2017 World Standards Day: Standards Make Cities Smarter

On October 11, 2017, the Standards Council of Canada (SCC) joins the International Organization for Standardization (ISO), the International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC), and the International Telecommunication Union (ITU) in celebrating World Standards Day and the 2017 theme: “Standards make cities smarter.”

Sufficient fresh water, universal access to cleaner energy, the ability to travel efficiently from one point to another, a sense of safety and security… these are the kinds of promises modern cities must fulfil if they are to stay competitive and provide a high quality of life to their citizens.

Building a smart city is highly complex. Every city faces its own challenges and requires its own mix of solutions. However, there is one unique factor that greatly simplifies this task. International standards support the development of tailor-made solutions that can be adapted to the particular circumstances of a given city. They contain expert knowledge and best practices, and are essential enablers in ensuring quality and performance of products and services. In addition, they drive compatibility between technologies and help users to compare and choose the best solution available.

Standards also open the door to a larger choice of products and services. They help increase competition and foster innovation. In a systems approach, they enable the integration of structures or solutions from different suppliers.

International Standards just makes sense. They makes things work safely and efficiently at every level in cities. They provide the foundation for electricity access and all the many devices and systems that use electricity and contain electronics. They support the information and communication technologies that enable data collection, exchange and analysis, and information security. And they provide important guidance for all aspects of city life, including energy-efficient buildings, intelligent transportation, improved waste management, building sustainable communities and more.

With Standards, we can make cities smarter, step by step. Individual islands of smartness can grow together and interconnect.  It is comforting to know that international standards will support smooth and integrated smart city development.

Learn more about Smart Cities:

• ISO – How to measure the performance of smart cities
• IEC – Why cities need to become smart now
• ITU – ITU-T, Smart Sustainable Cities

Join SCC this year as we share and promote online content and activities linked to WSD 2017. 

Canadians can participate directly in the development of international standards, helping to open doors for business and advancing the health, safety and economic well-being of all Canadians. Find out more and get involved in standardization.

Learn more about standards and standardization through SCC’s corporate video and animated orientation modules. 

For more information:

https://www.scc.ca/en/news-events/events/world-standards-day-2017-event