In 2015, spending on smart cities was approximately $15 billion. This figure is expected to be double by 2020.

Future cities will be built on strong technological infrastructure that will collect, aggregate, and analyze data to manage resources effectively to improve the lives of its residents. This is where RMM (remote monitoring and management) comes in.

RMM software will feed real-time data to help governments make informed decisions. City operations will be more efficient by minimizing waste.

Let's a take a trip into the future and see how RMM will change the face of future smart cities.

1. Smart parking

An event at the stadium is never a thrilling experience for city authorities who are tasked with providing sufficient parking facilities. Even after shutting down streets and using nearby empty spaces, parking remains a sore spot for authorities.

Smart city remote monitoring will track the days, times, and current availability of parking spaces, which is instantly shared with the public. Guaranteed vacant spots will ensure quick parking during big events.

It's already happening: T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas uses visitor data to forecast parking needs, reducing the time it takes for people to get from their cars to their seats.

2. Smart infrastructure

RMM-enabled motion sensors will avoid wasteful public spending on infrastructure. Technicians can use data to gain insights on the soundness of bridges, measurements of cracks, extensions, strain gauge, and other structural elements, without the need for physical inspections.

Proactive monitoring reduces the maintenance and manpower cost, potentially leaving a surplus on the federal budget. Governments can use the extra money on rebuilding infrastructure without falling into massive debts.

It's already happening: The Sydney Harbour Bridge will deploy 2400 sensors to monitor its structural health. Technicians will be able to detect wear and tear caused by traffic, temperature and other variables and schedule maintenance accordingly.

3. Smart energy

Erroneous energy consumption has been responsible for a bulk of the greenhouse emissions and their prolonged effects. Energy management will play a crucial role in future urban planning. This is where Smart Grid comes in.

A Smart Grid is an electricity supply network that uses technology to mine data that detects and responds to changes in energy consumption. Track every Kilowatt of energy to efficiently allocate resources.

It's already happening: Austin, Texas has a $10.4 million worth Smart Grid, spread across 700 acres and covering 500 homes. It distributes clean energy and provides advanced home energy metering to the residents of these homes.

4. Smart environment

Air quality sensors analyze and monitor a wide range of parameters like temperature, humidity, dust, CO, CO2, O3, NO2, CH4 or H2S, to provide info on pollution levels. These sensors can be integrated with AI platforms to predict areas of poor air quality.

Local authorities can manage the traffic and factory output in these areas to reduce air pollution. This saves 7 million human lives along with animals and other marine life — and keeps a healthy ecosystem intact.

It's already happening: In Glasgow, Scotland ‘Sensing the City' pilot program has been greenlit. It lets authorities monitor air quality straight from a unified web-based dashboard.

5. Smart waste management

RMM-backed smart cities will use data to run a highly responsive waste management system.

Here's how it will work:

• Optimized collection routes. The remote sensors will feed data to indicate the level of waste in dumpsters. Based on the pattern, collection routes will be mapped out.
• Track garbage dumps. Sanitation workers don't have to witch hunt for dumpsters. Sensors will enable workers to locate dumpsters in a jiffy.
• Dumpster activities. Sanitation authority can find out data on usage, emptying cycles, rubbish levels, and other touchpoints to improve operations.

See how it's already happening.

6. Smart water management

The water supply infrastructure is crumbling either because authorities lack financial management or technical expertise. RMM can fill in for the lack of expertise, allowing for a robust water management system; monitor water supply, infrastructure, and everything in between.

Predictive monitoring solves one of the biggest water management challenges — determining daily water consumption of the city. Using predictive analytics along with the history of water consumption of the city at any given day, authorities can figure out the amount of water the entire city is going to consume in one day.

At the same time, sensors detect leaks that help in scheduling timely maintenance and avoiding the risk of malfunction and flooding of the water infrastructure. This ensures quality water with no wastage.

It's already happening: Smart water management has already found its way in many South Korean cities. The comprehensive system allows authorities to forecast rainfall, floods, structural vulnerabilities, and much more.

Smart city remote monitoring will trickle down

The practice of using real-time data to make informed decisions is a concept that's going to eventually trickle down from smart cities to towns and villages.

Smart MSPs should pay attention to this trend and seek partnership with local authorities.

Partnership with MSPs who offer RMM solutions will reshape how cities, towns, and villages are operated. Municipalities will be more efficient, open, and responsive to the residents without having to increase public budgets.