Internet of Things for Just Urban Transitions: Putting Humans at the Centre

Abstract

Internet of Things (IoT) has been a new paradigm enhancing the collective connectivity of humans, goods, and services across scales including real-time transferability of data and information. This study is a three-fold, 1. There is a limited justification for how IoT can advance just urban transitions 2. IoT and human-centeredness approaches are lacking 3. Research on the quality and safety of IoT hard infrastructure is limited therefore leaving a lacuna in literature on e.g. Telecommunication towers, fiber-optic cable, terrestrial microwave, twisted pair, and satellite transmission management in relation to IoT service satisfaction, urban safety, and spatial development. This study banked on an extensive literature review to achieve the first and second parts, the third part was achieved through the assessment of IoT hard infrastructure quality, safety, and efficiency to keep up with the provision of IoT services in affluent and township settlements of Johannesburg, South Africa. Findings from this study show that IoT advancement is leaving out the human face in its innovation and technological advancement, and the provision of IoT-enhanced facilities is seen to be more standard in affluent areas compared to township settlements. This signals that IoT managers in urban areas are profit-oriented, invariably township settlement dwellers will continue to struggle to keep up with civilization. Also, the IoT focus has majorly been on smart devices, cloud storage, big data, and artificial intelligence with less attention on IoT hard infrastructure maintenance. Hence, there are reported cases of network failure in terms of communication, and use of Apps (to access information, bank transactions, weather forecasts, travel arrangements, etc.). It is on this note that the management of engineering infrastructures which anchors the network equipment, enhancing effective communication and connectivity between cities and persons need attention. As we leap into just urban transitions, there is a need to reform technological advancement with the human face through the co-creation and co-production of knowledge, in addition, IoT stakeholders should focus more on the hard infrastructures that facilitate connection and transmission of information by climate-proofing these infrastructures including attention to quality and safety to avert failure which could lead to urban disasters.