We live in an increasingly urban world. The United Nations (UN) estimates that more than 55 percent of us live in an urban environment and predicts that this will grow to almost 70 percent in the middle of the century. This population growth comes at a time when we, as individuals, have access to increasing technology. We use our phones and computers to interact with our cars, houses and friends. Despite this connectivity, many of us exist in small digital bubbles, interacting with others only as necessary.
However, a trend known as Smart City uses technology to connect and contribute to how the city works. Our devices collect data combined with information from a variety of other sources. Chambers, sensors and smartphones supply data to a single unified model of our urban space. This model is used to manage the environment in which we live, work and play.
Defining the smart city
The explosion in the availability of wireless communication has provided unprecedented connectivity. The 5G growth and public Wi-Fi accessibility means that we can be online wherever we travel, but this connectivity alone does not create an intelligent city. The key to the smart city is the Internet of things (IoT).
IoT links consumers, houses and service providers, trusting a constant transfer of large volumes of data. These data are collected and shared to create digital twins, which are virtual replicas of real world systems. While a simple recreation would be of limited use, combining digital twin with real -time data and artificial intelligence (AI) creates a dynamic simulation that can predict the needs of the system and improve sustainability measures. In intelligent cities, these resulting predictions and actions help improve the environment in which we live.
Smart buildings
The concept of the smart building has existed for some time. Either a home or a company, an intelligent building uses digital technology to manage its activities. From improving the comfort of its users to improve its energy efficiency, the intelligent building represents a range of systems that share data. However, smart buildings do more than simply manage their own activities within an intelligent city. Instead, they are perfectly integrated into the urban environment, sharing information with the city. This allows the city to provide better resources, from energy to transport.
Smart grid
The way we create and consume energy is changing. Together with the smart city, the smart network uses new methods to produce energy, which allows users to take control of their own energy needs. Instead of trusting conventional energy distribution, users can now generate energy efficiently at a much smaller scale. These small electric plants are known as distributed energy resources (Der), and use solar, wind or biomass technologies to provide scalable and receptive alternatives to the traditional electricity grid.
Smart City uses its integrated technology to ensure that energy is provided efficiently. Using real -time data collected from users and using predictive analyzes, smart cities manage energy flow. When demand is high, energy is provided to users at peak hours. When energy needs are lower, the smart city allows users to sell its surplus to the network. This dynamic energy management, combined with the flexibility provided by alternative energy sources such as Ders, allows the city to optimize its efficiency, maintaining low costs and pollution.
Magnate for the smart city
Cities are recognized for congestion and traffic. Congestion is not only inconvenient, but also has a negative impact on the well -being of residents. Traffic contributes to poor air quality, creating noise and stress. The quality of life within the city can be improved if congestion can be reduced, and the intelligent city can achieve this.
The automotive industry is experiencing significant changes. With many manufacturers that actively develop autonomous or autonomous cars, the digital environment is already in place for vehicles to collect a large volume of data on board. This information is shared with other road users to create a simulation of the environment around it. This new connectivity is known as a vehicle to everything (V2X).
V2X Road users are connected to the last 5G wireless communication network and transmit information about their location, road conditions and local traffic. When shared with the smart city, this information creates a complete image of the traffic system. This can be used to predict the road use patterns, change signal sequences and provide information directly to road users to improve vehicle flow.
This traffic information can also be combined with mass transport systems. Buses, trams and trains play a substantial role in reducing traffic volume throughout the city, and the digital model can be used to optimize their availability. In addition to these traditional transport modes, the smart city uses new methods. The integrated network allows shared trips to provide an alternative mobility solution. Shared travel applications allow users to use what is known as mobility as a service (MAAS). This improves the efficiency of the existing traffic by increasing the occupation rates of private vehicles. When combined with dynamically controlled public transport, this can ensure that our streets flow without problems and road pollution is minimal.
The role of connectivity in the smart city
With data at the center of the Smart City concept, it should not surprise us that connectivity plays a vital role. As the sensors are implemented in the city, designers cannot depend on technology to remain in protected environments. Exposed to the wind, climate, sunlight and other harmful conditions, connectors that provide the most important network must be designed to provide long -term reliability in these difficult environments.
Even systems that use wireless communication need physical connections. The 5G network that the smart city depends on the base stations of needs that provide centers capable of handling the data of hundreds or even thousands of users in real time. This cannot be done only on wireless connections. Together with conventional connectors, precision radiofrequency (RF) connectors use coaxial technology for high -speed signals. These should also be robust enough to offer the performance required for demanding environments.
Amphenol is a manufacturer with a proven history of the creation of connectors that meet the demanding requirements. Among the “trunk” products of AMPhenol RF for intelligent environments are AMC connectors and cable sets: 50Ω low profile connectors with an extremely small 3 mm × 3 mm plate footprint.
The RF RF interconnections of extreme exposure of Ampphenol RF are adequate industrial devices for hard environments. Able to support 720 hours of salt spray resistance, these interconnections are ideal for environments such as marine GPS, remote base stations, environmental measurement equipment and search and rescue communications.
The amphenol SV microwave manufactures a wide variety of high frequency coaxial adapters that guarantee consistent and reliable connectivity in the critical operations of the intelligent city, from IoT sensors to 5G networks. Optimized for high density applications, these adapters are ideal for use in smart networks and urban communication centers where space and performance are essential.
AMPHENOL LTW offers the M and X-Lok Push-Lock series connectors, which provide reliable and high performance connectivity in smart cities applications. The X-Lok Push-Lock design provides blind mating and audible comments, saving time for the occupied installer. Sealing to IP68, the X-Lok connector is ideal to meet the evolutionary demands of the intelligent city projects. The ultra high density thrust block connectors (UHD) provide an alternative with audible and tactile feedback and up to 33 contacts.
The intelligent city is a growing trend and is already offering benefits worldwide. The cities established as Singapore and Amsterdam are adopting the advantages of the connected urban environment, and the new cities such as Songdo in South Korea are incorporating intelligent technology in all aspects of their design. The connectors are fundamental to provide the complex network that transforms our lives into smart cities that grow more connected every day.
Source: Mouser Blog
