The novel coronavirus has upended the way we live our daily lives. But what will our world look like once it has come and gone? Leaders and citizens will undoubtedly reflect on lessons learned to see what can be done to protect against pandemics in the future.
Smart cities have emerged as a unique defense against disease spread, all while keeping citizens informed and up to date of government orders and viral information in real time. Read on to learn how smart cities can defend against pandemics through features such as contactless payment, disease tracking, geolocation data and more.
Contactless payment and autonomous delivery:
Contactless delivery is one way to keep the economy open while protecting workers and customers. In order to reopen safely, many restaurants and shops adapted to this new form of delivery where no human interaction takes place.
The rise of bitcoin and other virtual currencies have helped contactless delivery become a reality whereas traditional cash carries viral exposure risks. This is why many shops have stopped taking cash altogether during COVID-19.
Other new technologies such as delivery drones and autonomous vehicles will help facilitate contactless delivery in the future.
Smart cities that take control over autonomous delivery in pandemics of the future will be able to control and prioritize the shipments of medicines and goods coming into particular neighborhoods.
Disease tracking software:
Tracking disease spread in real-time is now possible through natural language processing and big data. Disease tracking software is designed to track outbreaks throughout the world, and in the case of the novel coronavirus, it did.
Private Canadian software company BlueDot alerted its users of an unusual cluster of pneumonia cases in Wuhan, China 10 days before the WHO alerted the world.
Expect smart cities of the future to invest heavily in this disease tracking software to keep up with real-time data on viral outbreaks.
Internet connectivity available to all:
Another smart city initiative that comes in handy during pandemics and other disasters is free internet connectivity. By offering free WiFi to citizens, regardless of age or socioeconomic status, it allows everyone to stay informed and stay safe.
Information kiosks, which can be updated in real-time, are another great way to spread information to the masses. Government’s can include the latest recommendations and findings throughout a city free of charge.
Geolocation data:
Your smartphone is already collecting geolocation data and selling it to third-party advertisers. This data tracks what time you wake up, where you go, and other behavioral patterns.
What if smart cities purchased this same data to help predict future human behavior? For example, cities could predict high traffic areas when creating social distancing orders and what time of day people are most likely to be out and about.
This data could help draft senior hours, enact curfews, and more.
