How Digital Transformation Helps Create More Sustainable Megacities
Megacities—urban agglomerations around the world with more than 10 million inhabitants—are bound to become more common with increased migration. In search of better economic opportunities, enhanced living standards, and access to improved social services, more people are opting to move from rural communities and into these urban spaces.
This, in turn, drives the demand for housing, infrastructure, and services even further, leading to the expansion of these already burdened environments. This phenomenon, known as urban sprawl, often results in the inefficient use of land and resources, the development of urban blight, and an increase in pollution levels.
It’s a must to respond to the challenges presented by urban sprawl and population growth in a sustainable manner. Prioritising sustainable development ensures that the needs of the present generation are met without endangering future generations’ capacity to meet the needs of their own. Digital transformation plays a key role in sustainably addressing the challenges brought about by urbanisation while setting a solid foundation for future city dwellers. Here are some of the ways in which the wide adoption of digital technologies can help holistically support the growth of megacities.
Enhance Energy Management
A sprawling, densely populated city consumes a lot of energy. At the same time, measures should be set in place to continuously optimise energy consumption, reduce waste, and lower carbon emissions as a city grows. Smart technologies are crucial to achieving these endeavours. Smart grids, for one, allow the efficient distribution of electricity and the integration of renewable energy sources, such as solar and wind power, to the energy system. Likewise, various energy management software can help monitor and control the real-time use of energy to ensure efficiency.
Many global cities are actively improving their power systems and energy management capabilities to create more sustainable urban environments for their inhabitants. One of these is Barcelona, Spain, which is actively working with Spanish electric company Endessa to digitalise its energy distribution networks. Another is the city of San Francisco in California, which offers residents, businesses, and multi-family property managers access to energy efficiency and rebate programs that will incentivise them to monitor and reduce their electricity consumption.
Improve Water and Waste Management Initiatives
Sustainable water and waste management are critical components of megacity development. These places, after all, require a lot of water and generate significant volumes of waste. IoT sensors can be especially useful in monitoring water quality and usage, detecting leaks, and optimising water distribution.
Smart meters allow for real-time monitoring of water consumption and waste collection, promoting efficient resource use. Data analytics also complements IoT sensors and smart meters by providing insights into water and waste management patterns. These, among other smart devices and systems, can help city authorities make informed decisions on how to sustainably manage their resources and reduce their carbon footprint.
Enable Better Urban Planning and Management
Advanced building management and urban planning technologies are vital for creating cities that are in harmony with the environment and where people actually enjoy living in. The use of building information modelling (BIM) makes it possible to plan and manage building projects and ensure that they make efficient use of resources. The buildings can integrate smart technologies to automate and optimise the utilisation of facilities and services such as lighting, heating, and cooling.
Digital twins, which make use of virtual models of physical objects such as cities and buildings, can help planners simulate urban development and determine how individual projects can impact the cityscape. These technologies can make it easier for city planners to create sustainable and resilient urban environments that offer residents an improved quality of life.
Optimise Traffic and Promote the Use of Mass Transportation Systems
Traffic congestion is currently a common problem among densely populated urban areas. This is an area where intelligent transportation services (ITS), electric vehicles (EVs), autonomous vehicles, and mobility-as-a-service (MaaS) platforms can make a significant difference.
Supported by sensors and advanced 5G networks and solutions, ITS uses real-time data to manage traffic flow. These systems can reduce congestion, enhance public transportation efficiency, and effectively make public transportation a more attractive option for commuters. EVs and autonomous vehicles, meanwhile, offer cleaner, more efficient alternatives to traditional fossil fuel-powered cars.
The wider adoption of these transportation options in urban areas can significantly reduce tailpipe emissions and increase the demand for clean energy sources. There are also MaaS platforms, which integrate various transportation services to provide users with comprehensive yet seamless mobility options. The easy access to highly customisable yet economical modes of transportation can reduce private car use and ease congestion in cities.
Singapore is a prime example of a city with efficient transportation. Its expansive network of expressways and road tunnels, which spans more than 160 KM, makes use of ITS to guide traffic flow, maximise road network efficiency, and improve safety. The city’s extensive rail systems, likewise, utilise smart networks and devices to keep trains running smoothly.
Ease Access to Public Services and Governance
Governments must be able to keep up with the growing number of urban residents, and they can do this by leveraging digital transformation to make services more accessible to the public. For one, E-governance platforms can provide citizens with online access to various public services.
By making information and services available through secure digital portals and mobile apps, government agencies can improve their service delivery efficiency without necessarily investing in additional physical infrastructure. The integration of blockchain technology into public databases, meanwhile, ensures accurate and transparent recordkeeping, which can help governments earn public trust as well as reduce fraud and corruption.
As the global population continues to migrate to urban areas, it is essential to prioritise sustainability in the development of megacities. Digital transformation offers powerful tools and technologies that can help cities become more efficient, resilient, and sustainable. By integrating the use of smart technologies in planning and managing megacities, city leaders can create sustainable urban environments that meet the needs of current and future generations.