As we all know, ICF runs a wonderful Intelligent Community Awards program based on 5 key criteria. They include broadband deployment, skilled workforce, innovation, digital inclusion, and marketing and advocacy. But there are other considerations in fully future-proofing your communities to become and operate as intelligent and successful towns and cities and thereby creating and sustaining the highest quality of life imaginable for your citizens.
Over the next year, through a series of blogs, I hope to set out the case for these 12 key steps in future-proofing your communities. They include:
To begin this series, let's take a look at the topic of infrastructure. The history of our civilization follows closely the history of our advances in infrastructure. Roman trade was the engine that drove the economy of the Roman Empire 2,000 years ago and it is no different today. Without vast investments in public works and infrastructure, we would have great difficulty in enacting trade, commuting and achieving a great quality of life. Infrastructure is also one of the key elements in influencing investment decisions.
At the top of the list above is the requirement for high quality infrastructure - the basic structural foundation of our villages, towns, cities and regions - including the vast network of roads, highways, rail, bridges, sewers, transit, air services, hydroelectric and broadband cables, and wireless systems, but also our recreation centers, libraries and other hard and soft facilities that serve the diverse needs of growing populations.
As cities and regions grow they demand more and better infrastructure. Traditional infrastructure such as highways, as well as improvements to water and sewer systems will become key elements in any stimulus that governments provide for economic revitalization. In addition to traditional infrastructure, smart power grids with efficient wireless monitoring systems, high speed broadband and other forms of information related technologies that will allow us to expand our capabilities and become more efficient and innovative, must be part of the equation if these cities and regions are to attract and retain brains, investment and jobs in their backyard.
From an ICF perspective, we have always said that the discussion about Intelligent Communities is more than just about the "wires." But without the connections that "wires" (wireless and otherwise) offer, we couldn't even begin to discuss the other considerations in my list above. It is after-all the foundation, the infrastructure of our broadband economy. In order to even begin to play in this new game of globalization, these communities have had to ante up with their best offerings in robust broadband infrastructure.
But our needs for specific types of infrastructure around the world are changing. Many legacy systems haunt many communities and regions, while others have benefited from leapfrogging technologies, especially those in 3rd world countries who never had much in the way of wired communications in the first place. With sophisticated satellite communications, undersea cables that have circled the globe and new wireless applications such as WiFi and WiMax, these regions have leaped to another generation of infrastructure. In India, for instance, the impact of globalization through global outsourcing could never have occurred without the robust broadband undersea cables that were brought to its shore. This has had an enormous social, cultural, economic and political impact on the country. The fast lane for many in this country has been a direct result of the benefits and opportunities that broadband has brought to them.
But as communities, we need to also begin to discuss how we can begin to reshape our communities with these new advances in infrastructure, such as high speed broadband, smart grids and the like. We need to look at potentially reshaping our cities and regions and develop policies and initiatives that build a much better quality of life, which includes our transportation modes and infrastructure, our operations that discourage unnecessary travel and ways to reduce our carbon footprint.
Infrastructure in our communities is the backbone of the 12 steps to a successful intelligent community, but it is only the first step. I look forward to exploring the other 11 steps with you over the next several months.
Over the next year, through a series of blogs, I hope to set out the case for these 12 key steps in future-proofing your communities. They include:
- High quality infrastructure, including robust high-speed broadband deployment;
- Exceptional education - creating, attracting and sustaining skilled knowledge workers;
- Attracting and nurturing innovation and creativity;
- Superior and inspiring leadership and building on collaboration;
- Effective and stable governance;
- Excellence in the Physical Environment: architecture and urban design;
- Nurturing culture and diversity;
- Promoting digital inclusion in a Broadband Economy;
- Ensuring sustainability;
- Ability to attract risk capital and investment;
- Building a healthy and safe Community; and
- Effective marketing, branding and advocacy.
To begin this series, let's take a look at the topic of infrastructure. The history of our civilization follows closely the history of our advances in infrastructure. Roman trade was the engine that drove the economy of the Roman Empire 2,000 years ago and it is no different today. Without vast investments in public works and infrastructure, we would have great difficulty in enacting trade, commuting and achieving a great quality of life. Infrastructure is also one of the key elements in influencing investment decisions.
At the top of the list above is the requirement for high quality infrastructure - the basic structural foundation of our villages, towns, cities and regions - including the vast network of roads, highways, rail, bridges, sewers, transit, air services, hydroelectric and broadband cables, and wireless systems, but also our recreation centers, libraries and other hard and soft facilities that serve the diverse needs of growing populations.
As cities and regions grow they demand more and better infrastructure. Traditional infrastructure such as highways, as well as improvements to water and sewer systems will become key elements in any stimulus that governments provide for economic revitalization. In addition to traditional infrastructure, smart power grids with efficient wireless monitoring systems, high speed broadband and other forms of information related technologies that will allow us to expand our capabilities and become more efficient and innovative, must be part of the equation if these cities and regions are to attract and retain brains, investment and jobs in their backyard.
From an ICF perspective, we have always said that the discussion about Intelligent Communities is more than just about the "wires." But without the connections that "wires" (wireless and otherwise) offer, we couldn't even begin to discuss the other considerations in my list above. It is after-all the foundation, the infrastructure of our broadband economy. In order to even begin to play in this new game of globalization, these communities have had to ante up with their best offerings in robust broadband infrastructure.
But our needs for specific types of infrastructure around the world are changing. Many legacy systems haunt many communities and regions, while others have benefited from leapfrogging technologies, especially those in 3rd world countries who never had much in the way of wired communications in the first place. With sophisticated satellite communications, undersea cables that have circled the globe and new wireless applications such as WiFi and WiMax, these regions have leaped to another generation of infrastructure. In India, for instance, the impact of globalization through global outsourcing could never have occurred without the robust broadband undersea cables that were brought to its shore. This has had an enormous social, cultural, economic and political impact on the country. The fast lane for many in this country has been a direct result of the benefits and opportunities that broadband has brought to them.
But as communities, we need to also begin to discuss how we can begin to reshape our communities with these new advances in infrastructure, such as high speed broadband, smart grids and the like. We need to look at potentially reshaping our cities and regions and develop policies and initiatives that build a much better quality of life, which includes our transportation modes and infrastructure, our operations that discourage unnecessary travel and ways to reduce our carbon footprint.
Infrastructure in our communities is the backbone of the 12 steps to a successful intelligent community, but it is only the first step. I look forward to exploring the other 11 steps with you over the next several months.
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