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Shaping the cities of tomorrow: the emerging jobs powering our future cities

By 13.08.2024August 26th, 2024No Comments
Shaping the cities of tomorrow: the emerging jobs powering our future cities

13.08.2024

One of the best definitions available for what a smart city is originates from the site of European Commission where it states “A smart city is a place where traditional networks and services are made more efficient with the use of digital solutions for the benefit of its inhabitants and business. A smart city goes beyond the use of digital technologies” (European Commission, 2024a).

The case (and need) for smart cities

Originally, smart city transformation was focused on the introduction of new digital systems to automate city functions. Traffic management, waste collection, public lighting, public safety, building management are common examples that improve efficiency and optimize resource usage within a city. Quite soon it became apparent that this transformation is multi-faceted and impacting all aspects of our daily life (Giffinger, 2007). Obviously, for supporting this massive transformation effectively, cities needed a skilled workforce capable of managing and sustaining these advanced systems. The rationale behind this argument is quite clear – and the main aspects detailed.

Reliability and efficiency

As the primary entity responsible for its citizens is the city, reliability and efficiency should be cornerstones of all its operations. The role of city management should then be to set strategic objectives, oversee the implementation of smart technologies, and monitor their effective performance. Leadership is another skill key for city management, who are responsible for setting a strategy and roadmap for success and following through, rather than simply monitoring technology trends or randomly buying technology and digital solutions. By taking the lead, cities can ensure that their smart city initiatives align with the unique needs and priorities of their communities, and not solely driven by external vendors or fleeting technological trends. This proactive stance allows cities to maintain control over their strategic direction, uphold accountability to their residents, and foster a more sustainable and responsive urban environment.

Resilience

The concept of resilience emerges as a cornerstone in the development of smart cities.  It enables urban environments to withstand and recover from shocks and stresses, including natural disasters, pandemics, privacy and security breaches and various technological disruptions. Today’s smart cities should incorporate resilience aspects into their design and operations by integrating different technologies, including early warning systems; improving disaster response and recovery, and ensuring the continuity of critical services. Additionally, cities should focus on building robust infrastructures, implementing adaptive planning strategies, and promoting community engagement to strengthen their capacity to withstand and recover from challenges (Ramirez, 2020). By embracing resilience, cities can safeguard the well-being of their citizens, protect critical resources, and maintain their functionality in the face of uncertainties and disruptions (UN-Habitat, 2019).

Climate change

Climate change and environmental degradation are an existential threat to the European Union and to the world (European Commission, 2024b). Therefore, the green transition is a fundamental requirement for all cities as they struggle to create sustainable and environmentally friendly urban ecosystems. Cities should adopt clean energy and resource efficiency solutions, implement circular economy principles, reduce carbon emissions, mitigate climate change impacts, and promote long-term environmental sustainability. The convergence of circular economies and sustainable smart cities has emerged as a persuasive solution, giving rise to a revolutionary framework that holds promise for shaping urban living (Santibanez, 2023). This shift involves the application of renewable energy sources, energy-efficient technologies, and sustainable practices in various sectors, including transportation, waste management, and urban planning. It is quite clear that the green transition of cities not only contribute to global climate goals but also improves the quality of life of the citizens through improved air quality, reduced noise pollution, and healthier living environments (European Commission, 2020).

Digital literacy

As smart cities rely heavily on technology and data, digital literacy is crucial for citizens, employees, and city officials. Education and training programs can help people learn how to use digital tools, interpret data, and make informed decisions based on factual data (UN-Habitat, 2022).

Sustainable living

Smart cities need to invest in sustainable living practices such as energy-efficient buildings, renewable energy, and low-carbon transportation. Educational programs can raise awareness and provide practical guidance on how to reduce carbon footprints and conserve natural resources (World Bank, n.d.).

Civic engagement

Smart cities require active participation from their citizens to be successful. Educational programs can help citizens learn how to engage with city officials, participate in public forums, and advocate for their needs and concerns (Remr, 2023).

