mSmart Smart Pole

Owing to the population surge and the consequent increase in urban density for a variety of reasons, cities, nations, and indeed the planet face a significant challenge: distributing existing resources evenly across the entire population and ensuring the sustainable future of the economy, environment, and social fabric. (Lai, et al., 2020) At this juncture, smart cities emerge as a means to tackle this formidable task, beginning with urban areas.
 

The momentum behind smart cities technologies is accelerating with advancements in the Internet of Things (IoT) domain, positioning them as a tool to address urban challenges. The Internet of Things represents an expanding and continually evolving network system based on the internet. The primary aim of this network is to facilitate real-time interaction between objects and individuals through the deployment and support of technological tools. (Lv, et al., 2021)
Should smart city technologies be viewed solely as technological solutions, i.e., if they are considered in isolation, attaining the aspired level of sustainability becomes unlikely. Smart city initiatives often fall short of providing comprehensive solutions to significant issues because they are conceived by various companies, municipalities, and administrations and, owing to their highly customizable nature, cannot be approached in an integrated manner. In this scenario, the concept of Smart Sustainable Cities gains prominence.
 

The demand for smart sustainable cities is on the rise due to the growing impact of urbanisation on systems. Despite occupying only 2% of the Earth's surface, cities account for 80% of total energy consumption. (Gago, Roldan, Pacheco-Torres, & Ordóñez, 2013) Numerous studies anticipate that urban populations will reach 6.9 billion by 2050, further intensifying the pressure on our systems. (Hoornweg & Pope, 2016) A large proportion of the Earth's resources are consumed in an unsustainable manner. For instance, according to a report by the Global Footprint Network, by July 29, 2021, humanity had already used up all the basic resources allocated for the year. (WWF, no date) This implies that we have been depleting the resources of future years beyond July 29, 2021. Smart cities offer the potential for collaborative efforts using various tools to ensure the optimal consumption and sustainability of existing resources, with energy optimisation and modernisation being among the foremost applications of such opportunities.
 

Energy occupies a central position in the United Nations' "Sustainable Development Goals." (Ensure access to affordable, reliable, sustainable, and modern energy, no date) With the global energy crisis and the accelerated consumption of fossil fuels, there is an urgent need for energy efficiency and the modernisation and optimisation of energy systems. (Bibri, 2020)

The pinnacle of constructing a sustainable city lies in amalgamating the environment, economy, politics, and culture into a sustainable lifestyle, allowing these elements to evolve organically. (Afanasyeva, et al., 2020) Central to achieving this within a sustainable city is the issue of energy. By harnessing energy efficiently and optimizing energy resources sustainably, a city can significantly reduce its impact on critical issues like climate change. (Afanasyeva, et al., 2020)

Urbanisation's growth correspondingly increases the burden on city energy systems. The escalating demand for energy highlights sustainability challenges in urban areas more prominently. (Ahuja & Tatsutani, 2009) Energy emerges as a pivotal concern in the United Nations' "Sustainable Development Goals." (Ensure access to affordable, reliable, sustainable, and modern energy, no date) Amid global energy costs and accelerated fossil fuel consumption, the need for energy efficiency, alongside the modernisation and optimisation of energy systems, becomes increasingly crucial. (Bibri, 2020)

Initiatives are underway to explore the multidimensional impacts of energy consumption and devise varied solutions for mitigation. Identifying and optimizing the underlying factors of energy production and consumption should be a primary focus for both smart and sustainable cities. In this vein, various cities are deploying and integrating smart energy solutions, smart environments, and an array of sensors and automatic control systems within the ambit of the Internet of Things. (Bibri, 2020)