Pros
Better Transportation: Potential to drastically improve the current level of transportation throughout Clarksville /Montgomery County. Better traffic management, the ability to track public transportation and serve its citizens better with constant information and low prices. Current example: Downtown Pay by-App Parking
Digital Equity: Citizens will have access to high-speed internet services at affordable prices and devices. If they have access to public Wi-fi in local areas in the city, all residents will have equal opportunities. Current example: Google & CDE Gapping the Digital Divide
Efficient public services: smart cities will have technologies and the necessary tools to reduce our usage of natural resources and decrease waste of water, electricity, etc., without having to cut down on any factors.
Infrastructure improvement: Old roads, buildings, highways, and bridges require massive investments to maintain their state and increase their useful life. With the help of smart technologies, cities can analytically predict and identify the areas that can cause infrastructure failures before they occur. Current example: CDE Electricity Smart Grid
Reduced environmental footprint: A smart city has thousands of energy-efficient buildings that can improve air quality, use renewable energy sources, and decrease dependence on non-renewable energy sources. These will help decrease our ecological impact on the environment.
Economic development: Smart cities improve regional and global competitiveness, attract new residents, and improve business. Companies will flourish since the entire city will have access to an open data platform, information, etc. With the available technologies, they can make informed decisions that lead to economic development. Current example: Clarksville / Montgomery County is attractive to companies such as Hankook, LG Electronics, and LG Chem.
Job opportunities: A smart city will have many businesses and job opportunities, as people will have equal access to basic resources such as transportation, internet connection, and job offers.
Cons
Privacy/Cybersecurity: As we become more connected, they are vulnerable to cyber attacks that could disrupt services. This should be considered and addressed when new technologies are rolled out to ensure cyber safety.
Increased Tax Concerns: With all of the city’s improvement plans, residents are concerned about increased taxes, especially in the current economy, which is experiencing extreme inflation.
Citizen buy-in/training: If the people of Clarksville / Montgomery County don’t know about technology, they will be unable to use it. They will find it irrelevant to their daily lives and difficult to use without training.
Obstacles
Insufficient internet technology/legacy Infrastructure with plans to move forward: With the increased growth, our infrastructure has become a safety concern. The city has developed a 20-year plan to address the concerns, incorporating sidewalks and bikeways.
Antiquated technology
Multiple service providers
Barriers
Public Awareness / Acceptance: Citizens may resist the new changes happening in our city. However, it’s important to be transparent and keep them informed. We suggest a marketing plan to make residents aware of Clarksville’s smart components.
Lack of attention to the environment
Funding