The smart city movement, during the last decade and a half, advocated the built environment and digital technology convergence with the backing of institutional capital and government support. The commitment of a significant number of local governments across the globe, in terms of official smart city policies and initiatives, along with the constant push of global technology giants, has reinforced the popularity of this movement. This two-volume treatment on smart cities thoroughly explores and sheds light on the prominent elements of the smart city phenomenon and generates a smart city blueprint.
This first volume, with its 12 chapters, provides a sound understanding on the key foundations and growth directions of smart city frameworks, technologies, and platforms, with theoretical expansions, practical implications, and real-world case study lessons.
The second companion volume offers sophisticated perspectives on the key foundations and directions of smart city policies, communities, and urban futures, with theoretical expansions, practical implications, and real-world case study lessons.
This book is an invaluable reference source for urban policymakers, managers, planners, practitioners, and many others, particularly to benefit from it when tackling key urban and societal issues and planning for and delivering smart city solutions. Moreover, the book is also a rich and important repository for scholars and research and undergraduate students as it communicates the complex smart city phenomenon in an easy to digest form, by providing both the big picture view and specifics of each component of that view. It also appeals to local government agencies and smart city practitioners.
With your toes in the sand, the sun on your face, and the roar of the surf drowning out your worries, reading at the beach is a double dose of escape. But what makes the perfect beach read? Depends on the reader. From frothy rom-coms to twisty thrillers, generational sagas to moving memoirs, our favorite beach reads run the gamut. Here are 29 beach-perfect books.
We may not get to hang out on our favorite beaches this summer. But whether or not you get to bury your toes in the sand, you can drift away with one of these timeless tales. And be sure to check out some of the hottest new reads, too.
Mother's Day is this Sunday. It's a holiday often known for family get-togethers and floral bouquets. It's also a time to reflect upon our relationships with our mothers, whose complex personalities have so unmistakably formed our own. To that end, here are some memoirs and novels we think explore the deeper dimensions of those maternal relationships.