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The Open University

Smart cities

The Open University via OpenLearn

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Overview

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This course on Smart Cities aims to introduce learners to the concept of smart cities, exploring topics such as urbanization, systems thinking, citizen engagement, infrastructure, technology, data, innovation, leadership, standards, and measurement. By the end of the course, participants will be able to understand the core elements of smart cities, analyze case studies, evaluate the role of citizens in smart city development, and assess the impact of technology and data on urban environments. The course employs a combination of quizzes, case studies, readings, and discussions to cater to individuals interested in urban planning, technology, sustainability, and innovation.

Syllabus

  • Introduction and guidance
  • Introduction and guidance
  • What is a badged course?
  • How to get a badge
  • Acknowledgements
  • Week1Week 1: Introduction to smart cities
  • Introduction
  • 1 Your initial thoughts about smart cities
  • 2 What is a smart city?
  • 3 World urbanisation
  • 4 Smart city case studies
  • 4.1 Milton Keynes and MK:Smart
  • 4.2 Songdo
  • 4.3 Rio De Janeiro
  • 4.4 How do these case studies compare?
  • 5 What makes cities smart?
  • 6 This week’s quiz
  • 7 Summary of Week 1
  • References
  • Further reading
  • Acknowledgements
  • Week2Week 2: The city as a system of systems
  • Introduction
  • 1 Systems thinking
  • 2 A rich picture – Milton Keynes’ future challenges
  • 2 A rich picture on your city’s challenges
  • 3 Wicked problems
  • 4 Developing a smart city approach
  • 4.1 Core elements of a smart city
  • 4.2 What can open data do for you?
  • 4.3 Sustainability
  • 4.4 Privacy and ethics
  • 4.5 How should smart cities develop?
  • 5 This week’s quiz
  • 6 Summary of Week 2
  • References
  • Acknowledgements
  • Week3Week 3: Smart citizens
  • Introduction
  • 1 What is the role of citizens in smart cities?
  • 1.1 Engaging citizens
  • 1.2 IES Cities
  • 1.3 Energy systems for smarter cities
  • 1.4 Approaches to citizen engagement
  • 2 Co-creating smart cities: design thinking
  • 2.1 Cities Unlocked
  • 2.2 Living labs
  • 2.3 ENoLL Summer School
  • 2.4 Define your city problem
  • 2.5 Crowdsourcing citizens’ ideas
  • 2.6 The Mayors’ Challenge
  • 3 Redesigning cities for citizens: towards the all-age-friendly city
  • 3.1 Mobility on demand
  • 3.2 Motion Map
  • 3.3 Rethinking city solutions
  • 4 This week’s quiz
  • 5 Week 3 summary
  • References
  • Further reading
  • Acknowledgements
  • Week4Week 4: Infrastructure, technology and data
  • Introduction
  • 1 Urban infrastructure and technology
  • 1.1 The future of lighting
  • 1.2 What is the internet of things?
  • 1.3 More on the internet of things
  • 1.4 Connected objects
  • 2 Sensing the city
  • 2.1 NOx-eating paint and air-quality sensors
  • 2.2 Safecast
  • 2.3 Smart Citizen Kit
  • 2.4 Sensing your city
  • 2.5 When is a sensored city a censored city?
  • 2.6 Cyber security
  • 3 Can data power a smart city revolution?
  • 3.1 Open / shared / closed: the world of data
  • 3.2 Satellite data
  • 3.3 An open data revolution
  • 3.4 Crowdsourcing smarter cities
  • 3.5 Smart Cities Project Data
  • 4 This week’s quiz
  • 5 This week’s summary
  • References
  • Further reading
  • Acknowledgements
  • Week5Week 5: Innovation and enterprise
  • Introduction
  • 1 Smart innovation and enterprise: smart city opportunities
  • 1.1 The smart city ecosystem
  • 1.2 Financing smart cities
  • 1.3 Chosen to be a smart city?
  • 1.4 India Smart Cities Challenge
  • 2 Data-driven innovation: the data economy
  • 2.1 City open data
  • 2.2 The business case for open data
  • 2.3 How civic hacking helps our cities
  • 2.4 Hackathons
  • 3 Social innovation in the smart city
  • 3.1 Using digital social innovation
  • 3.2 Crowdfunding
  • 4 This week’s quiz
  • 5 Summary of Week 5
  • References
  • Further reading
  • Acknowledgements
  • Week6Week 6: Smart leadership and strategy
  • Introduction
  • 1 Leadership and partnerships
  • 1.1 Smart city partnerships
  • 1.2 Who should lead our smart cities?
  • 1.3 CITIE
  • 2 Smart city vision and strategy
  • 2.1 Amsterdam Smart City – the future starts now
  • 2.2 Smart city strategies
  • 2.3 Prototype your smart cities project
  • 3 This week’s quiz
  • 4 Summary of Week 6
  • References
  • Further reading
  • Acknowledgements
  • Week7Week 7: Standards and capacity building
  • Introduction
  • 1 The role of standards
  • 1.1 BSI smart city standards
  • 1.2 HyperCat
  • 1.3 ITU Smart Sustainable Cities
  • 1.4 The value of smart city standards
  • 2 Business Model Canvas
  • 3 Smart cities readiness
  • 4 Lessons learned from Amsterdam
  • 5 Capacity building for smart cities
  • 6 This week’s quiz
  • 7 Summary of Week 7
  • References
  • Acknowledgements
  • Week8Week 8: Smart measurement and learning
  • Introduction
  • 1 Smart city measurement: metrics and indicators
  • 1.1 Smart City Trumps
  • 1.2 City indicators
  • 1.3 WCCD data portal
  • 1.4 Value proposition
  • 1.5 Integrated reporting
  • 1.6 Creating value
  • 2 Smart city learning and education
  • 2.1 Smart city learning
  • 2.2 Smart city education
  • 2.3 Urban Data School
  • 2.4 Smart city learning and education
  • 3 The future for smart cities
  • 3.1 Can any city become smart?
  • 3.2 Opportunities and barriers
  • 4 This week’s quiz
  • 5 End-of-course round-up
  • Tell us what you think
  • Where next?
  • References
  • Further reading
  • Acknowledgements

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