Similar to what LEED did for buildings, City Protocol promises to do for cities. The first certification system for smart cities, due to come out in April 2013, is being developed with the guidance of over 30 organizations. It will provide a framework for designing sustainable systems in a model that integrates the vast number of elements that contribute to urban development. This global thinking expands upon the goals of the LEED certification system, which provides a more isolated, building specific agenda for architects.
In a post on Co.EXIST, Boyd Cohen explains what constitutes a smart city: “a broad integrated approach to improving the efficiency of city operations, the quality of life of its citizens, and growing the local economy”. This fairly general definition gives planners, architects and politicians many opportunities to elaborate on different techniques that could make any or all of those goals possible. Ariel Schwartz notes on Co.EXIST that the system will provide opportunities for cities to contribute to mutual projects and work together to develop solutions.
CP certification addresses sustainability in a global and collaborative way. What makes CP a remarkable program is that it has an open framework that allows collaboration among designers and provides elaborate examples of systems that are already functioning in other cities. Participating cities can learn from existing models. It allows for an open discourse on the success of certain endeavors as cities test new functionalities. Cities, industries, organizations, and institutions join the CP Society that works as a partnership to engage in city transformations.
As CP puts it, ”Cities need transformation guided by strategies.” These strategies must address the various factors that contribute to a smart city. Cohen provides a diagram in his article that breaks down the components of the city: People, Economy, Environment, Government, Living and Mobility. These components break into smaller categories that indicate the health, safety, and viability of a city. City Protocol offers a system that allows planners, architects, and policy makers establish standards to achieve the “smart city” goals by providing access to assessments of the city, a peer to peer network, task and finish teams and partnership.
For more information on City Protocal, check out this link.
via Fast Co