Do you know what smart cities are? What are the most important of those cities that are being built in Egypt? Below we will show you everything you need to know about smart cities.
1- What is the concept of smart cities?
The concept of smart cities refers to cities that are primarily managed through a digital environment, as they help preserve the environment and promote creativity and learning. The definition of a smart city, according to the International Telecommunication Union, is: “An innovative city that uses information and communication technology to improve quality of life, efficiency of urban operations and services, and competitiveness, while at the same time meeting the needs of current and future generations in terms of economic, social, environmental and cultural aspects.”
2- What are the features and specifications of smart cities?
The goals of smart cities are many and the goal of their establishment varies, but they all share three main features:
- Technology and Information Technology: Smart cities rely mainly on information and communication technology, as they contain various forms of technology, such as: applications, cameras, renewable energy devices, and other forms of technology.
- Administrative Framework: The administrative framework for smart cities is based on technology in different aspects of life, traffic systems and operating systems for offices and homes are automated.
- Smart User: The city will not become smart without the presence of a smart user who is able to use the technology available in the city, so the role of the smart city also includes training users to deal with the city optimally.
3- What are the benefits of smart cities and why is attention drawn towards them?
Smart cities have many benefits, the most prominent of which is being a sustainable city that preserves environmental resources, and also helps improve and facilitate the lives of citizens. According to the McKinsey Global Institute report on smart cities, smart city applications help save 30 to 300 lives every year in cities with a population of five million, and these applications also help reduce crime and disease.
Among the benefits of smart cities is also an increase in the productivity of the retail and industrial sectors and an increase in the volume of investments. It also helps to reduce environmental pollution, reduce the production of waste that cannot be recycled, and reduce water consumption, which helps maintain a clean environment.
4- What are the characteristics of smart cities?
Smart cities have six characteristics:
- smart life: Living in smart cities is characterized by quality and efficiency, as it contains various services that ensure comfort for citizens and provides many cultural, educational, and entertainment events.
- Smart Government: Government transactions in the smart city are carried out through electronic means and applications, and the government also uses means of communication to exchange information with residents.
- smart community: In smart cities, the traditional society is transformed into a smart society capable of using, developing and innovating various technological means to conduct all transactions.
- Intelligent Mobility (Intelligent Mobility): Smart movement is based on creating a smart infrastructure to manage the transportation and traffic system through technology and communications. For example, smart cities contain smart traffic lights, smart parking and lighting, which reduce waiting times and align traffic lights with the flow of cars.
- smart environment: One of the most important advantages of smart cities is that they are environmentally friendly, as the use of technology in them helps reduce environmental pollution, and the use of non-renewable energy and waste recycling is also reduced, in addition to containing green buildings, parks, and smart facilities.
- smart economy The smart economy is characterized by increased productivity and entrepreneurship through e-commerce and e-business that helps increase creativity and innovation. The smart economy also includes the use of smart technologies to ensure local and global interconnectedness and increase attractiveness and competitiveness.
5- What is digital transformation and how has it been implemented in Egypt?
Digital transformation is one of the most important steps taken by the government to be used in smart cities and other cities, as many services become available through digital applications that are easy to use - anytime and anywhere - through an integrated and secured digital system on a national level.
Among the most prominent steps taken by the state is the allocation of 7.8 billion pounds in the 2019/2020 budget; To modernize the information infrastructure and digital content of the Egyptian state, the government has also established several councils concerned with the transition to the digital economy and attracting foreign investments - including the Supreme Council for Digital Transformation. In addition, the state has worked to transform Port Said into the first digital city in Egypt in the second half of 2019 and finally a new administrative capital is being built based on the philosophy of transformation into a digital government.
6- What are the fourth generation cities and why are they called by that name?
After implementing three generations of cities in the old architectural style, the Urban Communities Authority is currently implementing many cities known as fourth generation cities that are based on technology, sound planning and the use of modern energy.
