TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - A smart city is a city that utilizes communication and information technologies to improve government services and resource management efficiency.

The IMD Smart City Index examined 142 cities around the world which resulted in the list of ten of the world’s smartest cities. The index was based on city aspects including technology infrastructure and services, health, safety, mobility, and governance.

For the fourth year in a row, Zurich has been named the smartest city in the world. The city is ahead in terms of public transportation, basic sanitation, education, and public safety. Including Zurich, here’s the complete list of the top 10 world’s smartest cities.

List of the Smartest Cities in the World

1. Zurich, Switzerland

The city of Zurich in Switzerland occupies the first position as the smartest city in the world. The city is implementing various smart projects, such as the Pikmi on-demand taxi service, a LoRaWAN network for IoT sensors in public spaces that measure pollution and water quality, and Holo Planning technology with augmented reality glasses to visualize future infrastructure and buildings as semi-transparent 3D holograms.

2. Oslo, Norway

The Norwegian capital plans to widely use electric cars by 2025, despite its population of around 670,000 people. Oslo has introduced incentives for zero-emission cars such as free parking, bus lane access, and lower taxes and toll fares. Oslo is also working on smart projects such as zero-emission construction and building renovations to improve circular waste management and green energy systems.

3. Canberra, Australia

Canberra is one of the few non-European cities listed in the world's smartest cities index. The city has recorded significant achievements with low air pollution, extensive green spaces, and a high level of inclusivity.

Canberra has also integrated technology to improve the quality of life and attract new entrepreneurs and businesses, contributing to the city's thriving innovation cycle.

4. Geneva, Switzerland

Geneva took home the fourth position of the smartest city in the world. The city has implemented a smart parking system with sensors that notify drivers directly via their mobile phones, helping to significantly reduce traffic jams. Additionally, Geneva offers modular lighting, more sustainable recycling services, and efforts to improve public safety.

5. Singapore, Singapore

Since 2020, the city has become the center of Southeast Asia's first industry-led smart city lab. The Smart Urban Co-Innovation Lab involves more than 30 companies, including Amazon Web Services, Cisco Systems, and Schneider Electric, working with local technology companies and international partners to further develop smart city technologies.

6. Copenhagen, Denmark

Copenhagen is actively improving the cleanliness, health, and smartness of the city by tackling the issues of population growth. On the other hand, Copenhagen also facilitates free access to public data sources to drive innovation in the city’s technology, such as predicting free parking spaces by integrating historical, real-time data, algorithms, and machine learning.

7. Lausanne, Switzerland

The city plants more than 1,400 new trees every year. In addition, Lausanne provides digital services such as mobile applications for practical information to visitors and residents, as well as electronic administration services for registration, online reservations, transport information, and more.

8. London, England

Despite dropping two places from the previous year, London still scored highly in the convenience of online services such as transport bookings, Wi-Fi access, and online voting. London offers extensive transport via the Tube, buses, and boats, as well as bikes and scooters, making it a lively destination with a variety of activities throughout the week including restaurants, pubs, nightlife, concerts, and more.

9. Helsinki, Finland

Helsinki is ranked ninth as the smartest city in the world. The city offers a waste management system through underground pipes, extensive data analysis for planning and construction projects, as well as digital forms for efficient administrative procedures. Helsinki also provides incentives for its citizens to use environmentally friendly transportation such as walking with a reward system that can be exchanged for free sauna visits.

10. Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates

Abu Dhabi rose three positions to 10th in the index for its ease of transport, good sanitation, and high inclusivity rate. The city is also known for its intelligent transportation system which includes vehicle charging infrastructure and automated driving technology.

RIZKI DEWI AYU

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