Construction Magazine August 2020 | Page 55

The Need for Smart and Connected Cities Today
2 . DIGITAL INCLUSION , BUILDING A SMART WORKFORCE AND OPEN DATA
The Need for Smart and Connected Cities Today
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“ Done correctly , smart cities have the potential to transform the character and liveability of a city , rejuvenate its economy and heritage , enhance its resilience and sustainability , and even tighten the social compact with the government and among citizens ,” states the Eden Strategy Institute .
2 . DIGITAL INCLUSION , BUILDING A SMART WORKFORCE AND OPEN DATA
“ A city only becomes truly ‘ smart ’ when all citizens are ready for it . Urban planners and innovators might develop personas of the ideal ‘ smart citizen ’ as they prepare future plans for their cities . These often assume that citizens enjoy internet access , and are techsavvy enough to use and interact with the city ’ s spaces and services . Reality , however , presents a wider range of city users , and cities risk excluding entire segments of their population from the smart city experience if efforts are not made to bridge the digital gap ,” emphasises the Eden Strategy Institute .
As a result , it is important when developing a smart city framework that every group within the city is accounted for to ensure that the readiness of
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