Monterrey, NL. The need for a city to develop smart capabilities is linked to population growth, and the government’s ability to optimize and equitably distribute services. The cities with the greatest need to create smart solutions to be able to comply, despite their limitations, with the provision of public services, education and medical care, with a large population are: Mexico City, Puebla, Guadalajara and Monterrey.
So he commented Carlos Millán, partner of the area Global Strategy Group de KPMG México, in the Smart Cities in Mexico study, success factors.
“This model can also be adopted by cities with smaller populations, so that in a proactive and anticipated way they can build their route towards becoming a smart city”, Carlos Millán pointed out.
To access the benefits and unleash the potential of a smart and sustainable city, it is essential that the strategic definition, development and deployment of initiatives consider the following success factors: leadership and long-term vision and support from the public sector, public policy and regulation, integration, innovation, deployment in phases.
In context, he commented that in the face of climate change and probable future pandemics, it is critical to manage the growth of cities, given the challenge of increasing efficiency in new and existing infrastructure and taking into account that the different services available impact the quality of life of people.
According to the 2020 UN Habitat report, cities are main actors in promoting sustainable development, and the pandemic has given them the possibility of rebuilding under criteria of sustainability and inclusion.
“In this sense, technology plays an important role in having smart and efficient cities, also known as smart cities; however, the most relevant aspect is to place the citizen at the center of the development and deployment of these spaces ”, he mentioned.
The concept of a smart and sustainable city is based on promoting people’s quality of life through the use of technology and data; in such a way that it allows to minimize energy, waste and consumption of resources.
The success of a city of this type depends on certain variables; Among the most important are: citizen-centered design; optimal deployment of technology; transparency and efficiency and residents involved, informed and connected.
Guadalajara first Smart City
In Mexico, various efforts have been made to have smart cities. The Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) recognized several as smart cities. In 2015 Guadalajara was the first metropolis to be recognized for its smart and digital transformation initiatives after the implementation of the Ciudad Creativa Digital (CCD) project.
Likewise, in 2016 the IDB recognized Chihuahua for its wireless internet coverage, and in 2019 Mexico City received the Gobernarte award from the IDB for its innovative use of data in the public policy cycle.
For its part, the Confederation of Industrial Chambers of the United Mexican States (Concamin), selected the cities of Aguascalientes, Cuernavaca, León, Pachuca, Coatzacoalcos, Chetumal, Mérida, Oaxaca, Salina Cruz, Tuxtla Gutiérrez, Xalapa, Morelia and Mexicali to promote them as smart cities.
This new initiative seeks to support localities with processes of implementation and development of initiatives that improve their infrastructure and services, said the KPMG specialist in Mexico.
Reference-www.eleconomista.com.mx