Smart Cities, what is the situation in Spain?

The term smart cities is quite new and has not yet been officially adopted in our language. But smart cities are already a very close reality. So much so that most people reading these lines will probably reside in a smart city within 30 years. Beyond the term used to describe sustainable urban hubs, the reality is that advanced and ecological metropolises are very close to becoming the norm. The Organization of the United Nations (UN) explains that by 2050, 70% of the world's population will live in smart cities.

According to the OECD, this new city model is not only the future but also something necessary. "We have witnessed unprecedented growth and prosperity in recent decades, with the size of the global economy tripling and the population increasing to more than 300 billion people since 1970," warns the organization's report, which then highlights the challenges ahead.

"This growth, however, has come hand in hand with an increase in environmental pollution and a decrease in natural resources; and the current growth model along with resource wastage could undermine future development." This is a compelling reason for smart cities.

However, what can we say that smart cities are? While there is no widely approved definition by most international organizations, a smart city is understood to be one that "achieves efficient management in all areas of the city," such as urbanism, infrastructure, transportation, services, education, health, public safety, and energy, to meet the needs of the city and its citizens. This is explained in the Smart Cities White Paper, a reference manual.

To explain it better, smart cities must predominantly meet the following requirements:

• Energy efficiency. Sometimes, when we think of smart cities, we envision an interconnected world. While this is true, the main intention of this urban model is to have rational energy use and to focus on sustainability.
• Natural resources must be managed efficiently in conjunction with urban space management. The aim should be to utilize resources, not just economically. For example, a smart city sees it as more important for a neighborhood to have better airflow and natural light than to have more commercial establishments.
• In order to improve citizens' lives, communication networks and smart facilities are created. Everything is connected, and sensors are used to utilize only the necessary energy and avoid waste, as well as to prevent accidents or traffic jams. If traffic congestion is avoided, energy savings are significant for both residents and the city.
• A commonly mentioned concept when referring to smart cities is that they should use technology for the well-being of the population rather than for greater economic gains.
• Large databases are needed to help eliminate problems or provide sufficient prevention against weather, social, or other unexpected situations.
• The Government plays a fundamental role in ensuring that all procedures can be carried out online and that digital tools are better utilized.
• New technological services will be created that are solely focused on improving citizens' conditions.

What will we see in the smart cities of the future? Probably, a greater installation of solar panels and wind turbines on streetlights, as well as the popularization of electric transport, all signals powered by photovoltaic plates, and a push for bicycle usage. There will also be significant incentives for rainwater collection and reuse.

Clean air in smart cities

While the concept of smart cities is still new enough that there is no overarching regulation, the governments of the European Union are already moving in that direction. A clear example is the push for clean air in the metropolises undertaken by many countries and the effort to reduce the high energy costs of buildings.

In Spain, the Technical Building Code, in its Basic Document HS3 regarding health, establishes the necessary use of mechanical ventilation systems to guarantee air quality that is in line with significant energy savings.

The immediate future of smart cities in Spain, without a doubt, lies in the Nearly Zero Energy Buildings. Starting in 2020, all buildings in Spain will have to comply with European regulations on energy efficiency, which is a major step forward for smart cities.