The emergence of citizen engagement applications has helped improve the quality of life in urban and rural areas. There are different aspects over which apps have had a positive influence, such as safety, time and convenience, health, environmental quality, social connections, civic participation, jobs and the cost of living. Below are some of the advantages of a citizen engagement application.
Surveillance Systems
Using smart technology in cities can reduce incidents of assault, robbery, burglary and auto theft by 30 to 40%. Smart apps like home security systems, gunshot detection and smart surveillance can optimize response times for emergency services and police.
Thanks to smart cities, fire detection methods are more efficient. Sensors can be used to monitor parks and wooded areas that are prone to wildfires. The sensors could also sense fires in buildings and send out immediate calls to emergency responders and the fire department.
Traffic-free Transportation
It has been predicted that, by 2026, cities will be able to cut commuting times by 15 to 25% by using smart citizen engagement applications. Apps and smart transportation systems using sensors embedded in roads and street lights can warn commuters about delays and send navigation alerts of heavy traffic congestion in real-time so they can adjust their commuting methods or change up their driving routes and pick a quicker path to their destination.
IoT sensors on physical structures can also predict when they need to be repaired before breaking down and causing traffic delays. This then helps to reduce the overall travel time and prevent the overuse of fuel.
Sustainable Living Environment
The use of smart technology in cities is a helpful way to cut down on emissions, track water consumption and air quality levels. According to the latest statistics, cities can save between 30 to 80 liters of water per person each day. Sensors can detect and monitor leaks, runoff, wildlife, and changes in water pressure.
Sensors can also be used for smart waste management. They can detect when waste containers are full around the city so sanitation workers are efficient with their routes and garbage pickup locations. Buildings are also using smart technology to remain energy efficient by connecting their energy usage to a mobile device so that certain tasks, like controlling the thermostat, can be managed remotely.
