Smart cities are more than just high-tech infrastructure and data-driven solutions. The real magic happens when communities get involved, creating smart but also vibrant, and inclusive cities.
Here are 10 examples of how smart cities can boost community and civic engagement.
1. Participatory Budgeting
Participatory budgeting is like crowdfunding for city projects. Residents get to decide how a portion of the city’s budget is spent. Montréal’s participatory budget is a great example. In its third edition, Montréal earmarked $45 million for projects proposed and chosen by the population.
The idea-collection ended in March 2023 with 850 proposals from citizens. Committees of city representatives and civil society members are now developing these ideas into projects.
Voting to select the winning projects will be held in Winter 2025. This process ensures that the projects funded are ones that people actually want and need, fostering a stronger connection between residents and their community.
2. Smart Public Spaces
Imagine parks with free Wi-Fi, benches that charge your phone, and interactive art installations. Vancouver is a shining example of a smart city initiative. The city runs on over 90% sustainable energy and emits the fewest greenhouse gases per capita of any major North American city.
Vancouver has achieved these impressive results by leveraging real-time data and technology to enhance connectivity, sustainability, and convenience.
Smart city initiatives in Vancouver include accessible Wi-Fi in over 700 public spaces, wired bike-sharing programs, electric vehicle plug-in spots, and video feeds at busy intersections to smooth traffic flow. Vancouver’s green plan has also advanced due to mandates for green buildings, renewable energy, and sustainable mass transit.
These smart public spaces encourage people to get out, interact with their environment, and form stronger community bonds.
3. Citizen Science Projects
Citizen science projects invite people to collect data and contribute to scientific research. The NOAA Environmental Science Training Center offers workshops for educators, equipping them with the knowledge and tools to teach students about climate change, fisheries science, and water quality.
These workshops help educators deliver meaningful watershed educational experiences, connecting regional educators with science content from NOAA and its partners.
Citizen science not only helps scientists gather more data but also educates the public about local environmental issues, making them feel more invested in their city.
4. Digital Town Halls
Traditional town hall meetings can be hard to attend. Digital town halls, held online, make it easier for people to participate. Cocoflo’s cloud-based community engagement platform includes an interactive event calendar, making town halls, festivals, and meetings impossible to miss.
Residents can register interest and stay informed about updates directly through the calendar, streamlining event management for organizers. This increases transparency and trust in local government, allowing more people to join the conversation and share their perspectives and ideas.
5. Open Data Platforms
Cities generate a lot of data. Making this data open and accessible to the public can lead to all sorts of interesting uses. The Commonwealth of Virginia partnered with Cocoflo to integrate real-time sensor data into its public alert system, ensuring residents receive vital warnings about floods and other potential hazards more quickly and reliably.
Open data empowers people to analyze and understand their city in new ways, serving as a tool for both transparency and innovation.
6. Crowdsourced City Planning
City planning often feels like something that happens behind closed doors. Crowdsourced city planning changes that by involving residents in the process.
Design for San Diego’s 2017 Civic Challenge encouraged the development of innovative solutions to address the city’s most pressing issues of livability.
Participants were asked to propose solutions in categories like Housing and Homelessness, Mobility and Transportation, or Workforce Development. The selected finalists received grants to develop their proposals further, and the winning proposal received additional funding to implement its solution. This approach leads to better decisions and a city that reflects the needs and desires of its residents.
7. Smart Transportation Systems
Smart transportation systems use technology to improve public transit and reduce traffic congestion. Through apps and digital displays, the public can access real-time data on bus and train schedules, traffic conditions, and available parking. This not only improves daily commutes but also enhances the overall efficiency of the city. When people have better information, they can make smarter travel choices, contributing to a smoother-running city.
Canada is planning to implement Intelligent Transportation Systems (ITS) extensively before 2025. Defined by ITS Canada, these systems use advanced technologies to enhance transportation safety, efficiency, and sustainability. By integrating vehicles, infrastructure, and users dynamically, ITS aims to reduce congestion and environmental impact.
8. Community Wi-Fi Networks
Community Wi-Fi networks provide residents with free or low-cost internet access, particularly in underserved areas.
Washington, DC, exemplifies this approach by installing digital kiosks that offer free public Wi-Fi to promote citizen connectivity. The nation’s capital also uses AI and analytics from video cameras to monitor the movement of cars, bikes, buses, and pedestrians, and has added smart street lights to reduce energy use.
Access to the internet opens up opportunities for education, employment, and civic participation, ensuring everyone can participate in the digital age.
9. Interactive Public Art
Public art can be more than just something to look at. Interactive public art invites people to engage with it. In Montreal, a winter installation called “Impulse” featured seesaws with LED lights and speakers that produced sound as they moved.
This interactive installation transformed a simple urban plaza into a playground of light and sound, inviting civic engagement. Such installations help us imagine a city where play isn’t confined to playgrounds but woven into the fabric of everyday life, sparking conversations and bringing people together.
10. Neighborhood Apps
Neighborhood apps connect residents with each other and their local government. The City of Victoria’s Neighbourhood Team delivers programs to residents, community groups, and neighborhood associations to assist in building and enhancing relationships within neighborhoods.
These apps can report issues, organize community events, and share local news. They make it easier for people to stay informed and get involved in their community. When people know what’s going on, they’re more likely to participate and help out.
Building Better Cities Together: The Power of Community Engagement
Smart cities are about more than just high-tech gadgets. They’re about making urban life better for everyone. By focusing on community and civic engagement, cities can harness the power of their residents to create places that are not just smart but also vibrant and inclusive. These ten examples show how technology can unite people and empower them to shape their cities.
At the heart of these initiatives is the idea that technology should serve the people. Platforms like Cocoflo’s Cloud-Based City Services delivery platform exemplify this principle by making government services more accessible and transparent. By simplifying administration and reducing costs, Cocoflo not only enhances the efficiency of city management but also improves citizen engagement and their overall experience.
As we look to the future, it’s clear that the success of smart cities will depend not just on technological advancements but also on the active civic participation and engagement of their residents. Together, we can build cities that are intelligent, vibrant, inclusive, and truly reflective of the communities they serve.
