What are smart cities?
Put simply, smart cities are cities that use information and communication technologies in an integrated way to improve urban management and make public services more efficient, sustainable and accessible to citizens. Sensors distributed across the urban space, connected devices and real-time data management systems gather information on traffic, weather, energy consumption, air quality, use of public spaces and other factors.
This information is analyzed continuously and allows authorities, companies and residents themselves to make better-informed decisions, adjusting the city’s operation to the needs of the moment.
In Brazil, the concept was adapted in an inclusive and sustainable way by the Brazilian Charter for Smart Cities (2020), an initiative of the Ministry of Regional Development. According to the Charter, Brazilian smart cities are those that act in a planned, innovative, inclusive and networked way, using technology to solve concrete problems, reduce inequalities and improve the quality of life of all people.
Why is accessibility essential in smart cities?
Talking about accessibility in urban environments is not only about complying with standards. With an aging population, the issue becomes even more urgent.
Moreover, accessibility improvements benefit the whole population. There is even a term for it: the curb cut effect, which describes how an adaptation made for a minority ends up benefiting many other groups. That is the essence of Universal Design.
In smart cities, urban accessibility emerges as a crucial criterion. Assistive technology integrated into the urban fabric is indispensable in sustainable urban planning.
Technologies and solutions that make a city more accessible
- Internet of Things (IoT) and smart sensors: for example, the aBeacon in New York, activated via smartphone by blind pedestrians.
- Multisensory signage: as in Paris and Helsinki, with Braille, audio and sound beacons.
- Accessible and intelligent public transport: with real-time arrival predictions, ramps and apps offering step-free routes.
- Urban assistive technologies: such as the Guiaderodas app, Hand Talk, Be My Eyes and others.
- Accessible digital communication: plain language, screen readers, sign language and contrast.
- Active citizen participation: as in Singapore, using accessible digital tools and co-creation with people with disabilities.
Challenges
- Lack of technical knowledge (Smart Cities for All): many managers overlook accessibility needs.
- Unequal access to technology: a lack of digital literacy among older people, for example.
- Old and disconnected infrastructure: a sidewalk with no curb ramp compromises the entire journey.
- Budget and priorities: even with initiatives such as public-private partnerships, accessibility has to be guaranteed in the tender documents.
- Cultural change: respect for the rules of coexistence and for inclusion also comes from civic education.
Real-world examples
- Singapore: full accessibility and universal design.
- New York: accessible traffic signals and open data.
- Helsinki: sound beacons in stations.
- Smart City Laguna: the world’s first inclusive smart city, in Ceará, Brazil.
- Curitiba: a pioneer in BRT and in apps for urban accessibility.
Genuinely successful smart cities are those that use technology to empower people, because “a good idea is good for everyone”.
Make accessibility a decision, not a detail
A smart city is built one accessible building at a time.
The Guiaderodas Certification goes beyond a technical checklist. Its methodology combines a detailed assessment of the physical space, the lived experience of people with disabilities, staff training for an accessible attitude and a leadership commitment to continuous improvement.
Learn about the Guiaderodas Certification →
