Investigation of IoT Technology for Civil Infrastructure towards Smart Cities

Abstract

Smart cities have become one of the major innovations and technological progress. The Internet of Things (IoT) is central to this transformation paradigm. This dissertation sought to explore the IoT architecture and applications in smart cities, identify challenges, investigate the opportunities IoT presents and enhance quality of life. Based on the findings, recommendations are made for future research and policy development. The review of literature examines the concepts of IoT, and smart cities conceptualized by different authors. The review establishes that while a smart city is a relatively new concept in urban development, it has attracted substantial research interest in the recent past. This dissertation aimed to provide a more nuanced understanding of the architectural foundations of IoT based on its application in smart cities. The methodology included a systematic search and selection of secondary data sources published between 2018 and 2023. The search results were analysed thematically. The findings established that the architecture of IoT through sensors and actuators explains the connectivity nature of smart cities. Smart city systems are designed to allow for interoperability and integration for a seamless flow of data, analysis, and automated decisions. IoT allows for the scalability and security of smart city systems and people. It is applied to enhance urban mobility, public safety and environmental sustainability. However, IoT technologies come with challenges such as privacy and security concerns, cyberattack threats and environmental sustainability. The study recommends that city authorities and policymakers increasingly leverage IoT technology to seize inherent opportunities such as better economic growth and enhanced quality of city life