The spaces, structures, and services in our local communities have a massive impact on our health, wellbeing, and life satisfaction. And the infrastructure that supports it plays a critical role in this. But how does technology have the power to elevate this infrastructure even further?
Smart infrastructure – also known as connected infrastructure – is all about harnessing technology to boost connectivity and efficiency. It’s the use of sensors, intelligent systems, and other technologies and devices to capture data. Data that public bodies and organisations can use to improve the day-to-day experience of a place. To improve public services, or create new ones altogether.
But smart infrastructure doesn’t only drive down costs and improve productivity for local governments. It can also provide a sizable boost to the nation’s efforts in all things social value and impact. The way it does this is simple: it improves the quality of life of residents. Whether it’s in a big city like London or Manchester, or a small town in Cornwall or Yorkshire, it matters all the same.
Quality of life
Smart infrastructure’s impact on social value is all about improving quality of life. It generates value by making life in cities, towns, and communities better for residents.
Data captured by intelligent devices can influence the current and future development of public spaces and services. All with the overarching goal of improving quality of life, making places more liveable, safe, and rewarding.
A report found that cities or towns can harness smart technology to improve key quality-of-life indicators by 10 to 30 percent. And the benefits will bleed into every single aspect of our lives. From our commute to work to waste management or lunchtime walks. But today, we want to look at three specific ways public bodies can leverage data generated through smart infrastructure to boost a location’s impact on its people.
Reduced emissions
Stricter reporting standards are on the horizon. And we still have a long way to go with our global carbon goals. So finding ways to reduce emissions should be at the top of all organisations’ agendas. And smart infrastructure is in a brilliant position to help.
Helping to visualise and optimise traffic flow, energy use, public transport, waste, and so much more, intelligent systems allow public bodies to rethink their services and decrease overall emissions.
Traffic lights might receive data from sensors and respond to real-time traffic flow, therefore reducing congestion on local streets. Smart meters in buildings can give property managers oversight of where energy is going to waste. Better visualisation of public transport use could suggest a switch in timetables based on demand rather than regularity. Or even smart bins that give lorries an optimised route based on necessity.
And by bringing down emissions, you contribute to a better quality of life through improved health, reduced costs, quicker commute times, and less traffic. All of which can have a lasting impact on local residents.
Public safety
Everyone deserves to feel safe in their local community. And smart devices can provide residents with greater peace of mind and security while they’re out and about.
For example, you might have sensors and cameras on lamp posts that connect with emergency services, lowering the response times of responders. Or providing emergency responders with real-time data to streamline their response to large-scale concerns. Back in the peak of the pandemic, data on public transport usage or footfall in certain areas could have helped with social distancing, decreasing the risk of virus spread.
Improved future planning
One of the biggest ways smart infrastructure can maximise social impact is by allowing governments, public bodies, and planners to take a more proactive approach to future infrastructure. Collecting smart data about how residents use and interact with a space allows them to put their needs and interests at the centre of all future planning and design.
Increased footfall in a given area could uncover the perfect location for green spaces in the future. Noticing where a lot of commuters are still on the roads during rush hour might lead to an additional train station or bus stop.
Communities and the needs of their residents are constantly changing. And smart data and systems take away a lot of the guesswork when redesigning public spaces.
And this is just scratching the surface. Smart infrastructure could revolutionise the world as we know it. Improving quality of life on a mass scale across cities, towns, and communities. In reality, there’s no end to the ways technology and infrastructure can intersect to enhance the social impact of public services and organisations.
Impact allows organisations to quantify their efforts against an unlimited range of social, environmental, and governance disclosures. With streamlined data capture, visualisation, and reporting, we empower you to measure, monitor, and analyse your social impact like never before. To find out more, schedule a demo or get in touch with the team on 0161 532 4752.