Implementing the Internet of Things Within Different Components of a Smart City: A Guideline

Due to rapid urbanization, the number of citizens is heavily increasing in cities all over the world. Because of this, new kinds of problems arise. To solve these problems, cities must be innovative. Therefore, a growing number of cities is transforming their way into becoming a Smart City. Smart Cities create innovative digital services, that are supported by the IoT. These IoT-services are then implemented within the different components of a Smart City, in order to solve problems within these components. The objective of this paper is to determine how three globally leading Smart Cities implement the IoT within different components of their city, in order to become a smarter city. This was done by conducting interviews with Nice, Palo Alto and Stockholm. Results of this paper will demonstrate that the IoT is a fitting tool for Smart Cities. However, for a Smart City vision to be realized, the IoT must be supplemented by other critical factors. Citizens, businesses and leadership prove to have a fundamental role in the Smart City development process, if not the most important role.