The "smart city" project is designed to introduce better, more environmentally friendly technology into larger urban areas to improve the overall quality of life. Much of the early work was done in Europe but now the movement is spreading to lesser developed areas including Latin America. This story from Co.EXIST, "Filling South America With Smart Cities", highlights a project in Santiago, Chile.
I think the "smart city" project is a great idea particulalrly given the dramatic growth in urban population. Free ubiquitous Internet access, solar powered everything and better mass transportation all sound attractive. I have only one question? Where are the smart people who will inhabit the the smart city? Without equal emphasis on improving education for the poor and disenfranchised, smart cities will only further exacerbate the class discrimination so prevalent in Latin America and other parts of the world.
Previous thoughts on urbanization are here, here, here, and here.
Image credit: faculty.fairfield.edu