| Abstract |
Contemporary urban areas are usually multi-million cities, agglomerations and metropolises, whose development was determined by historical, spatial, economic, social and political factors. The concentration of economic and social activities in these areas causes many negative effects influencing the conditions and quality of life of residents. Existing problems, development opportunities and expectations of the residents are different in different cities. Constant urban population growth requires preparation of proper development plans and responsible management of these areas. There are also new cities which are built from scratch (so-called greenfield development), that are expected to guarantee residents a high quality of life. Intelligent urban development is based on the concept of a smart city as a modern city of the future, assuming sustainable urban development based on innovative technologies. The aim of intelligent technologies used in the cities is to improve their functionality and to support the residents and provide them with comfortable, economic and safe lives. The smart city concept is the subject of broad deliberations in the literature and there are many different definitions that emphasize technical, social, institutional and environmental aspects. Six essential components that make up a smart city are often listed: smart governance, smart economy, smart mobility, smart environment, smart people, smart living. Different phases of intelligent cities development are also described. The aim of the article is to present global demographic, technological and innovative trends in the development of urban areas in the aspect of smart cities of the future. |