Page 20 - Security Today, September 2019

Making Cities Smarter Planners, governments and businesses welcome influx of population
By Bob Carter
Half of the world’s population now lives in an urban area. By 2030, 41 megacities across the globe will house a whopping 410 million people. Urban plan- ners, municipal governments and businesses wel- coming this influx have to make important decisions about safety and security. Safe cities attract businesses, foster innova- tion and provide countless opportunities. By working collaboratively, both public and private sectors can contribute to a solid foundation for the success of these great cities and their citizens.
But how do we construct and manage cities so that everything, and everyone, flows smoothly today and in the future? How can we ensure that our cities will continue to succeed as they grow? After all, a city that works is a city Americans want to live, work and play in.
A key indicator of success is a city’s resilience. We know that the ability to get back to normal as quickly as possible following an inci- dent, unplanned event or emergency is essential as it makes citizens feel safe and allows businesses to continue to thrive. And, since cit- ies are seen as hubs of commerce and leisure, heightened levels of crime—or even the fear of crime—can call the very nature of urban
life into question.
The challenge then is how do we put systems and processes in place
that will keep our cities safe while allowing them to adapt and grow as populations increase and technology advances? How do we ensure that our cities continue to be resilient even as their make-up changes?
Open Communication and Connection
Increasingly, the resilience of cities depends on the open communica- tion and connection between a wide variety of systems and organiza- tions. Gone are the days when urban safety was the sole responsibility of law enforcement. Businesses, traffic control, public works, schools, transit authorities and hospital administrations all have important roles to play and can add meaningful—often vital—input into any emergency response plan.
For example, the earthquake and tsunami that struck Japan in 2011 destroyed one of the country’s main highways. Within six days of the disaster, as part of that country’s emergency plan, it was completely repaired, including its road lane markings. This facilitated the move- ment of supplies and work crews into and citizens out of the affected
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0919 | SECURITY TODAY
SAFE CITIES