Smart Micro-Cities: Decentralization of Access and Decision Making

Abstract

A smart city is interconnected and data driven. Indian cities in particular are way denser than western ones, and heavily reliant on retrofitting. Urban population in India will double by 2040. An average smart tier-2 city is projected to have at-least 1000 surveillance cameras, 200 environmental sensors, 300 Wi-Fi hotspots generating more than a million gigabytes data per day. Data generated across the city should be processed to make any meaningful contribution. Big data analytics tools are essential but the insights may not be relevant when data is generalized across the city. Data decentralization for smart cities involves breaking up city administration into more manageable chunks. One way to achieve this is with smart micro-cities. Individual micro-cities will have the necessary set of tools to make localized decisions. The idea that all the data flows to a central data centre where the central authority takes all the necessary actions is short sighted if not insufficient. Decision making needs be decentralized with relevant data accessible by people on ground. Smart microcities offer a unique balanced approach towards decentralization. Smart micro cities embody the spirit and identity of the larger city and at the same time functions closer to the citizen. Individual micro city will look to optimize the local resources, engages citizens and reduces the number of external interactions needed. The implications of decentralization in each city component may be different. City leaders cannot take a ‘one-size-fits-all’ approach towards implementing smart solutions and need to be proactive in identifying the right approach for the needs of the city.