Smart Cities, Smart US: International Models

Abstract

As I write this chapter, “smart cities” are mushrooming all around the world, mostly in Asia and the Middle East. Smart cities are those where urban performance is measured against a city’s hard infrastructure and its attention to the environment;¹ the accessibility to, and use of, information and communication technologies (ICTs), both for the urban population and the public administration,² as well as its human and social capital. It is estimated that smart cities offer a US$13 billion market opportunity over the next three to five years, compelling major technology companies to compete against each other in the global market to work on high-tech solutions to urban problems.³ While much of the technology is provided by American companies, American cities have fallen behind in this global race for “smarting up.” I believe that this is a missed opportunity, and in this chapter I would like to speculate on ways in which American cities can step up to the challenge and join the trend from overseas.