Entrepreneurship and innovation

Smart cities are often hubs for innovation and entrepreneurship. Educational programs can help develop the skills needed to launch and grow start-ups and provide resources to support innovation in areas such as smart infrastructure, urban mobility, and public services.

Criticality of “software enabled society”

Interruptions to city’s systems can have life-threatening consequences, from disruptions in emergency services to cascading failures in power grids. Even without such extreme scenarios, system breakdowns can cripple economic activity, as businesses rely heavily on digital infrastructure. Repairing these errors can be incredibly expensive, and also the political impact from city’s operation disruptions can be significant (Fitsilis, 2022).

Because of these diverse and numerous requirements, the European Commission supports various initiatives to promote the development of smart, green, and resilient cities. These initiatives include the Smart Cities Marketplace, which promotes innovative solutions; the Intelligent Cities Challenge, advocating for the development of Local Green Deals (LGD); the Covenant of Mayors for Climate and Energy, which focuses on climate action; the Green City Accord, for promoting environmental sustainability; the European Urban Initiative, facilitating the application of innovative technology solutions within cities and exchange of good practices. These initiatives are just a few examples that clearly demonstrate the emphasis that EU society and instruments place on urban development.
Therefore, for managing the above ambitious objectives city’s personnel should be educated with new and specialized knowledge, competences and skills. Traditional job roles are gradually being enhanced and new occupations are emerging to meet the new demands of smart cities.  The proper utilisation of technology and the presence of personnel with the right expertise are crucial to tackle these challenges effectively and ensure the long-term sustainability and resilience of cities (Tsoutsa, 2022). Without a skilled and knowledgeable workforce, the realisation of the full potential of smart cities becomes challenging.

Emerging City’s Job Profiles

Much research has gone into forecasting what the emerging job profiles that our future cities will require may look like. In a recent research study, I also analysed the future emerging job profiles that will increasingly be needed in the cities of tomorrow, identifying their main characteristics (Fitsilis et al. 2023). This research identifies the key characteristics of these roles, the main tasks involved and highlights their importance in managing the technological, environmental, and social aspects of smart cities.  Similar studies by Cedefop (2022),OECD (2022), and JRC (2019) emphasize the need for skills from various disciplines such as green tech, data analysis, social intelligence, and cybersecurity.
The research methodology used was based in a constructivist approach, recognizing the emergent nature of knowledge in the context of smart city development. It also integrated practical experiences from corelated projects (e.g. SmartDevOps, CRISIS, and OpenDCO)  which provided the foundation for identifying and validating innovative job profiles and curricula tailored specifically for smart cities. The initial compilation of job profiles was significantly informed by the results and insights gathered from these projects, which were then enriched and validated through a selective narrative literature review focusing on existing academic and industry publications.

To enhance the credibility of these profiles, they were cross-referenced and validated using the European Skills Competences Qualifications and Occupations (ESCO) database. This critical step ensured that the developed job profiles were aligned with the established European standards and classifications, offering a multi-dimensional view of each job profile, including specific skills, competencies, and qualifications. The final result provides a good understanding of each profile while linked with employment and professional development needs.

Key Areas and Occupational Profiles

In the dynamic and evolving landscape of urban development, the concept of a smart, green, and resilient city has gained paramount importance. As cities around the world strive to become more sustainable, technologically-advanced, and adaptable to various challenges, the need for a comprehensive approach to urban planning and management becomes increasingly evident. This approach not only encompasses the integration of digital technologies and green initiatives but also involves the development of resilience strategies to withstand environmental, social, and economic challenges. These profiles are classified into distinct categories:

1.    Management Occupational Profiles: Roles that involve strategic planning, innovation, and overall coordination of smart city initiatives.
2.    Technological Occupational Profiles: Specialised roles focused on the implementation and management of technological solutions in urban settings.
3.    Resilience Occupational Profiles: Positions dedicated to preparing and strengthening cities against various risks and emergencies.
4.    Green Occupational Profiles: Professions centred on environmental sustainability, promoting green infrastructure and practices.
5.    Technical Operational Occupational Profiles: Technical expertise roles essential for the operational aspects of smart city infrastructure and services.

