The city of the future will be a “Smart City”.
The camera and sensors and all of the other measurable that are being implemented will minimally be looking to monitor the following:
- Air quality
- Pedestrian traffic
- Energy production
- Energy usage
- Health and activity
The idea behind this is for the allocation of resources. As all cities budgets get squeezed, they are looking for data streams that will justify the reallocation of resources as they become scarcer. Whether it be police, fire and street cleaning to road and light repairs and plowing.
With data there come agendas, for knowledge is power and those who have the knowledge have the ability to wield power. This knowledge is seldom used for the common good.
So watch as Chicago and the suburbs gather more information to see what they do with the knowledge.