7 Best Practices of Highly Effective Smart Cities

The 7 Best Practices of Highly Effective Smart Cities

The smartest cities ensure all citizens are engaged and connected

Stantec has long believed that the smartest cities put people first. Now we have proof.

Reach out to stakeholders to demonstrate the value of smart projects

96% Leaders

40% Implementers

Leaders use a mix of internal and external staff on their smart initiatives. They rarely go it alone and never rely solely on consultants.

The smartest cities build internal capacity, but outsource when necessary

Smart Initiatives Staffing Mix

88% Internal and external staff

12% Internal staff only

0% External staff only

The world’s smartest cities deploy technology to securely interconnect key areas of their urban ecosystems: transportation, utilities, buildings, public spaces, and more.

The smartest cities take a holistic view of ROI

Many cities only consider economic ROI. But Leaders track a wide range of factors that make cities better places to live.

Implementers

40% Internal and external staff

28% Internal staff only

32% External staff only

Who are the world's smartest cities?

The Building a Hyperconnected City research initiative—conducted by ESI ThoughtLab and co-sponsored by Stantec—explores how 100 smart cities across the globe use data and technology to transform and interconnect each area of their urban ecosystem. The research findings include the Hyperconnected Cities Maturity Index, which ranks the 100 cities into three categories. In this infographic, we compare Leaders (i.e. the Smartest Cities) with Implementers to establish the best practices of highly effective smart cities.

Ensure city’s shareholders are actively engaged in smart city initiatives

80% Leaders

54% Implementers

Audit social groups in danger of exclusion as city services become digitized

68% Leaders

8% Implementers

1/3

2/3

3/3

1/2

2/2

This involves understanding and monitoring ROI, identifying funding sources, and planning for success.

The smartest cities develop and monitor the business case for smart technology

Partner with technology providers

1/2

Leaders avoid outsourcing technology programs. They build partnerships and maintain control of development and implementation efforts.

The smartest cities build technology partnerships

88%

Almost three-quarters of leading cities have an innovation hub to promote the use of advanced technologies. Here’s what they’re doing.

The smartest cities capitalize on advanced technologies, securely

How? By starting with effective policies, systems, and partnerships.

The smartest cities generate more value from data

Improved health and well-being

Reduced carbon/GHG emissions

Reduced crime

Increased tourism

Greater commerce

Economic

Partner with academic institutions

52% Implementers

64% Leaders

52% Leaders

40% Implementers

0% Leaders

28% Implementers

12% Leaders

40% Implementers

Outsource development

Outsource implementation to consultants

2/2

01 02 03 04 05 06 07

56%

48%

40%

36%

32%

16%

28%

20%

64%

AI Usage by Urban Area

Security 5G AI AR/VR

AR/VR

Security

Have or will be implementing 5G

80% Leaders

12% Implementers

Implementers

Leaders

92%

Consider cybersecurity early

40% Leaders

Buildings, schools, and public spaces

16% Leaders

24% Leaders

28% Leaders

Mobility and transportation

Public safety, health, and well being

Environment and sustainability

0% Implementers

Document the business case for all projects

1/4

36% Implementers

68% Leaders

32% Implementers

72% Leaders

Develop a detailed implementation plan

2/4

40% Implementers

60% Leaders

Develop a detailed funding plan

3/4

36% Implementers

56% Leaders

Monitor ROI to see if projects are performing as planned

4/4

40% Implementers

68% Leaders

Cities with a flexible data policy that keeps up with changing technologies

2/4

36% Implementers

72% Leaders

Cities with a written data policy to ensure proper use and development of data

1/4

28% Implementers

68% Leaders

Cities with a citywide data management system

3/4

48% Implementers

80% Leaders

Cities that work with outside entities to gather data

4/4

AR/VR Use now or in 3 Years

The 25 cities that are the most advanced at interconnecting their urban ecosystem and are seeing significant economic, business, and social benefits.

The 50 cities that are making progress towards interconnecting their urban ecosystem and are starting to see benefits.

The 25 cities in earlier stages of interconnecting their urban ecosystem.

Singapore Hong Kong New York Seoul London Melbourne Copenhagen Dublin Madrid Cambridge Sydney Chicago Boston Washington DC

Beijing Detroit Helsinki Paris Rome Toronto Berlin Barcelona Milan Ottawa Shenzhen

Increased renewable energy usage

Increased water quality

Higher productivity

Reduced congestion

Increased citizen engagement

Safer communities

Montreal Los Angeles Philadelphia Atlanta Munich Stockholm Tokyo Birmingham, UK Baltimore Vancouver Vienna Orlando Geneva Oslo

Tel Aviv Charlotte Houston Shanghai Zurich Brisbane New Delhi Istanbul Moscow Amsterdam Bristol Abu Dhabi Austin Brussels

Hyderabad Monterrey Amman Kiev Dhaka Ho Chi Minh Lima Jersey City Cairo Mexico City Chengdu

Bratislava Tampa Warsaw Johannesburg Sofia Cape Town Bangkok Buenos Aires Guangzhou Santiago Muscat Riyadh Bogota Bangalore

Explore the 7 Best Practices

The 25 most advanced cities

The 25 cities in earlier stages

The 25 most advanced cities

The 25 cities in earlier stages

The 25 most advanced cities

Types of ROI Tracked

Leaders

Implementers

Smartest Cities

The 25 cities in earlier stages

The 25 most advanced cities

The 25 cities in earlier stages

The 25 most advanced cities

The 25 cities in earlier stages

The 25 most advanced cities

Feel prepared for cyberattacks

72%

40%

Environment and sustainability

Public safety, health, and well being

Buildings, schools, and public spaces

Mobility and transportation

Water and waste management

Energy and electricity

The 25 cities in earlier stages

The 25 most advanced cities

Dallas Chongqing Calgary Minneapolis Nashville Dubai Edmonton Bucharest Louisville Doha Denver Miami Athens Kansas City

Download Building a Hyperconnected City

Leaders Advancers Implementers

Implementers

Advancers

Leaders

Columbus Saint Petersburg Reykjavik Prague Sao Paulo Bilbao Jakarta Tallinn