In the following sections, we present three categories of new innovative occupational profiles. Of course, the following list is neither exhaustive, nor straightforward – since definitions and needs often intertwine dynamically.

Management Occupational Profiles

In the fast-changing landscape of cities, effective management is crucial to harnessing technological advancements and ensuring sustainable urban development. Key management roles are designed to lead innovation, strengthen resilience, enhance civic engagement, and foster cultural inclusivity.  More specifically:

►    The Chief Innovation Officer leads the integration of digital technologies within the municipality, driving innovation through strategic planning and data-driven decision-making. This role is essential in overseeing technology integration, managing digital transformation projects, and ensuring that innovation aligns with the city’s broader strategic goals.
►    The Smart City Resilience Officer is central to building the city’s capacity to withstand and recover from various challenges, including natural disasters and technological disruptions. This role involves conducting risk assessments, developing, implementing and coordinating emergency plans, engaging with the community, and enhancing overall resilience through strategic city initiatives.
►    The Civic Technologist develops and implements civic technology projects to improve public engagement and service delivery. This role focuses on designing innovative tech solutions, ensuring digital equity, and managing projects that facilitate better interaction between citizens and municipal services, thereby enhancing overall civic participation.
►    The Multi-cultural Facilitator manages multicultural and social differences within the city, promoting cross-cultural understanding and diversity. This role involves coordinating community programs, facilitating dialogues, and ensuring that cultural policies are inclusive and responsive to the diverse needs of all residents, fostering a cohesive urban environment.

Technological Occupational Profiles

The advancement of smart cities relies heavily on specialised technological solutions that automate city’s workflows, harness data, develop intelligent systems, and ensure the security and efficiency of urban infrastructure. These roles are vital in the digital transformation of city operations and enhancing the quality of life of citizens.

►    The Smart City Data Analyst plays a crucial role in analysing urban data to inform policy and decision-making. This position manages the creation of the city’s dataspace, the collection and analysis of data. Further, he/she recommends policies and practices for optimizing urban systems to improve key functions such as transportation and public health.
►    The AI & Machine Learning Scientist develops sophisticated AI and machine learning models for analysing data and making decisions related with smart city operation. This role focuses on model development, data interpretation, and the implementation of AI solutions to enhance urban management.
►    The Digital Twin Expert manages the integration of multi-source city data for real-time analysis and decision-making. By focusing on data integration, system modeling, and real-time analytics, this role enables city officials to simulate and analyze urban environments, enhancing planning and operational efficiency.
►    The Cybersecurity Manager oversees cybersecurity initiatives to protect the city’s digital infrastructure. This role includes planning cybersecurity strategies, monitoring networks, and mitigating threats to ensure the security and resilience of urban systems.
►    The Augmented Reality Designer/Developer creates AR experiences for urban applications such as tourism, education, etc. This role involves designing AR content, developing applications, and developing innovative and optimizing user experiences, contributing to the city’s cultural and educational offerings, etc.
►    The Smart Grid Engineer designs and maintains the infrastructure for energy distribution in smart cities. This position focuses on energy system design, infrastructure maintenance, and system optimization, ensuring efficient and sustainable energy management. Further, this role involves the planning of EV charging stations.
►    The Autonomous Vehicle Operator/Technician monitors and controls autonomous vehicles, performing among others maintenance and repairs. This role involves vehicle operation, system troubleshooting, and diagnostics, contributing to the advancement of smart urban mobility solutions.

Smart City Planning and Sustainability Profiles

Smart city planning and sustainability profiles encompass roles that focus on strategic urban development, enhancing mobility, managing infrastructure, and promoting environmental sustainability. These roles are essential in ensuring that smart cities are well-planned, efficient, and environmentally conscious.

