As cities around the globe adopt smart technologies to tackle urban issues, Rotterdam seems like a great candidate to become a leading smart city. Looking at cities like Tokyo, Barcelona or Copenhagen, which uses advanced tech to manage urban systems efficiently, Rotterdam could definitely benefit from similar innovations to enhance its infrastructure and overall quality of life.
An area where Rotterdam could make strides is traffic management. By implementing IoT solutions like they do in other smart cities, Rotterdam could introduce real-time traffic monitoring and adaptive signal control systems. This would help manage traffic flow better, cut down on congestion, and reduce emissions. These systems use data from sensors to adjust traffic lights on the go, which is particularly important for a city with heavy port and commercial activity (Wolniak, 2023).
Another promising area is smart parking. While Rotterdam has some smart parking options, bringing these together into a single, centralized platform could greatly improve efficiency (Circontrol, 2023). Currently, parking systems are managed by all kinds of different providers, which can be confusing and inefficient. A unified platform would give drivers real-time information on parking spots across the city, making it easier to find a space and reducing traffic from drivers searching for parking (Circontrol, 2023).
Waste management is another field where smart tech could make a difference. IoT-enabled waste containers that notify when they’re full could make waste collection more efficient, cutting down on unnecessary pickups and lowering costs (Tokyo Updates, 2024). Tokyo’s smart waste management systems, which use data to optimize collection routes and schedules, offer a solid example of how Rotterdam could improve its waste management (Tokyo Updates, 2024).
Turning Rotterdam into a smart city will require significant investment and infrastructure changes. However, with its focus on innovation and sustainability, Rotterdam could integrate these technologies and join the ranks of smart cities like Tokyo, Barcelona, and Copenhagen. What do you think about Rotterdam’s chances of becoming a smart city? Could these innovations help solve urban challenges effectively?
Circontrol. (2023, October 25). Efficiency and convenience: discover the benefits of smart parking guidance | Circontrol. Circontrol. https://circontrol.com/efficiency-and-convenience-discover-the-benefits-of-smart-parking-guidance/#:~:text=Greater efficiency&text=This reduces the time spent,drivers and car park owners.
IoT Smart Trash Cans to Help Reduce City Garbage | TOKYO UPDATES [The Official Information Website of Tokyo Metropolitan Government]. (n.d.). TOKYO UPDATES [the Official Information Website of Tokyo Metropolitan Government]. https://www.tokyoupdates.metro.tokyo.lg.jp/en/post-1329/
Wolniak, N. (2023). Smart mobility in smart city – Copenhagen and Barcelona comparision. Scientific Papers of Silesian University of Technology Organization and Management Series, 2023(172). https://doi.org/10.29119/1641-3466.2023.172.41
