The concept of a “smart city” encompasses more than just advanced technologies and connected buildings. Their true value lies in their ability to adapt and evolve in response to changing needs and crises. However, there is another area in which smart cities must focus their efforts: that of the Cognitive City. A Cognitive City is not merely intelligent; it proactively learns, evolves, and adapts, thanks to systems capable of processing information cognitively, anticipating needs, and constantly improving. In this article, we will examine how certain cities have responded to contemporary challenges with flexibility and resilience, and how they are transitioning towards becoming Cognitive Cities. This is being achieved through the implementation of intelligent policies based on data, artificial intelligence, and citizen feedback. The most striking example is the response of smart cities to the pandemic, but many other initiatives demonstrate the positive impact of this adaptive, evolutionary, and cognitive approach.
Pandemic management: intelligent and cognitive adaptation in real time
During the recent pandemic, numerous smart cities showcased their capacity to adapt swiftly and effectively. In South Korea, the city of Seoul leveraged its sophisticated data collection systems to rapidly identify and trace the contacts of infected individuals, effectively containing the spread of the virus. This initiative exemplifies how smart cities can utilize technology to respond to health crises while upholding citizens’ privacy. By transitioning towards a cognitive approach, these cities can anticipate trends and take proactive measures before situations escalate, relying on advanced predictive models.
In Europe, Amsterdam was an early adopter of public space management systems to ensure social distancing guidelines were adhered to. By utilizing sensors distributed throughout the city, the authorities were able to monitor crowds in parks and public spaces in real time, enabling them to adjust recommendations to citizens in a timely manner. This ongoing feedback loop, coupled with resident input, has enabled Amsterdam to strike a balance between health, safety, and social well-being.
The ability to adapt to changing circumstances is essential in urban environments with urban flexibility and adaptive mobility
In the area of urban mobility, rapid adaptation has also been crucial. In response to the pandemic, the city of Milan, Italy, undertook a redesign of its infrastructure, creating additional bicycle lanes and facilitating soft mobility to promote safer and more sustainable transportation options. This flexibility enabled the city to meet the new mobility needs of citizens, who sought to avoid overcrowded public transportation. This is an excellent example of how smart cities can adapt their infrastructure to meet new challenges, making them more resilient in the face of crises. As we move towards Cognitive Cities, mobility infrastructures are becoming more than just reactive. They are predictive, analyzing data in real time to anticipate mobility needs and adjust supply accordingly, sometimes even before demand is expressed.
The city of Bogotá in Colombia is a case in point. It reacted swiftly by extending its network of temporary bicycle lanes during the pandemic. The initiative was so well received that many lanes were made permanent, showing how a temporary measure can be transformed into a sustainable public policy when data and citizen feedback justify it.
Open governance, citizen participation, and collective intelligence
The flexibility of smart cities relies not only on technology, but also on open governance. In Taipei, the municipality adopted a co-creation approach with its citizens to effectively manage the pandemic. Online platforms enabled residents to report mask shortages and trouble spots in the city, facilitating a more equitable distribution of resources. Digital Minister Audrey Tang was instrumental in this innovative approach, which empowered every citizen to play a pivotal role in the crisis response. In a Cognitive City, collective intelligence is amplified by technology. Citizen feedback is analyzed using artificial intelligence to identify trends, detect emerging problems, and enable the city to adapt in real time. This enables citizens to become active co-designers of their urban environment.
Similarly, Helsinki, Finland, has established a digital platform that allows citizens to submit proposals for adapting post-pandemic urban spaces. This feedback facilitated the swift adaptation of infrastructure and reinforced trust between the authorities and the population, a crucial factor in effectively addressing future crises.
The impact of data, citizen feedback, and cognitive intelligence
These examples illustrate that the efficacy of smart cities hinges on the strategic utilization of data and the active engagement of citizens. Successful pandemic management initiatives have demonstrated that when data is collected and shared transparently, and citizens are involved in the decision-making process, cities are able to adapt quickly to changing situations.
Smart cities are not static entities; they are designed to evolve, reshape, and reinvent themselves in response to the changing needs of their inhabitants. The advent of Cognitive Cities introduces a new dimension to this ability to adapt. By integrating cognitive systems, these cities can learn from each crisis, constantly improve, and anticipate future needs. It is no longer sufficient to merely adapt; we must also adopt a forward-thinking and proactive approach to resilience. The global impact of the pandemic presented an invaluable opportunity to assess the resilience, flexibility, and evolution of smart cities as they transition towards cognitive entities.
I encourage you to consider how we can transform our cities into Cognitive Cities, where flexibility, adaptability, and collective intelligence are the hallmarks of our urban environments. These cities not only respond to crises but also anticipate them, proactively enhancing the quality of life for all citizens. Let us collectively envision cities that learn, adapt, and prioritize the well-being of their inhabitants, leveraging the power of cognitive intelligence.
