Opinion
Smart planning for smart cities
By Teresa Scassa April 9, 2018
Even on this smaller scale, we need to be asking hard questions about privacy, data ownership and data sovereignty. There needs to be a plan, and it should be a plan built around the public interest rather than private profit.
Building a ‘smart city’ sounds like a good idea, but what lies behind a city’s IQ? Smart cities involve innumerable sensors of all kinds, gathering data in real-time throughout the city. The Hill Times file photograph
Building a ‘smart city’ sounds like a good idea, but what lies behind a city’s IQ? Smart cities involve innumerable sensors of all kinds, gathering data in real-time throughout the city. Together, these sensors harvest data about every aspect of urban life, including temperature, air quality, traffic flows, and infrastructure issues. Some of the most valuable smart city data is about how individuals live, move, and interact within the city. Data about individuals is captured by security and traffic cameras, by transit cards, by sensors measuring their consumption or use of utilities and resources, and increasingly by sensors carried by individuals themselves in the form of mobile phones and apps.
Related Stories
Explore, analyze, understand
You Might Be From Canada If…
You Might Be From Canada If . . . is a delightful, illustrated romp through this country as it celebrates its 150th birthday.
Get the book
You Might Be From Canada If . . . is a delightful, illustrated romp through this country as it celebrates its 150th birthday.
Get the book
Spinning History: A Witness to Harper’s Canada and 21st Century choices
An unvarnished look at the Harper years and what lies ahead for Canadians
Get the book
An unvarnished look at the Harper years and what lies ahead for Canadians
Get the book
CanCon Contributions & Quotas In a Digital Age
As part of Heritage Canada’s review of Canadian content in a digital age, various parties are proposing changes to how digital services are regulated and taxed.
Get the book
As part of Heritage Canada’s review of Canadian content in a digital age, various parties are proposing changes to how digital services are regulated and taxed.
Get the book
Related Policy Briefings
Defence Policy Briefing
Short and informative analyses on policy challenges that bring background and recommendations to policymakers, journalists and the general public.
Read policy briefing
Short and informative analyses on policy challenges that bring background and recommendations to policymakers, journalists and the general public.
Read policy briefing
Privacy and Security in the Digital Age
Short and informative analyses on policy challenges that bring background and recommendations to policymakers, journalists and the general public.
Read policy briefing
Short and informative analyses on policy challenges that bring background and recommendations to policymakers, journalists and the general public.
Read policy briefing
Artificial Intelligence and 5G
Short and informative analyses on policy challenges that bring background and recommendations to policymakers, journalists and the general public.
Read policy briefing
Short and informative analyses on policy challenges that bring background and recommendations to policymakers, journalists and the general public.
Read policy briefing
Politics This Morning
Your email has been added. An email has been sent to your address, please click the link inside of it to confirm your subscription.
Trudeau says some promises ‘clearly’ touch provincial jurisdiction after premiers slam Throne Speech, but calls for unified approach
Alberta Premier Jason Kenney says the Liberals' Throne Speech committed to 'more policies that would invade provincial jurisdiction than I could count.'Throne Speech’s climate promises draws mixed reviews, with NDP saying it’s a rehash of old pledges
The Throne Speech promised action on climate change like the country has never seen before, but some experts and politicians are skeptical the Liberal government can deliver. Former PM Turner was a ‘living legend,’ ‘a great defender of Parliament,’ say politicos
While the conditions for Liberal longevity might not have been ripe, Liberal strategist Charles Bird says late former prime minister John Turner came to the leadership when 'he was already something of a living legend.'Foreign policy focus in new session should be on China, U.S., and human rights, say Parliamentarians
'The No. 1 [foreign policy] priority is our relationship with the United States,' says Independent Senator Peter Boehm as the U.S. presidential election quickly approaches. Political parties reach last-minute deal to temporarily change House rules for hybrid Commons, electronic voting
The rule changes includes a sunset clause, with the terms expiring Dec. 11. ‘Whatever it takes’: Trudeau says austerity not an option in the face of staggering job losses, health crisis
The speech did not promise a full-fledged budget, but said an update to the feds’ COVID-19 Economic Response plan would be coming this fall.‘I wrote this memoir from the heart’: former Supreme Court chief justice wins Shaughnessy Cohen Prize for memoir, Truth Be Told, a ‘unique and tantalizing glimpse’ into top court
'Writing this book has brought me close to Canadians and the wonder of our national diversity. This prize is the icing on the amazing cake that has been my life': former Supreme Court chief justice Beverley McLachlin.Presidential election could change course on unilateral tariff use, but Canada-U.S. trade tensions will remain: experts
If Joe Biden wins the U.S. presidency, he will be constrained in the use of unilateral tariffs, say experts, while Donald Trump's re-election may leave Canada once again targeted by national security tariffs. COVID-19 containment, economic recovery expected to drive fall lobbying
Lobbyists will also be keeping an eye on progress on the government's backlog of big-ticket legislation and regulatory reforms this session.Trending Stories
