Masdar Smart City and Robotics - GineersNow Engineering Magazine Masdar: The Future of Sustainable City in Abu Dhab | Page 72

THE 10 SMARTEST
CITIES IN THE
WORLD
Cities around the world are constantly shifting to modern technologies, especially
in information and communication, in order to provide a higher quality of life.
Every opportunity for innovation is embraced by these cities – rightfully called to
be smart cities – towards efficient use of resources, savings in cost and energy,
and reduced environmental footprint. Such efforts are reflected to the cultural
assets, human infrastructure, and networked markets of the city.
Among the many cities true to their initiatives of urban progress by innovations,
here are 10 cities that are worthy models of a smart city:
VIENNA
With programs like the Smart Energy Vision 2050,
Roadmap 2020, and Action Plan 2012,-2015, Vienna is
one of the smartest cities in the world with laser focus
in improving the lives of the people. The city does well in
almost every aspect of urbanization including innovation,
green technologies, quality of life, and digital governance.
Their strategies are leaned on Vienna’s planners who make
decisions cohesive to the cities’ targets.
Photo by: Urban Transform
TORONTO
If there’s a city in North America that is worthy to be
included in the smart cities list, that’s Toronto. The city has
a target towards a low-carbon economy (being an active
member of the Clinton 40 megacities), and its private
sector also contributing with the Smart Commute Toronto
initiative, that aims to increase transit efficiency in the
metro area. It also began using natural gas from landfills
to power the city’s garbage trucks.
Photo by: Navigatored
72
JULY 2016
Future Cities & Robotics