Building a Better World

Smart city initiatives are creating the framework for a more sustainable world.

- Aron Vaughan

It’s a Monday morning, and Murphy’s Law is in full effect. The alarm was set an hour later than intended and the spouse, child and dog have penetrated your inner calm like an invading army breaching castle walls. All before 8 am. You approach the heavy oak front door and swing it wide with reckless abandon, hoping to gain precious seconds back — a ploy that increases the likelihood of making it to the office on time by 0.1%.

But something miraculous happens when the threshold to the world is crossed: the spring air is crisp and clean. Birds sing and chirp and flutter from one hibiscus tree to the next. The sound of traffic is characterized by a gentle hum as vehicles come your way and now speed away in a most organized fashion. Cyclists almost outnumber cars as the morning rush reaches its daily crescendo.

You exhale and begin your seven-block trek to work. This idyllic scene may seem far-fetched or unattainable, but the transformation of urban areas to smart, regenerative, sustainable cities has already begun. Everything is smart nowadays. It’s the new paradigm for our phones, watches and even our homes, and now, our cities are following suit.

How Do We Turn Established Cities Into Something Smarter?

The first step toward creating a smart city is utilizing the digital intelligence we hold in our hands — sometimes obsessively — throughout the day.