Smart city ，IOT and Online Security

According from one of the most accepted definition established by IBM (2010), the term of ‘Smart City’ could be assumed as the technological innovation applied in order to sense, analyze and integrate the key information of core systems in running cities. As for meet the need for scientific management of urban system, the concept of ‘Internet of Things’ has been introduced into urban design in order to grasp information and solve challenges in urban systematically.

  At present, IOT has played an important role in the process of smart city practice. Firstly, it provides one of the most efficient way to collect information in big urban scale. For example, the application of red light camera and speed camera makes it possible for policemen to control the transport condition and react quickly. Secondly, IOT gives access to collect information that is difficult to measure and manage the energy consumption scientifically. Some buildings in Sydney now applied smart city strategies to manage the electricity consumption, thermal sensers are placed in the every corner of the building to collect the temperature information and control the air conditioners, heaters and even lights according the data collected by sensers.

  However, the application of IOT in smart city could leave some potential problems in the aspect of internet security. It could result in a domination role in the urban system once someone get control of internet. A game made by Ubi Soft Entertainment Software named Watching dog gives a brief view of what will happen once hacker control the urban system operation, the main hero could control the red light on street and even monitor other phone call, creating chaos to achieve his own wish. As a suggestion to future smart city, digital management should pay more attention on the online security.