Commentary
Why the future belongs to wise cities, not just smart ones
Smart cities are powered by technology. Wise cities are grounded in human values.
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Urban policy has been shaped by the idea of smart cities, powered by technology. We have to go beyond that and create wise cities, grounded in human values, says the writer.
ST PHOTO: KELVIN CHNG
For more than two decades, the idea of the smart city has shaped urban policy around the world.
The promise was compelling. By harnessing data, sensors, digital platforms and advanced analytics, cities could become more efficient, sustainable and responsive. Traffic congestion could be reduced. Energy consumption could be optimised. Public services could be delivered with greater precision. Urban systems could be monitored in real time and managed with unprecedented sophistication.
