Why there is a need of technology professionals for smart cities?

Today, a smart city framework has become a buzzword around the globe. More and more municipalities are starting to leverage advanced information and communication technologies to connect and enhance infrastructure, improve efficiency, convenience, and enhance the quality of life for inhabitants as well as visitors. Smart cities have been found a critical and effective solution for growing urbanization challenges.

According to the data from the World Bank, the total urban population of the world in the last five years grew by 56 percent in 2019 as compared to 47 percent in 2013. It is projected that the number will increase further as over 10 to 11 billion additional urban dwellers to be added to the world population living in urban areas by 2040.

Why the World is Racing Towards Smart Cities?

With the ever-increasing world's population, urban areas to live a vast number of populations are becoming more crowded and congested. This is not only causing the quality of life but also affecting environmental, social and economic aspects. To ease these challenges and bring sustainability, the smart city approach is paramount to success and meeting such goals. According to the United Nations, the world is projected to have 43 megacities with over 10 million inhabitants, most of them in developing regions by 2030.

Demand of Tech Professionals for Smart Cities

As smart cities rely heavily on digital technologies, it requires relevant skills and knowledge to use such technologies. It demands tech professionals that can power smart city initiatives. For instance, building a smart city needs a group of researchers, advisors, valuation experts, cost planners, strategic consulting, real estate consulting, investment managers, city administrators, and others.

Smart professionals for smart cities will require requisite studies, understanding of the procurement, commercial and financial management of construction, and other areas.

Top job roles that will be in demand in the smart cities of the future:

• Machine learning scientist
• Industrial network engineer
• Urban innovation/Urban mechanics
• Cybersecurity analyst
• 3D print technician
• Virtual reality design
• Network programmer (SDN)
• Neuro implant technician
• Digital anthropologist
• Platform developer
• Data scientist

To become successful in these roles, professionals will need to learn some courses that help them in their career journey for smart cities. 

Here are some smart city management courses to learn.

Smart Cities – Management of Smart Urban Infrastructures

Offered by EPFL on Coursera, this course will provide learners with an understanding of how to make the best of smart technologies in their cities' legacy infrastructures. Through this course, students will gain a deep understanding of the nature of disruptive innovations in urban infrastructure systems. They will learn about state-of-the-art strategies for effectively managing the transition from legacy infrastructures to smart urban systems. They will also understand potential applications of the materials learned in this course within the context of the management of smart urban transportation systems as well as smart urban energy systems.

Digital transformation of megapolises: from zero to #1 in UN digital e-government ranking

This course is created by the National Research University- Higher School of Economics (HSE) and delivered by Coursera. This course will help students to navigate ambiguity in definitions of "Smart City". They can review successful cases and practices of distinct approaches to transformation management, determine the potential of their city in the digital transformation and find useful practical advice on the search for funding for various digital projects in their city. Besides this, the course will introduce learners to the formation of Smart City structure and infrastructure from the officials' point of view.

Cities are back in town: urban sociology for a globalizing urban world (Coursera)

The class will review debates and present social science models of cities to analyze and compare contemporary developments. The class will review debates and present social science models of cities and metropolises to analyze and compare contemporary developments. This course is created by Sciences Po and delivered by Coursera. This will provide an introduction to urban sociology, colonial city model, industrial city model, metropolis model, global city model, and much more.