What Smart Cities of the Future Will Look Like

The emergence of Internet of Things technology is driving the development of smart cities in many booming metropolitan areas around the world. The visions that planners have for these cities are bold--from autonomous buses and free Wi-Fi throughout Barcelona to LED streetlights in Los Angeles that have sensors to monitor their conditions. Tangible benefits are all falling into place, like security, savings and sustainability, as well as attracting residents and businesses that want to capitalize on lower operating costs and position themselves at the forefront of the smart city revolution. With plenty of incentives for cities to embrace the tech future, here are the trends in the emerging social and digital arena. As IoT-connected devices become more commonplace, security becomes an increasingly important challenge.