Foreword

Smart city initiatives offer a variety of technologies that can be used to address infrastructure issues such as ageing infrastructure and rising demand. However, due to technological, financial, and social constraints and criticisms that limit the implementation of smart cities concepts for infrastructure management, the promise for infrastructure and urban improvement remains unmet. Several cities are experiencing overcrowding, resulting in a scarcity of resources. A community's difficulties are caused by a social and economic imbalance among its inhabitants. As technology grows, the thought of computer science and internet of things are often used into designing sensible cities, which might gradually tackle many problems in a very synchronic society.

The building of a smart city requires large investments by the government. Nonetheless, it is one of the best changes possible in lifestyles if done with conscious implementation. Smart cities are designed for optimum usage of space and resources along with an efficient and optimum distribution of benefits. It also aims at increasing connectivity at various levels among citizens, as well as between the administration and population. Public properties such as schools, roads, and hospitals are improved. The system can tackle several redundancies of the present system and save time and money. As technology is rapidly advancing, one can acknowledge that one needs to develop their lifestyles accordingly to adapt to present-day demands.

Smart cities are meant to be environment-friendly. There are devices, which can keep track of air purity level, as well as other environmental and health-related factors. The investment in such a city should also include the maintenance of a conscious work-force which shall review and amend the system. Therefore, a smart city shall only reach a wholesome stage if it stands up to the social and psychological needs of the population.

This endeavor “Facets of a Smart City: Computational and Experimental Techniques for Sustainable Urban Development” seeks to collect a coherent whole of studies aimed at the best computational and experimental techniques developed for building of smart cities.

The studies presented in this edited book, through expert writers of various chapters, are aimed at improving policy efficiency, reduce waste and inconvenience, improve social and economic quality, and maximize social inclusion for sustainable urban development. The chapters presented provide very relevant methodologies used by researchersand policy makers on information modelling, internet of things, intelligent transportation systems, water supply, waste management and sustainable environment.

It is my hope that this book will serve a wide range of audience from graduate students, novice researchers, academics, and people working in the areas of information modelling, internet of things and sustainable development.