Cities and Their Buildings Are Getting Smarter

LAS VEGAS—Visions for futuristic cities where life-improving technologies proliferate have been around since the dawn of science fiction. But are we approaching a point where we can realistically expect to see these technologies in action? Depending on the technology in question, the answer is increasingly yes. In a previous article on the subject, Jeremy Kelly, a lead director at JLL said that “In this digital age, governments, urban planners and businesses see an opportunity to use technologies—from artificial intelligence to sensors— to enhance where communities live, work and play.”

These issues were discussed during a breakout session titled “Smart Cities and Smart Buildings” at the CREW National Convention 2021, here in Las Vegas, where panelists also talked about how cities of the future will offer a wide array of “smart technologies.”

The only right answer of “what is smart” begins with data, said speaker Fred Ellermeier, VP of Connected Communities at Black & Veatch. According to Ellermeier, “Everything that goes into the definition of ‘what is smart’ ends with how data is used. What it takes to be smart is whether or not there is a communication infrastructure in place that can move that data around to where it needs to go.” He also explained that having those progressive public leaders—from the standpoint of technology—to put all the correct ingredients together. 

Jennifer Saunders, executive director of the Dallas Innovation Alliance, agreed, noting that smart cities and smart buildings are really the combination of sustainability, design ability and data. “We look at people first, and then look at how we can take problems and use technology as a catalyst and as a tool,” she said. “And sometimes the things that make a city ‘smart’ are things the tenant would not know anything about.” 

Moderator Darlene Pope, president of Planon, said that when you look at all the things that can go into a smart building and a smart city, connectivity is a huge piece of it and making sense out of all the data is key. “The data itself isn’t what makes it smart. It is taking that data and understanding what it means and then taking that information and making the building respond in real time.”

According to Ellermeier, it is important to look for a seamless transition from outward to inward. “It is about digitizing cities, which leads to monetization of data.” He added that smart cities really leverage information and communications technology and data analytics.

The enabling communications infrastructure for the smart city system includes fiber optic cable, WiFi-cellular low-powered wide-area wireless solutions, 5G edge processing and hybrid solutions, panelists said. “It is about better services overall,” said Saunders. 

Smart buildings and smart cities are really two completely different things, explained Pope. “If you take the same application of data technology inside the building so we could tell if the building was crowded and understand real time occupancy in the buildings using the same technologies that we are used to…we need to think of what we aren’t doing in the public space that we are doing in the private space and why.”

But adaption is a big challenge, panelists said. “Financials is the single biggest barrier,” said Saunders. “Cities are accelerating facilitating faster permit time but we need more examples of the ROI.” 

Check back with GlobeSt.com for more live coverage from the CREW National Convention.