Cities' digital transformation: A worldwide view
Explore the digital transformation of urban areas from a worldwide viewpoint in this insightful article. Analyze the impact of technology on city development, infrastructure, and everyday life while understanding various case studies and innovative solutions from different parts of the globe.
TroibNews 
In Wuxi, located in eastern China, all 1,723 traffic lights have been integrated into a central network to improve traffic control, as the city endeavors to be the first to establish the "internet of vehicles."
East of Wuxi lies Shanghai, where digital twin technology is employed for building maintenance—managers can receive real-time alerts about potential risks and address them before incidents occur.
As society continues to progress, the demands of its population increase correspondingly. Urban development faces challenges like resource imbalances and insufficient infrastructure, making the role of digital urban governance especially crucial.
The concepts of "smart city" and "smart governance" have gained rapid traction globally, with many nations striving to leverage digital technology to improve urban intelligence, convenience, efficiency, and cleanliness.
In May 2024, China's National Development and Reform Commission, in collaboration with three other ministries, released a guideline emphasizing that the digital and intelligent evolution of cities is vital for enhancing their competitive edge in the future.
The guideline also advocates for a comprehensive breakthrough in the digital transformation of cities nationwide by 2030, promoting the emergence of many Chinese-style modern cities with global competitiveness in the age of digital civilization.
China has made considerable progress in developing smart cities. "China's smart city construction has achieved a series of landmark results, such as Shanghai's 'one-stop management' and Fujian's 'ecological cloud,'" stated Chen Ronghui, deputy head of the National Data Bureau.
Chen further noted that these developments have strengthened urban governance capabilities and improved the sense of benefit and satisfaction among citizens.
With a demographic advantage and a large domestic market, China's digital economy has rapidly advanced over the past 20 years, with digital technology influencing nearly every area of society.
Hangzhou, a leader in smart city initiatives, was among the first to provide free Wi-Fi, adopt a "treatment before payment" model in hospitals, and introduce mobile applications for government, tourism, and community services.
Hangzhou has established itself as the world's largest city for mobile payments. "I have been to more than 30 countries around the world, yet I've not encountered a city as convenient as Hangzhou—where one can effortlessly manage all daily activities without cash. It's really amazing!" remarked a German internet celebrity who has lived in China for over seven years.
This trend is also visible outside of China. In Shibuya District, Tokyo has implemented a "smart city policy" aimed at enhancing urban infrastructure and services, thereby improving the quality of life for both residents and tourists.
Additionally, Florence in Italy has actively utilized smart technologies to improve traffic efficiency and promote green, low-carbon development.
Athens has successfully emerged from a debt crisis and was recognized as the 2018 European Capital of Innovation through its smart city initiatives.
On September 25th, Hangzhou in eastern China's Zhejiang Province will host the Global Mayors Dialogue, gathering mayors or representatives from 24 cities across 15 countries and regions. Anticipation builds for the new stories of Smart City that will be shared by mayors during the forum.
Olivia Brown contributed to this report for TROIB News
East of Wuxi lies Shanghai, where digital twin technology is employed for building maintenance—managers can receive real-time alerts about potential risks and address them before incidents occur.
As society continues to progress, the demands of its population increase correspondingly. Urban development faces challenges like resource imbalances and insufficient infrastructure, making the role of digital urban governance especially crucial.
The concepts of "smart city" and "smart governance" have gained rapid traction globally, with many nations striving to leverage digital technology to improve urban intelligence, convenience, efficiency, and cleanliness.
In May 2024, China's National Development and Reform Commission, in collaboration with three other ministries, released a guideline emphasizing that the digital and intelligent evolution of cities is vital for enhancing their competitive edge in the future.
The guideline also advocates for a comprehensive breakthrough in the digital transformation of cities nationwide by 2030, promoting the emergence of many Chinese-style modern cities with global competitiveness in the age of digital civilization.
China has made considerable progress in developing smart cities. "China's smart city construction has achieved a series of landmark results, such as Shanghai's 'one-stop management' and Fujian's 'ecological cloud,'" stated Chen Ronghui, deputy head of the National Data Bureau.
Chen further noted that these developments have strengthened urban governance capabilities and improved the sense of benefit and satisfaction among citizens.
With a demographic advantage and a large domestic market, China's digital economy has rapidly advanced over the past 20 years, with digital technology influencing nearly every area of society.
Hangzhou, a leader in smart city initiatives, was among the first to provide free Wi-Fi, adopt a "treatment before payment" model in hospitals, and introduce mobile applications for government, tourism, and community services.
Hangzhou has established itself as the world's largest city for mobile payments. "I have been to more than 30 countries around the world, yet I've not encountered a city as convenient as Hangzhou—where one can effortlessly manage all daily activities without cash. It's really amazing!" remarked a German internet celebrity who has lived in China for over seven years.
This trend is also visible outside of China. In Shibuya District, Tokyo has implemented a "smart city policy" aimed at enhancing urban infrastructure and services, thereby improving the quality of life for both residents and tourists.
Additionally, Florence in Italy has actively utilized smart technologies to improve traffic efficiency and promote green, low-carbon development.
Athens has successfully emerged from a debt crisis and was recognized as the 2018 European Capital of Innovation through its smart city initiatives.
On September 25th, Hangzhou in eastern China's Zhejiang Province will host the Global Mayors Dialogue, gathering mayors or representatives from 24 cities across 15 countries and regions. Anticipation builds for the new stories of Smart City that will be shared by mayors during the forum.
Olivia Brown contributed to this report for TROIB News