The Egyptian Ministry of Housing stated that these cities are planned to accommodate more than thirty million people, in order to reduce overcrowding in the major cities, and one of the objectives of these cities is to stimulate development outside the valley in the new development areas and to stimulate investments and development in the closed regions of the country.
7- What are the smart cities in Egypt?
There are many smart sustainable cities being established at the present time and planned to be implemented soon. There are 14 cities implemented by the Urban Communities Authority and two cities implemented by the Engineering Authority of the Armed Forces. At the top of these cities, the most famous of which is the New Administrative Capital, there are also New Alamein City, New Mansoura, East Port Said City, and many other cities.
In the following, we will review the most important smart cities being built in Egypt at the present time:
1. Among the smart cities: the new administrative capital
The new administrative capital comes on top of the smart cities that are being built in Egypt according to the standards of fourth-generation cities, as it was designed with international specifications to become one of the largest capitals in the world, which is likely to receive forty million people by 2050.
2. majesty city
The Galala Plateau development project is the second most important national project after the New Administrative Capital. The project includes Galala City, King Salman University, a tourist resort overlooking the Gulf of Suez, and the Sokhna-Zafarana road that cuts through Mount Galala. Despite the mountainous nature of the city, the project was brilliantly designed to become an area suitable for tourism throughout the year.
The city of Al-Jalala also includes the King Salman and Al-Jalalah Universities for Science and Technology. These two universities are based on the latest scientific systems and modern means, and there are advanced colleges that aim to achieve the state's plan towards digital transformation.
3. New Alamein City
The new city of El Alamein was designed according to the specifications of the fourth generation cities, and it also contains a huge percentage of projects and foreign investments. The city of El Alamein relies mainly on modern technology in managing facilities and infrastructure, and there are surveillance cameras in all streets and squares, and the city will also contain a waste recycling plant and an underground system to recycle waste in a smart technological way.
4. New Ismailia City
The new city of Ismailia is an extension of the current city of Ismailia due to its proximity to the axis of the Suez Canal. It also achieves full access for people with special needs, as roads, recreational spaces, and even doors and elevators have been equipped to allow them to practice daily life without the need for assistance, and it is the first city in which electricity is combined with solar energy.
5. New 6th of October City
New 6th of October City is the latest city of the fourth generation, and one street separates it from the current city of October. Attention has been paid to green spaces, as there are more than one park and landscape in the city, and it also contains a medical center, a number of commercial malls and security services.
You can visit the Property Finder website to learn more about New 6th of October City.
6. New Mansoura City
The new city of Mansoura is the first smart city belonging to the fourth generation cities in the Delta region. The city has a special character as it includes distinctive designs and strong infrastructure. It will also include tourism and medical services that serve the city's visitors.
7. Salam City Egypt (New Port Said City)
Salam Egypt City is one of the largest projects that the state is currently constructing, on the North Sinai shore. It is planned to become Egypt's new economic capital, and will depend on modern technology in communications and information technology. In addition, Salam City Egypt will include the largest desalination plant in Egypt and Africa, an international commercial port, hotels, and tourist resorts.
8. New Obour City
The Urban Communities Authority is constructing the New Obour City - pursuant to a decision by President Abdel Fattah Al-Sisi in 2016 - to become a new urban community with a distinctive location, and it will contain high-level services, as it will be built according to the standards of fourth-generation cities.
9. The new city of Rafah
The new city of Rafah represents an integrated urban community that provides a decent life for the residents of the governorate and attracts investments, because it contains social housing buildings and handmade houses, as well as service and recreational buildings.
10. New Toshka City
The new city of Toshka is an integrated city. It is located about 55 km from the High Dam, and 90 km from Abu Simbel.
The idea of a smart city is no longer a distant dream, but rather has become a reality that Egypt is working to achieve through the establishment of many fourth-generation cities throughout the Republic, as these cities will provide many solutions to problems related to the environment, economy, housing, and bureaucracy. The new administrative capital comes to occupy the center stage among these cities, to become one of the largest capitals in the world, and to enable Egypt to become a leading economic and cultural center in the Middle East and North Africa.