In the realm of urban development, the concept of a “smart city” has emerged as a revolutionary approach to addressing the challenges of urbanization. A smart city is a city that leverages digital technology, data, and intelligent design to improve the quality of life for its citizens, enhance sustainability, and streamline urban services. Number 1 Smart City 2023

At the heart of a smart city is the use of advanced technologies such as the Internet of Things (IoT), data analytics, artificial intelligence, and connected devices. These technologies enable the city to collect, analyze, and utilize data in real time, leading to more efficient decision-making and resource allocation.

A new study from Juniper Research, the foremost experts in the sustainability & IoT market, found that Shanghai is the leading smart city in 2023; and ranked first for the second year in a row.

The top 5 smart cities ranked by Juniper Research are:

1. Shanghai
2. New York
3. Toronto
4. Seoul
5. Shenzhen

Juniper Research’s ranking of 50 world cities is based on an evaluation of many different smart city aspects, covering transportation and infrastructure, energy and lighting, city management and technology, and urban connectivity.

The research analysed Shanghai as leading due to its Suishenban Citizen Cloud, which provides access to over 1,000 different services for city residents, as well as its strong deployment of 5G, and its use of innovative technologies including digital twins. The leading cities in this ranking have all rolled out services that are effectively harnessing data and connectivity to improve citizen experiences.

Research co-author Nick Maynard explained: “Shanghai has taken a joined-up approach to data; building not only a robust and all-encompassing data platform but also the connectivity to underpin every aspect of this. This joined-up approach is the biggest takeaway for rival cities wanting to emulate Shanghai’s achievements, and should be a part of any smart city initiative to ensure success.”

Potential Cost Savings Driving Smart City Deployments Number 1 Smart City 2023

• Cost savings from smart city deployments are forecast to reach $249 billion by 2028 globally, from $96 billion in 2023; representing a growth of 158%.
• Cost savings represent the monetary impacts of reduced energy usage and emissions from the deployment of smart grid, smart traffic management, and smart street lighting.

These massive savings are a major driver of smart city deployments, and will equate to almost 3 times the spend on smart city software and hardware by 2028; showing a clear path to return on investment for cities.

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