Smart Perth and Kinross Consultation

Perth and Kinross Council is consulting on a draft Smart City Strategy and would like your views on the ideas and projects that will make our area 'smarter'.

What is a Smart City?

Smart cities are at the forefront of global thinking on urban development. A smart city is:

"A city that uses information and communications technology to enhance its liveability, workability, and sustainability."

In essence, a smart city takes an integrated, data and technology-driven approach to issues facing many urban areas such as traffic, public safety, healthcare, waste and pollution. For example, through the use of sensors in litter bins we can detect the fill levels and schedule collections accordingly. We can also make this data open and available to the public so that people can understand why we empty bins at certain times and also help us reduce the amount of waste we produce.

Smart Perth and Kinross Strategy

The Smart Perth and Kinross Strategy is part of wider work that is being undertaken across all Scottish cities as part of the Scottish Cities Alliance Smart Cities Scotland initiative. This is attracting investment, stimulating economic activity and creating new jobs and businesses in cities. Perth will also benefit from a share of £10 million of European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) to establish a range of smart city projects throughout the cities.

The Strategy has six themes:

Smart Government: Ensuring we have the digital connectivity to implement a range of smart city projects, deliver more services online and ensure everyone has access to the internet.
Smart Living: Making Perth and Kinross a culturally vibrant, safe and healthy place to live by using technology to deliver healthcare, public safety and information.
Smart Mobility: Using technology to improve urban traffic management, promote public transport and active travel.
Smart People: Developing an educated and skilled population where everyone has the ability to participate in an increasingly digital world.
Smart Environment: Promoting greener planning and improving the management of resources.
Smart Economy: Developing an economy of innovation and entrepreneurship capitalising on excellent digital connectivity.

These themes are further explained in the draft consultation (PDF) [866KB] .

In addition, there is a dedicated area on Perth and Kinross' Smart City Strategy, and its associated Projects.