Introduction
Artificial Intelligence (AI) is reshaping urban living by enhancing the efficiency and responsiveness of smart cities. AI-enabled innovations are optimizing transportation, decreasing energy consumption, and enhancing public safety, improving overall urban livability. According to McKinsey, “cities can use smart technologies to improve some key quality-of-life indicators by 10 to 30 percent—numbers that translate into lives saved, fewer crime incidents, shorter commutes, a reduced health burden, and carbon emissions averted”. Given below are a set of use cases that shed light on how AI is helping in improving Human Livability and Smart Cities.
Use Cases
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1. Smart Home and Office locks
Utilize AI, such as Computer Vision, to develop and install Smart Home and Office locks. These locks will automatically unlock doors for authorized residents, workers, and specific visitors, enhancing security and convenience.
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2. Smart Thermostats
Develop and install Smart Thermostats that learn and adapt to user behavior. These devices will enable users to schedule, monitor, and remotely control temperatures in various parts of their home or office, improving energy efficiency and comfort.
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3. Smart Security Camera
Develop and install Smart Security Cameras that detect and send alerts about suspicious activities. This allows residents and workers to monitor their properties remotely, enhancing security and peace of mind.
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4. Smart Cooking Robots and Cobots
Develop and deploy Smart Cooking Robots and Cobots capable of using known recipes or creating their own. These robots will cook specific meals, offering convenience and innovation in the kitchen.
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5. Smart Mobile Robots for household tasks
Implement Smart Mobile Robots designed to perform various household tasks such as vacuum cleaning, cleaning under immovable furniture, cleaning fabric-laden furniture, and lawn-mowing. These robots will enhance household efficiency and convenience.
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6. Smart Home Refrigerators
Develop and deploy Smart Home Refrigerators that can create shopping lists, monitor expiration dates, and alert users when food items have gone bad. This helps in reducing food waste and ensuring fresh groceries.
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7. Help individuals ensure compliance
Provide assistance to individuals in filing tax returns, analyzing notices from governmental agencies, and processing incoming invoices. This ensures compliance with regulations and reduces the burden of financial management.
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8. Smart Pet Robots
Utilize Smart Pet Robots and AI systems to understand and determine the feeding preferences and schedules of pets. This ensures pets are fed according to their needs and preferences, enhancing their well-being.
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9. AI-based digital ID cards
Develop AI-based digital ID cards that store personal identification and biometric data for use in private, public, and business applications. These cards will eliminate the need for remembering numerous passwords, enhancing security and convenience.
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10. Analyzing employee data
Implement AI-based techniques to analyze historical employee data and generate forecasts for work volume and time requirements on a daily, weekly, and monthly basis. This helps optimize employees’ time and assists organizations in workforce management and scheduling processes.
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11. Parking space availability
Deploy AI-based IoT devices that integrate users’ and employees’ schedules and preferences to identify suitable parking spaces at malls, airports, or offices. These systems will inform users about available parking spots nearest to them, accommodating various vehicle types like compact cars, large sedans, or SUVs.
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12. Mobile workstation availability
Implement AI-based IoT systems that notify employees about available mobile workstations, cubicles, or conference rooms. These systems will also suggest the best options based on the employees’ specific requirements, enhancing workplace efficiency.
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13. Optimizing the use of building mechanical systems
Deploy AI-based IoT systems to optimize the use of HVAC systems, elevators, escalators, and window curtains. These systems aim to minimize energy consumption, thereby reducing costs and promoting sustainability.
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14. Detection of potholes
Government agencies are utilizing drones to identify potholes on roads and highways. This allows for quick repairs, preventing driving issues and enhancing road safety for drivers.
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15. Smart Traffic Lights
Transportation agencies are implementing Smart Traffic Lights that automatically adjust according to traffic density. For example, if no vehicles are detected on one road, the traffic light for the perpendicular road turns green, allowing traffic to move quickly and reducing driver frustration.
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16. Multifunctional sidewalks and streetlights
Cities are developing sidewalks and streetlights with multiple functionalities, such as incorporating solar-based electricity, activating only when people or vehicles are present, and measuring environmental factors like temperature, pressure, wind speed, rainfall, and atmospheric pollutants. This enhances urban infrastructure and sustainability.
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17. Dashboards for city services access
In several Smart Cities, dashboards and TV screens provide centralized access to all city services. These systems use AI and other techniques to predict and alert users about traffic conditions, weather forecasts, document arrivals (e.g., passports or driver licenses), and potential early school closures, enhancing urban living.
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18. Providing city services in various languages
Chatbots are being created to enable residents to access city services in widely spoken languages such as English, Spanish, Chinese, Arabic, and Hindi. Additional languages will be gradually added. By leveraging Large Language Models (LLMs), the accuracy of these chatbots will improve, and more languages will be supported, making city services more accessible.
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19. Real-time monitoring and analysis of incidents and attacks
In cities, counties, and states, AI, particularly Computer Vision, is employed to analyze brawls and attacks. These systems identify attackers, chronologically map incidents, assess the potential impact, and suggest appropriate responses. Gradually, these systems are being integrated into central command centers for real-time monitoring and response.
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20. Drones for garbage collection
Utilizing Computer Vision, drones are deployed to pick up garbage scattered on streets, roads, beaches, parks, and nature reserves. This is particularly important as some of the garbage may be harmful or hazardous to humans. These cost-effective systems are especially useful for emerging economies like India, improving cleanliness and public health.
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21. Monitoring pollution levels and sources
Sensors are deployed to monitor and predict levels of air, water, and sound pollution. By analyzing combinations of these pollutants, the systems can identify their sources, helping to address and mitigate environmental issues effectively.
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22. Self-driving vehicles in mining and manufacturing
While self-driving vehicles for public roads are still ten to fifteen years away, they are actively used in the mining and manufacturing industries. These vehicles improve operational efficiency, reduce reliance on human labor, and significantly lower the risk of injuries to workers.
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23. Proximity alert in vehicles
Computer Vision systems are being integrated into many vehicles to alert drivers about their proximity to other objects. This feature is particularly helpful when driving in reverse, enhancing safety and preventing collisions.
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24. Cybersecurity solutions for modern vehicles
Modern vehicles contain substantial software and hardware, making them targets for hackers using malware. To combat this threat, AI-based cybersecurity solutions are being developed to mitigate cyber-attacks and enhance vehicle security.
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25. Reducing accidents and improving the driving experience
AI-based IoT systems are designed to help drivers reduce accidents and improve the overall riding experience. These systems provide assistance in situations like backing out of parking spaces or determining the distance from other vehicles, enhancing safety and convenience.
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26. Redesigning traffic infrastructures
Manage infrastructure and identify traffic patterns for cars, pedestrians, and bikes by analyzing videos from surveillance cameras or satellites. This data helps in optimally redesigning traffic infrastructure, such as identifying the need for a new roundabout, to improve traffic flow and safety.
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27. Predict road infrastructure needs
Map and predict road infrastructure needs by analyzing geological maintenance data, construction records, and accident data. This helps in planning and maintaining road infrastructure effectively.
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28. City planning and road condition analysis
Support city planning and road condition analysis by examining traffic flow, replacement data, and accident data. This comprehensive analysis aids in optimizing traffic signal timings and improving overall traffic management.
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29. Evaluate high-cost projects
Evaluate the cost-effectiveness of highways and other high-cost projects through analytical modeling. This process helps identify budget allocation requirements and optimize the investment mix, ensuring efficient use of resources and maximizing returns.