The demands and expectations placed on Public Safety agencies are changing as our cities become ‘smarter’. According to analysts at IHS, the number of these smart cities will grow fourfold to at least 88 by 2025. Lisa Arrowsmith, associate director for connectivity, smart homes and smart cities at IHS explains: “Smart cities encompass a broad range of different aspects, but IHS has narrowed the definition of the term to describe cities that have deployed the integration of information, communications and technology (ICT) solutions across three or more different functional areas of a city. These include mobile and transport, energy and sustainability, physical infrastructure, governance, and safety and security.” You can also watch Lisa discuss what makes a smart city here. The EMEA region currently hosts the largest number of smart cities, but the Asia-Pacific region is fast catching up and is set to establish more modern connected cities than any other region globally.

Within these smart cities sensor monitoring, analysis and communication of real-time data generate a flood of information which brings new challenges and new opportunities for enhancing the capabilities of the frontline Public Safety officer.

At Motorola Solutions we see three technology trends within smart cities that deeply affect Public Safety...

Transfer of real-time video - with many more connected cameras, multiple video feeds can be brought into the control room where smart management and intelligent analysis enable relevant video to be provided to officers attending a scene. Because the video being delivered can dramatically enhance situational awareness it becomes extremely time sensitive, needing to be made available instantly and in real-time. For this reason mobile broadband (LTE), which could provide a major delivery mechanism, becomes very important.

Communicating with connected devices – from smartphones to traffic signals, windows to recycle bins, a multitude of connected devices are generating thousands of new sources of data, and nearly everything you possess will eventually have some sort of sensor adding a wealth of personal data. This multiplicity of sensors provides ever greater levels of information that has the potential to be converted into valuable intelligence for Public Safety officers.

Social engagement - we see a trend where smart cities help enhance citizen engagement. Agencies are empowered to provide regular, timely, instructive information to the public as events unfold and citizens are able, though new channels, to provide richer information to Public Safety agencies.

Faced with an ever increasing amount of data, the priority is to manage and convert it into real, actionable intelligence. We believe this has the potential to be transformative for public sector organisations and public safety agencies. Our goal is to provide a technology eco-system that transforms this raw information into contextual awareness without overloading or distracting the recipient and helping to evolve Public Safety from react and respond to predict and prevent.

Learn more about how we are creating safer cities and thriving communities here.

David Parry is Director, EA Marketing. David is on LinkedIn at uk.linkedin.com/in/davidgparry

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