José Antonio Ondiviela at EAE Madrid: "Smart cities face the challenge of digital transformation".
EAE Business School Madrid has counted with the presence of José Antonio Ondiviela, Director of Smart Cities Solutions for Western Europe at Microsoft, within the cycle of 'Innovation Meetings' that took place in Utopicus last Friday.
The expert took stock of the challenges in the race towards the future of cities: "Smart cities will make it possible to enrich the lives of residents, improve infrastructure, modernize government services and accessibility, as well as boost sustainability and accelerate economic development," said José Antonio Ondiviela.
According to the director of Smart Cities Solutions at Microsoft, the evolutionary process of cities is constantly changing, but they need to update the technology they use and incorporate innovations as they become available. "Cities continue to grow and face increasing demands and challenges. However, the world is becoming increasingly digital and that generates new needs for people. By using the latest technologies, administrations will be able to predict potential problems, overcome challenges quickly and improve outcomes, thereby delivering better experiences for their residents, visitors and businesses in the urban area. All of this will build a brighter future."
The main challenge facing cities, as determined by the expert, is "the necessary digital transformation and its challenges: social, economic and environmental sustainability".
SUSTAINABILITY OF THE SMART CITY
Sustainability has become one of the main challenges for the population. Many governments are searching for and capturing technologies to help understand their carbon footprint and assess how to reduce it.
"Smart cities are leveraging digital solutions to drive energy efficiency, promote sustainable water practices, and measure and reduce their carbon emissions," comments the expert.
Hand in hand with sustainability is infrastructure. Water and energy are what make a city run smoothly, so as the population grows it becomes more necessary to provide flexible, resilient and safe infrastructure. "This will enable connected, efficient and sustainable transportation systems, as well as deliver urban innovation and improve services for residents."