►    The Digital Transformation Manager designs and implements smart city initiatives such as smart transportation systems and public Wi-Fi networks. This role oversees the municipality’s digital transformation, integrating urban planning with digital strategies and project management.
►    The Mobility Platform Manager develops strategies to enhance urban mobility. This includes implementing bike-sharing programs and intelligent transportation systems and supporting real-time traffic management across various transport modes.
►    The Unmanned Aircraft Systems Traffic Manager supports the development of urban drone technologies for delivery, maintenance, and monitoring services. This role ensures the safety and regulatory compliance of drone operations within the urban environment.
►    The Municipal Broadband Manager designs and implements municipal broadband networks, particularly focusing on underserved areas. This role involves network design, project implementation, and stakeholder engagement to ensure widespread connectivity.
►    The Smart Facilities Manager oversees energy-efficient and technologically advanced buildings. This role integrates smart systems such as lighting and HVAC, optimizing building management for energy efficiency and sustainability.
►    The Green Infrastructure Specialist designs and implements green infrastructure projects to promote urban sustainability and resilience. This role involves ecological design, project coordination, and stakeholder engagement, ensuring that urban development is environmentally friendly.
►    The Circular Economy Manager develops strategies to promote the circular economy, focusing on sustainable city development. This role involves strategy development, project implementation, and collaboration with stakeholders to minimize waste and promote the reuse of resources.
►    The Climate Change Specialist develops and implements strategies for climate change mitigation and adaptation. This role involves climate policy development, project implementation, and stakeholder engagement to address the impacts of climate change on urban environments.
►    Τhe Environmental Protection Specialist ensures environmental protection with a focus on biodiversity and quality of life. This role involves developing environmental policies, implementing projects, and engaging with communities to promote and protect urban biodiversity.
►    The Local Energy Community Manager supports the creation and management of renewable local energy communities. This role focuses on community design, renewable energy system management, and stakeholder collaboration, fostering sustainable energy practices.

Conclusions

Even though the foresight presented in the previous section is indicative of the future occupational profiles needed, it is obvious that the emergence of numerous new professions highlights a transformative shift in the urban workforce landscape. Further, indicates that this change is more revolutionary than evolutionary. Professionals in this new era of cities will need to navigate diverse challenges with equally diverse skill sets, adapting to the rapid pace of technological and environmental changes.

A key insight is the dynamic nature of skill requirements in smart cities. The continuous evolution of both technological and urban contexts mandates a parallel evolution in the skill sets of the workforce. This dynamic necessitates a commitment to continuous learning, reskilling and adaptation, ensuring that city’s professionals knowledge level remain current, to meet the demands of an ever-changing environment. The complexity of this undertaking is increased by the fact that all this technology is changing the way people are interacting and overall, the way the society is structured and therefore sets us in front of important ethical and existential challenges that must be addressed in parallel.
Finally, we would like to underscore the global competition for skilled professionals in the smart city sector, winning the war of talent. As municipalities globally advance towards more intelligent urban frameworks, the competition to attract and retain skilled professionals escalates. This underscores the importance of strategic approaches to talent development and acquisition, making it crucial for cities to invest in education and training programs that can supply the needed skills.

In summary, as we navigate the path towards smart urban development, it becomes increasingly evident that success depends on cultivating a workforce that is skilled, flexible, and interdisciplinary. The future of smart cities lies not just in technological advancement but in a holistic approach to urban development that integrates social, environmental, and economic considerations. This approach must be driven by a workforce equipped to meet these multifaceted challenges, ensuring that smart cities can fulfil their promise of enhanced urban living for future generations.

About the author

Professor Panos Fitsilis is a Full Professor in the Business Administration Dept. of the University of Thessaly, Greece. He has extensive project management experience with the development and deployment of large IT systems and extensive management experience in various senior management positions. His research interests include Smart Cities, Smart Factories (Industry 4.0), Business Information Systems, Educational Technology, Competences and Skills Development for the 21st century, etc. He is the author of numerous books including Smart Cities Body of Knowledge.   

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