With the Smart City Mascot on Horizon, India Takes the Lead on Environmental Issues
Humans are the most intelligent species on the planet. Our TVs are smart, our phones are smart, our cars, so are our watches, so why not our cities?
The concept of smart cities is not new. A smart city is a technologically developed urban area that collects data through various electronic methods. This data is then processed, and analysed to regulate traffic, power plants, utility services, water supply networks, waste, crime analysis, administrative systems, schools, libraries, medical facilities, and other community services.
The information derived from that data successfully manages assets, resources, and facilities. In essence, the inputs are measured in data format, analysed, and used for society’s benefits. For example, suppose the road traffic from one direction is heavy, and the other is light. In that case, the traffic signal is made intelligent enough to allow a longer green light for heavy traffic to go on longer, instead of a fixed interval. Such real-time correction ensures less stop-and-go traffic, thereby saving fuel.
Today, cities accommodate around 31% of the Indian population. By 2030, the cities will house 40% of the country’s population of approximately 600 million people. These statistics highlight India’s growing need and an importance of urban development. The current administration is aware of the increasing demands of urbanization and has taken concrete steps to make smart cities a reality.
With India’s 100 Smart Cities Mission, the government launched one of the most ambitious and far-reaching urbanization projects in history in 2015. This program aims to promote cities that provide essential infrastructure, a clean and sustainable environment, and intelligent solutions. The Smart Cities Mission is an ambitious initiative that will be replicated in different regions and parts of India.
The challenges ahead
Smart cities boost financial gains and improve the citizen’s quality of life. The government, tech experts, and city planners collaboratively transform this ambitious idea into reality. However, despite all these efforts, we still have a long way to go. This is because there are specific challenges for smart cities that are yet to be addressed.
The greatest challenge Indian cities face is not one of “smart” development, but of “sustainable development,” where ecological concerns are being addressed, pollution is controlled, and resources are used efficiently.
Before any other initiative, the issues hindering smart city success should be first considered and fixed. Funding is the biggest challenge to implementing a smart city strategy. Making cities smart means deploying smart, complex infrastructure for implementing digital technologies. Besides, tons and tons of smart devices must be integrated for data collection. In addition, to ensure success, governments must hire relevant tech experts and city planners. These internet-connected devices will transmit large chunks of data in real-time. Though this data helps to provide efficiency at municipality functions, it presents serious security risks that we can’t ignore. Data from parking lots, CCTV cameras, EV charging stations, and GPS systems contains citizens’ confidential information. Data theft and cyber security risk are real issues that we need to counter effectively.
The smart way to counter pollution
A smart city utilizes innovative systems such as air quality monitoring, energy-based optimization, and tracking of electricity, water, and waste can result in lower GHG emissions, fewer kilograms of solid waste per person per year, and water savings per person per day.
The technology framework includes connected devices and sensors, such as smartphones linked by high-speed communication networks. Intelligent applications and data analysis capabilities transform raw data into alerts, insights, and actions. Finally, widespread adoption and use of applications by cities, businesses, and the general public, combined with effective data management, encourage better decisions and behavioural changes.
How can Evirocor help?
Organizations like Evirocor can be collaborated with for better effectiveness of Smart Cities Mission. Oko earth-friendly food packaging and Oko E-packaging, which is waterproof with eco- barrier, compostable and recyclable, have been developed by Evirocor. Oko products are also part of the circular economy, and together with the Cortec-Revolution, the environmentally-friendly paper system, these characteristics set Evirocor apart in the market. Green packaging contributes to the company’s brand image. Environmentally-conscious customers recognize that Evirocor cares for and responsibly maintains the environment. They react positively to such changes, increasing the long-term return on investment.
Cortec-Revolution by Evirocor is a paper corrugating system that produces Oko earth-friendly food packaging and Oko E-Packaging. It reduces CO2 emissions by up to 95% because it requires NO HEAT INPUT during production. If all corrugated boards were manufactured by Evirocor methods, CO2 emissions would be reduced by millions of tons per year. This precisely blends with the idea of the Smart Cities Mission. The key to successfully implementing the smart city idea is to collaborate among various stakeholders, develop a long-term strategy, invest decisively through Public-Private Partnership (PPP), and slowly yet firmly develop sustainable solutions.