The 10 Best Professional Services Automation Solution providers 2018

Moreover, connected lamps can
monitor key operating parameters
and automatically report failures,
generating extra savings on
maintenance costs. Considering LED
technologies last about 50% longer
than traditional light sources, the US
Federal Department of Energy
estimated that if the entire country
converted to LED lighting over the
next 20 years, it would save a total of
USD 120 billion.
Even more interesting developments
are possible with blockchain
technology, which can make Smart
Cities far more secure, transparent,
efficient and resilient. As an original
combination of mature technological
concepts, including peer-to-peer
networks, distributed consensus
algorithms, validity rules, ledger
technologies and cryptography,
blockchain can be successfully
applied in any domain where
stakeholders’ relations are based on
trust and may be entirely
disintermediated. This is particularly
true in Cities, as they rely on
accurate, secure, authentic and
trustworthy information exchanges to
deliver services to people and
businesses.
About energy distribution, for
instance, blockchain-based metering
solutions can accelerate the adoption
of real-time differential pricing
models and encourage users to
participate to power generation by
connecting their renewable energy
microgrids to the main grid. In water
networks, blockchain technologies
enable smart contracts and validated
rules to automate water supply in the
most possible efficient manner,
minimizing leakages and tampering.
Blockchain technology can be
combined with IoT solutions to
provide better waste collection
services: it allows to accurately track
waste input and optimize waste truck
routes upon parameters like bin
status, filling levels, etc. This
increases service quality and
efficiency, and generates further
savings on fuel expenses and overall
maintenance costs. Garbage-related
data could also support the
introduction of customized fees for
household and commercial users,
thus rewarding recycling and correct
waste separation.
Coming to public government and
administration, blockchain can be
used to automate and digitalize civil
registries, as well as property, real
estate and business registries,
generating notable cost savings and
increasing quality of service.
Considering citizen participation,
blockchain-based voting platforms
can improve present, analogue
electoral systems by achieving
secure, anonymous and unique
voting in a decentralized manner.
Same platforms can be used to poll
citizens on specific urban initiatives,
making sure contributions from civil
society are recognized in Smart City
planning and development.
Blockchain technology is still in its
early days, but most experts agree it
has a potential for disruption. And
some pioneer experiences – from
Dubai to Tokyo, from New York to
Tallinn – demonstrate that benefits
for Smart Cities can really be
worthwhile.
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|November 2018|