Modern cities are inextricably intertwined with digital technologies, not just in terms of the devices that individual residents and visitors bring with them, but also when it comes to the services which the authorities are expected to provide.
Here is a look at the ways in which databases are being leveraged by the cities of today and the benefits that they bring to the table.
Data-driven decision making
Perhaps the biggest reason that modern servers and the software solutions that power them are seen as essential to the evolution of cities is that they can be used to harvest and analyze the trillions of data points that are generated by almost every aspect of modern life and society.
From the interactions generated by ticket purchases on public transport to the ebb and flow of pedestrians in public spaces and the manner in which they engage with the services around them, cities are awash with valuable data. It is only through the correct deployment of servers that actionable insights can be gleaned.
Of course this in turn creates challenges, because these data centers need to be managed and maintained so that when they encounter long term issues like tempdb performance problems, remedies can be implemented quickly. This is why lots of cities outsource the hosting and maintenance of databases to certified providers, as they cannot afford to suffer significant slowdown or downtime when crucial decisions need to be made based on data derived from a multitude of sources.
Embracing automation
The significant spending growth predicted to be attached to data-fuelled services in cities over the next few years will in part be justified by the automation-oriented abilities that will be unlocked through this investment.
It is not simply enough to gather all of the data from which insights can be derived; the processing needs to take place with as little manual involvement as possible, so as to ensure that it is both efficient and practical to pursue this route.
Automation may sound like something which will result in fewer human workers being required to run modern cities, but in reality it is only through the combination of modern server hardware and software solutions that decision-makers can fulfill their roles.
In terms of the practical applications of automation, everything from congestion management to security and safety can be augmented and enhanced through the right digital infrastructures. The database will always be at the heart of this ecosystem, whether it is hosted locally or remotely.
Moving towards sustainability
Cities need to be smart not only in terms of the technological systems they adopt, but also the changes they make to ensure they are sustainable.
Databases are once again relevant in this context, because information can be used to determine the best path forward for urban planning which takes eco-friendliness and quality of life into account. They can also assist with the perpetuating of the electric vehicle revolution which is ongoing at the moment, making sure cities are prepared to serve the needs of their environmentally conscious residents.
In short, server infrastructures are significant not only to cities in 2020, but will continue to hold influence in urban areas for the foreseeable future.
