Location Technology: The Role it Plays in Development of Smart Cities

As the concept of smart cities takes off across the globe, much attention has also been focussed on identifying technologies that can help further elevate these cities of the future. One of the leading names in that race is geolocation, i.e., location data technology. Now, we all know that every physical object in the world has a location, yes? What location technology does is then track the location data to collect data about the purpose, identify how it engages with other objects, and more. This data is then processed and analyzed to glean insights to help drive better, more data-driven decisions.

Similarly, this technology stands to help in the context of smart cities as well. In what ways? Well, in more ways than you and I would have imagined. It starts with efficient management of traffic to event management and real estate development — geolocation stands to help smart cities in every single aspect. And with the integration of advanced technologies such as artificial intelligence, big data, sensors, IoT, and more, the scope of leveraging location technology is further enhanced by combining these technologies and their outputs to track monitor, plan, and so much more. And to also demonstrate its value, we have listed some of the most compelling benefits of location technology in the context of smart cities.

1. To prevent crimes: The evolution of location technologies over the years has meant that the folks charged with ensuring our safety, i.e., police and security personnel, have access to unconventional means to deliver on their responsibilities. How? Well, for starters, they will be able to track individuals at all times within the city, thus allowing those in charge to ensure the safety of all residents. Such abilities, when used in combination with other advanced tools, can substantially boost crime prevention.
2. Efficient energy consumption: Energy consumption is a BIG problem for the entire world, especially in smart cities owing to the many new resources and technologies they tend to use. However, contrary to popular belief, smart cities can lower energy consumption by keeping a close eye on their usage patterns at all times. And when you have data about such habits, it becomes easier to adapt and implement strategies aimed at conserving energy.
3. Effective parking management: Of course, parking is a significant concern in most metropolitan areas owing to the high levels of population and traffic and not nearly enough space to accommodate the vehicles. This problem can extend to smart cities as well. However, here this problem is easier to deal with, thanks to location technology that tracks parking spots available in parking lots and then integrates it with maps to help drivers easily navigate to these spaces.

Location-based application development can boost the quality of any smart city service. However, to ensure their success, remember that the quality of development work must always be top-notch. Hence, be very careful when selecting a development partner for this endeavor.