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Bottom-Up Smart Cities
BUILDING AUTOMATION
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Bottom-Up Smart Cities
BUILDING AUTOMATION
Clean air, electric cars gliding silently through the streets, rooftop gardens supplying people with radishes and tomatoes - smart cities should be our reality by 2050. But how will we transform today's overcrowded concrete jungles into the ultra-modern, clean cities of tomorrow?
The modern world is undergoing rapid urbanization, presenting one of the many challenges for the city of the future. A holistic approach is emerging worldwide to address this: smart cities. These cities are designed to enhance the quality of life for their residents. However, how will we transform today's urban chaos into the ultra-modern, clean cities of tomorrow? What is essential for an ordinary city to become a smart city?
Let's start at the beginning. By definition, a smart city utilizes advanced technologies and data from various sources, all with a singular goal: to reduce environmental impact and use resources efficiently, ultimately improving the quality of life.
So how much better can our lives become?
The cities of the future should strive to achieve carbon neutrality. Does that sound unrealistic?
This aspiration may seem ambitious, but it is indeed achievable. This goal becomes realistic through the concerted effort of reducing emissions from both vehicles and factories, transitioning towards sustainable energy sources such as solar panels and wind turbines. Additionally, the integration of urban infrastructure will play a pivotal role, fostering efficient communication among energy supply, transportation systems, water, wastewater management, and other essential urban services. This interconnectedness not only optimizes energy consumption but also facilitates the widespread utilization of renewable energy sources.
Daily contact with nature is acknowledged as a crucial element of meaningful urban life. Equally important is the ethical responsibility of cities to preserve nature as a shared habitat for both non-human life and people. In this manner, nature and urban space seamlessly blend into a sustainable living philosophy within the context of the smart city.
Space-saving living: Condensed Living
Condensed living, or compact living, maximizes the efficient use of living space. When a single room serves as a living area, office, gym, and dining room, substantial space and energy are conserved. As a result, rooms with specific designated purposes will undergo a transformation from their current conventional forms.
A glance out of the window will reveal a completely new cityscape: efficient buildings comprised of compact residential units featuring photovoltaic systems and rainwater tanks on every roof, charging stations for electric cars, safe cycle paths everywhere—and, finally, abundant greenery. There will be attractive indoor gardens and green spaces on balconies, roofs, exterior walls, and between the streets. Smart cities embrace a biophilic philosophy.
This not only implies smaller apartments but also involves intelligent interior design and the utilization of multifunctional furniture—a captivating solution that enables us to live comfortably in just a few square meters without compromising on amenities.
Space-saving living: Condensed Living
Condensed living, or compact living, maximizes the efficient use of living space. When a single room serves as a living area, office, gym, and dining room, substantial space and energy are conserved. As a result, rooms with specific designated purposes will undergo a transformation from their current conventional forms.
A glance out of the window will reveal a completely new cityscape: efficient buildings comprised of compact residential units featuring photovoltaic systems and rainwater tanks on every roof, charging stations for electric cars, safe cycle paths everywhere—and, finally, abundant greenery. There will be attractive indoor gardens and green spaces on balconies, roofs, exterior walls, and between the streets. Smart cities embrace a biophilic philosophy.
This not only implies smaller apartments but also involves intelligent interior design and the utilization of multifunctional furniture—a captivating solution that enables us to live comfortably in just a few square meters without compromising on amenities.
Space that enriches in many ways
Public space is utilized in various scenarios, including modern office buildings and business centers. These spaces often feature coworking areas shared by both companies and individuals. Intelligent reservation systems and access controls facilitate communal use. Consider the Neubad Lucerne, where an indoor pool doubles as a studio—a creative repurposing of valuable space. This trend reflects a shift from dedicating spaces to a single activity to making them versatile for different occasions. Furthermore, smart benches, equipped with integrated USB charging technology, Wi-Fi access points, and sensors, gather environmental information in parks. Residents use these benches not only for relaxation but also for online connectivity.
But who says that the parks of the future will be solely dedicated to relaxation and environmental analysis? At the same time, they serve as communal gardens where food is grown in the heart of the city. Embracing sustainability and fostering a sense of community, the potential for shared public spaces appears endless. From interactive art installations and sports activity areas to residential complexes with communal kitchens, the possibilities are diverse.
Bottom-up mentality for urban development
Yet, there is more to consider. Take the crucial aspect of urban development, for instance. The bottom-up mentality of the smart city stands in stark contrast to the conventional top-down principle—our traditional understanding of planning is entirely different. Presently, planning authorities are enforcing fundamental principles, and landowners, along with investors, ensure structural implementation. In contrast, the bottom-up approach implies that the residents actively contribute to shaping the city they inhabit. After all, cities are inconceivable without people, without social diversity, and without the vibrant mix of residents spanning all ages and backgrounds. They are the lifeblood of city living.
“Who is developing the city to make it smarter, greener, or more livable? The decisive factor for a smart city is the bottom-up principle—driving urban development through its residents.
Therefore, they should also be the driving force.
Smart Technology for People
Finally, residents can interact with the city administration through apps and online platforms. All the urban data collected is freely accessible, and its analysis enables well-founded decisions to be made—from traffic management and resource allocation to the planning of new green spaces.
The decisive prerequisite for residents is to voice their concerns and needs and for the city to actively drive planning. This may well be the crucial innovation that transforms an ordinary city into a smart city. From the outset, ABB’s focus has been singular: to reduce energy consumption as efficiently as possible and create a sustainable, livable environment for people. As experts in electrical installation technology, modern building technology, and automation solutions, we are undertaking the pioneering task of advancing the vision of the smart city.
But it doesn't end there. This vision is already being put into practice, ranging from small switches to holistic systems. With cutting-edge technology for people and innovative solutions, we aim to contribute to a green future with a high quality of life.