Why Are Schools the Building Blocks for Smart Cities?

School

The COVID-19 pandemic transformed the global education system. Students began learning remotely using digital devices connected to the Internet of Things (IoT). Years of classroom digitization lead to the seamless transition from in-person to remote education.

Smartboards, computers and other electronics improve advanced education programs, giving each student the opportunity to succeed. As students return to the classroom, schools integrate analytics and data management to continue supporting different learning styles. IoT shows promising potential for improving the efficiency and convenience of education, from improving transportation safety to protecting students’ health.

How Smart City Technology Supports Schools

Many cities are establishing new sustainability-enhancing regulations, reducing surface-level and atmospheric pollution with green infrastructure. Smart city technology effectively enhances the energy efficiency of urban areas and shows promising potential to support educational facilities.

Schools are implementing smaller-scale versions of IoT technology, acting as a model for citywide systems. They are also initiating emission-reduction goals. Schools can improve ecological conservation, enhance social inclusion and promote economic growth when using smart city education technology.  

Schools can improve students’ workflow, services and natural resource preservation by using IoT systems, big data, cloud computing and sensor technology. Education facilities can help design smart cities by displaying the efficiency and success of technological advancements. Smart schools also support urban spaces because the education system is the backbone of development, molding the minds of future infrastructure developers.

Remote Learning Systems for Sustainability

One aspect of smart schools is the remote learning systems. Some students experience physical, mental and emotional limitations that prevent them from learning in the classroom. Real-time data sharing helps teachers connect with kids at home, increasing their access to equal education.

IoT remote learning systems also reduce transportation emissions and improve atmospheric conservation. The transit sector is responsible for nearly 7.3 billion tons of global emissions, which adds to the enhanced greenhouse effect. Reducing the demand for transportation decreases adverse ecological effects.

Schools can also minimize the carbon footprint of in-person students by connecting their digital devices to photovoltaic (PV) solar panels. Lighting alone accounts for nearly 26% of an education facility’s power consumption. Attaching a school’s lighting system to PV panels can effectively reduce emissions and improve its energy efficiency.

GPS Tracking for School Buses

Smart city schools also use GPS tracking technology, helping parents locate their children. IoT tech connects a bus’s location system to a guardian’s smartphone. This enables parents to monitor their kids’ whereabouts, dangerous driving behaviors and drop-off locations.

The technology also improves bus routes’ efficiency. School buses make up the largest single portion of the transportation sector. Improving pickup and drop-off routes can significantly reduce greenhouse gas emissions.

Weather Monitoring for Asthma Attacks Prevention

More children are experiencing frequent asthma attacks as the global temperature rises and air pollution increases. Smart schools can use real-time weather monitoring systems to track outdoor air conditions. On low-quality days, IoT devices may send alerts to teachers, helping them protect asthmatic students.

The technology can help instructors monitor high-risk students. Teachers may move susceptible kids into well-ventilated rooms, providing them with equal access to education, regardless of their conditions.

Building Smarter, Not Harder

City planners and construction professionals can develop smart cities from small-scale school models. IoT technology revolves around convenience and conservation, so municipal development projects should reflect similar values. Modular building methods allow professionals to improve the sustainability of infrastructure upgrades.Builders can also use IoT technology in the construction process, tracking localized emissions and engaging in carbon capturing. Individuals that utilize smart systems to create green infrastructure can effectively enhance sustainability. Collaborating with school developers is also essential when creating smart cities when it comes to challenges to prevent disruptions and waste.

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