Digital Transformation Emerging Tech Wireless & IoT Smart cities and the evolution of great ideas into tangible benefits Glenn Weir @itworldca Published: April 4th, 2019It is an increasingly urban planet. In recent years, the prospect of better job opportunities and living conditions has been drawing people into urban centres in droves. This trend is set to continue into the immediate future:In 1950, 29 per cent of people worldwide lived in citiesIn 2008, 50 per cent lived in citiesIn 2040, 65 per cent will be living in cities (Source)The 600 most populous cities in the world generate 60 per cent of global GDP, while in the developing world up to 80 per cent of future economic growth will occur in cities. Cities have come face to face with their economic importance, and they see technology as their clearest path forward — to fulfilling the rising needs and aspirations of its residents, and to driving their future economic and social growth as “smart cities.” Register for webinar: Leveraging Smart Cities Ideas to Make a Difference for Citizens The smart city concept has gone mainstream. Every city from Toronto to Taipei is now trying to get smarter, and has come up with their own distinct roadmap to achieving their goals and to maintaining their status as leading-light innovators. Among cities, there is a range when it comes to smart city philosophy, from those that see the “smart city” as being 100 per cent tech-driven to those who see it as an entirely about the people.A key early-days challenge for any city is to determine what philosophy works best and will lead to the best economic, social, and environmental outcomes long term.At 1 pm on May 7th, join ITWC CIO and Chief Digital Officer Jim Love and City of Mississauga (Ontario) CIO Shawn Slack for Leveraging Smart Cities Ideas to Make a Difference for Citizens. In this hour-long session, Love and Slack will zero in on the potential benefits of “smart city thinking,” and will discuss in depth how future-minded municipalities can turn thoughts and ideas into real, tangible benefits.Among the topics to be explored:Leveraging data for better services, planning, and policyClearing the “How do we get started?” hurdleThe consolidation and sharing of data across multiple domainsThe role and issues of procurementPotential benefits to smaller municipalitiesRegister to attend Leveraging Smart Cities Ideas to Make a Difference for CitizensWould you recommend this article?00 Thanks for taking the time to let us know what you think of this article! We'd love to hear your opinion about this or any other story you read in our publication. Click this link to send me a note →Jim Love, Chief Content Officer, IT World Canada Related Download Sponsor: Carbon60 Moving to the Cloud: Beyond the Myths Get on the road to cloud success by moving past the myths around it. Register Now Digital Transformation, Emerging Tech, Wireless & IoT DX, future, Mississauga, smart cities