By 2050 it is estimated that 68 % of the world ’ s population will live in urban areas . That equates to another 2.5bn people living in cities – in 2018 the world ’ s urban population was 4.2bn . In the face of such rapid growth , cities are using innovative technology to improve sustainability , to better manage transport and infrastructure , be more energy efficient and to offer urbanites a better – and smarter – way of living .
Welcome to the smart city . Driven by data , these urban environments use interconnected digital technology from traffic lights and energy systems through to heating or even the buildings themselves . “ Smart cities are by definition , connected cities . They are cities where devices , systems , vehicles , whole environments and the people in them are communicating and collaborating ,” says Martin Woolley , Developer Relations Manager , Bluetooth Special Interests Group ( SIG ), a standards organisation with 33,000 member companies that take the Bluetooth standard and implement Bluetooth technology in products and services .
“ The pursuit of the smart city tends to be driven by general , wide-reaching concerns such as sustainability or by specific , local issues like air pollution , traffic congestion or growing energy costs ,” Woolley adds . “ Similarly , smart buildings
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