K
Kathleen Martin
Guest
Smart technology has played an intrinsic role for London, helping people to work, travel and live more efficiently. The capital’s Chief Digital Officer Theo Blackwell outlines what City Hall are planning to improve outcomes for Londoners and keep them better connected.
A ‘smart city’ describes how digital, data and technology together respond to citizens’ needs in new and improved ways. In other words, the technology sits alongside an approach to citizens’ data, how to identify need and design services. In a large and complex city like London, there is also a need for innovation to be shared easily across administrative boundaries and in partnership with others. So in 2018 the Mayor of London’s Smarter London Together Roadmap set a new direction focusing on better city-wide collaboration around design-thinking, joining up useful data, digital infrastructure improvements, growing local talent and innovation collaboration across the 32 boroughs.
London’s smart history over the last two decades includes the Congestion Charge, contactless payment and the Ultra-Low Emission Zone: all smart city technologies now part of London’s (and Londoners’) everyday way of life. Open data platforms at Transport for London (TfL) and the Greater London Authority drive services vital for the city to plan and promote jobs and growth through to mobile apps helping Londoners’ plan their daily commute. We have growing expertise in piloting emerging technologies such as connected autonomous vehicles and advanced smart energy systems as well the large pilot-at-scale of e-scooters announced last year.
City Hall’s open innovation calls enable swift, design-led prototyping of new products and services by the tech sector in partnership with boroughs or agencies and using publicly-held assets or data. Examples since 2018 include reducing congestion by heavy goods vehicles; curb-side electric vehicle charging trials; 3D modelling for planning; and a successful mobile app, Go Jauntly, promoting healthy walking routes around the city.
The arrival of 5G networks makes internet speeds faster, provides vast amounts of real-time data and allows the processing of data quickly and support a new generation of services and applications above and beyond those already in place. In a 2020 report commissioned by the Mayor on London’s ‘advanced tech stack’ over the next decade, the Digital Catapult anticipates an acceleration in the availability of smart city emerging technologies including networks of sensors, cameras, drones, robotics, mobility services, augmented and virtual reality, and automated and algorithmic decision-making. Take-up is also expected to rise rapidly as capability grows, costs lower and even more uses are tested and developed.
Alongside the growth of consumer and industrial application of these emerging technologies they will also play an important role in our ambitions around Net Zero, tackling congestion and improving air quality, culture and public art, personal health and law enforcement.
Continue reading: https://www.centreforlondon.org/blog/londons-future-as-a-smart-city/
A ‘smart city’ describes how digital, data and technology together respond to citizens’ needs in new and improved ways. In other words, the technology sits alongside an approach to citizens’ data, how to identify need and design services. In a large and complex city like London, there is also a need for innovation to be shared easily across administrative boundaries and in partnership with others. So in 2018 the Mayor of London’s Smarter London Together Roadmap set a new direction focusing on better city-wide collaboration around design-thinking, joining up useful data, digital infrastructure improvements, growing local talent and innovation collaboration across the 32 boroughs.
London’s smart history over the last two decades includes the Congestion Charge, contactless payment and the Ultra-Low Emission Zone: all smart city technologies now part of London’s (and Londoners’) everyday way of life. Open data platforms at Transport for London (TfL) and the Greater London Authority drive services vital for the city to plan and promote jobs and growth through to mobile apps helping Londoners’ plan their daily commute. We have growing expertise in piloting emerging technologies such as connected autonomous vehicles and advanced smart energy systems as well the large pilot-at-scale of e-scooters announced last year.
City Hall’s open innovation calls enable swift, design-led prototyping of new products and services by the tech sector in partnership with boroughs or agencies and using publicly-held assets or data. Examples since 2018 include reducing congestion by heavy goods vehicles; curb-side electric vehicle charging trials; 3D modelling for planning; and a successful mobile app, Go Jauntly, promoting healthy walking routes around the city.
The arrival of 5G networks makes internet speeds faster, provides vast amounts of real-time data and allows the processing of data quickly and support a new generation of services and applications above and beyond those already in place. In a 2020 report commissioned by the Mayor on London’s ‘advanced tech stack’ over the next decade, the Digital Catapult anticipates an acceleration in the availability of smart city emerging technologies including networks of sensors, cameras, drones, robotics, mobility services, augmented and virtual reality, and automated and algorithmic decision-making. Take-up is also expected to rise rapidly as capability grows, costs lower and even more uses are tested and developed.
Alongside the growth of consumer and industrial application of these emerging technologies they will also play an important role in our ambitions around Net Zero, tackling congestion and improving air quality, culture and public art, personal health and law enforcement.
Continue reading: https://www.centreforlondon.org/blog/londons-future-as-a-smart-city/
