IoT applications promote the rapid development of smart cities

The Internet of Things is a technology that has continued to develop rapidly in recent years, and it is rapidly defining cutting-edge innovations around the world.
More and more cities are implementing smart city technologies to enhance urban operations. From smart lighting to smart parking to environmental monitors, city leaders are installing thousands of devices to collect data that can be analyzed to provide better resident experiences and increase the efficiency of city systems.
A recently released study titled "The IoT Maturity Journey" describes how policymakers in the US and UK are thinking. The study, a follow-up to work in 2017, was commissioned by the Wi-Sun Alliance, a global not-for-profit industry association of more than 300 member companies whose mission is to drive the proliferation of global interoperability for Wireless solutions for smart cities, smart grids, and other Internet of Things (IoT) applications using open global standards.
This is evidenced by the Wi-Sun Alliance's recent survey of IT decision-makers in UK and US public and private organizations, with more than 90% of respondents recognizing that they must invest in IoT over the next 12 months to remain competitive. Meanwhile, 83 percent believe an IoT strategy is critical to their business, not just beneficial. Модуль 4G
However, the Wi-Sun Alliance also found some more surprising results.
Early IoT adopters are more likely to venture into the IoT pool cautiously, focusing on discrete projects that offer quick wins. Today, however, organizations that continue to pursue IoT initiatives are now often jumping in headfirst, recognizing the competitive advantage they bring.
As their confidence in IoT solutions grows, they may have recognized that the technology presents additional opportunities for digital transformation, and may build on these early successes—and become more Ambitious.
In fact, 87% of organizations say they are very likely or certain to deploy IoT initiatives in the next 12-18 months, up from 77% in 2017.
So where do these ambitions lead? Here we look at some of the most common use cases where IoT technology will be deployed.
Security and Monitoring
IoT will be most commonly used to enhance security and monitoring, with 87% of respondents planning to deploy the technology for this purpose within the next 12-18 months, followed by distribution automation, advanced metering infrastructure and waste management.
traffic management
Traffic management is also on the organization's IoT radar. Smart parking has seen the largest increase in such initiatives over the past five years — 77 percent, up from 57 percent in 2017 — while traffic lights and controls are also on the rise, this time by 18 percentage points.
Environmental monitoring
We also saw demand for noise and air sensors rise from 62% in 2017 to 79%, while those planning an EV charging plan also grew from 66% to 79%, clearly showing the need for sustainable applications and Greater attention. Interestingly, 7% of respondents now cite environmental protection as the top driver for IoT projects in 2022, up from just 1% in 2017.
Smart Street Light
The Wi-SUN Alliance has been at the forefront of the growth of smart street lighting as city authorities look to control energy use and costs. The City of London's lighting modernization project is a prime example, where Wi-SUN FAN technology was used to connect more than 12,000 lights over three years. According to our research, nearly three-quarters (72%) of respondents plan to implement a street lighting program within the next 12-18 months.
Each of these use cases demonstrates a different potential for IoT solutions to help address the challenges posed by urban population growth.
As city-centric challenges continue to intensify, it's exciting to see organizations adopting new technology in this way.
Underlying all of these activities is a communications infrastructure that must provide secure, reliable access. With the average city generating approximately 180 million gigabytes of data per day, reliable connectivity is critical for a fully functioning system. The IoT Maturity Report shows that an increasing number of city experts are designing hybrid systems that include a combination of cellular and mesh networks created through wireless access point (WAP) node connections. Модуль Bluetooth
As more and more of these systems come online, the challenges and complexities increase along with the opportunities to deliver better city services. The technical challenges of cybersecurity and the complexities of deploying and upgrading IT infrastructure are gaining traction. The market is also demanding new levels of interoperability and industry-wide open standards for IoT deployments. This is a disruptive force for business models but, if managed properly, can invite new levels of public engagement and innovation. 
Cities are a mixture of old and new, dynamic forces and changing technologies. Keeping up with the changing attitudes and priorities of technologists driving and responding to the needs of smart cities is an important activity. We must benchmark where we have been and where we are going to best understand the future of cities.