instagram .
The Windshieldink app is free and available on the App Store and get it on Google Play. It’s free to download, free to register and free to send messages!
We’re interested in hearing from you. Send your comments or questions to admin@windshieldink.com.
