10 Ways to Measure Progress in Implementing a Smart City Strategy

Many cities around the world have made the decision to implement a smart city strategy. They’re using existing and new technologies as well as innovative processes to improve the quality of life for the people in their communities — an ambitious and often expensive undertaking. With this type of commitment, there’s an expectation that results will follow. City leaders need metrics to manage progress and to help their communities understand how the benefits of the smart city work are being realized.

What gets measured, gets managed.

- Peter Drucker, 1954

Though specific metrics for local initiatives depend on each project and city, many are broad and generalized enough, for most cities to use. Overall, a performance indicator should measure some aspect of livability, workability, and sustainability. Many reputable institutions, such as the International Organization for Standardization (ISO), have created lists of high-level smart city metrics. Here’s a summary of ten that can be used for inspiration:

• Percentage of city services available online: Offering access to city services via a website or a mobile app provides many benefits to both the city and the community. These benefits include 24/7 access from any device, greater accuracy relative to paper-based services, reduced resource needs, and possible automation.
• Number of students with access to digital learning tools: Computer literacy and access to digital tools are requirements to thrive in the 21st century. Students must become tech-savvy in order to gain access to higher-paying career opportunities and to enable them to participate in an increasingly digital society.
• Percentage of homes with smart energy meters: These connected meters record and display electricity use in real-time, enabling homeowners to alter their energy consumption behavior to lower the cost and environmental impact. The meters also enable the power provider to understand consumption and, therefore, better plan and manage energy. A similar set of metrics can be used for smart water meters.
• Quantity of energy consumed by street lighting: Street lighting can consume up to 50 percent of the power needs of a city. Adopting energy efficient lighting and technology to power the lighting only when people or vehicles are in the area can reduce the cost and carbon emissions.
• Percentage of city budget spent on smart city innovation: The degree to which funds are being committed to smart city projects, particularly when tracked over several years, can indicate the degree of commitment and investment being made in the future of the community. Be careful, though: spend doesn’t necessarily equate to results.
• Percentage of the community with access to the Internet: Access to the information and services of the Internet is now largely considered a human right. It enables societal progress through broader access to information and education as well as to many of the tools required for innovation and opportunity.
• Number of visits to the open data portal: Easy access to government data can enable more transparency, trust, better decision-making, and innovation. Additional metrics to capture can include tracking the most popular datasets and any API connections being made to the portal.
• Percentage of city buildings that are accessible to people with disabilities: Over 15 percent of people in the world have a disability. Making buildings accessible to everyone creates greater societal inclusion. Smart cities must prioritize inclusion in every aspect of the community if quality of life is to be equitable.
• Length of time to acquire a building permit: A core function of a city is to review and approve community applications for all manner of permits. Greater speed in issuing a permit can reduce requester frustration, enable more rapid development, and increase economic indicators.
• Percentage of community with easy access to public transportation: Public transportation enables more community mobility, reduces congestion, and is better for the environment. This metric can be calculated by the percentage of community members with access to some form of public transportation within a defined distance.

Dr. Jonathan Reichental is the best-selling author of Smart Cities for Dummies. It is available all over the world now in physical book and ebook format. You can purchase it here: www.smartcitybook.com or from your favorite bookseller.