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MYR RM12.90RM 12.90URBAN INTELLIGENCEThe Hidden Costs of Smart Cities The Hidden Costs of Smart Cities Modern Consumption Habits Urban Development People / Techonology / Sustainable CitiesVolume 1, Issue 1 Cities 2026
CONTENTS01 02 03 05 06 07 08 09 Editorial Letter & Role Designation The Dark Side Of Smart Cities The Hidden Cost of Smart Cities Unlocking Urban Value A Haven For The Future Generation Healthcare Is No Longer The Same As Before The On Demand Metropollis ReferenceTABLE OF 02 03 05 06 07 08
01 Cities are getting smarter, but it comes with unforeseen costs. This edition uncovers the reality and endless posibilities in smart cities. ON KONG YEW, Lead Writer 03 Modern consumption habits in smart cities introduce people to new inventions and innovations in the medical field. NOVIA SENG LAI ZHEN YING, Layout Designer 05 Society must take environmental issues more seriously. Governments and individuals should work together to reduce pollution and protect our future. CHANG ZI QI, KYRA, Lead Writer 01Editorial Letter＆Role Designation 02 Technology improves economic productivity, creates high-paying jobs, and ensures safety. The smart cities build a better, brighter future for all. LIM ZHEN YING, Layout Designer 06 How modern convenient consumption habits have slowly been altering our day to day life without notice. SEBASTIAN TEO CHIA CHUN, Editor in chief 04 Smart cities do not just require the latest technology and automated systems, but also thorough urban planning, promotion of public transport and renewable energy. TEH MING GE, Visual Editor
Issue. 1ABOUT US02 The Dark Side of Smart Citiesby ON KONG YEW People always talk about building smart, futuristic cities with modern, complex features and high-tech systems. This idea of transforming into smart cities is undeniably contributing to the comfort of us humans, consistently easing the burden of almost every activity. However, if we were to observe things from a different perspective, smart cities can actually pose threat to the biodiversity, harming us physically and mentally. It remains debatable whether smart cities are considered more towards the positive impact or the negative impact. Smart cities currently face a wide range of challenges such as environmental impact, privacy and security concern, and digital inequality. Behind the vibrant screens, intelligent systems and technology-driven infrastructure lies an environmental cost that all of us could not ignore. This is due to the fact that smart cities are highly dependent on major data centres, electronic devices and interconnected infrastructure, which all consume significant energy, generating electronic wastes. For instance, tens of thousands of smart sensors and devices are installed throughout cities to control traffic and public services. Although these technologies significantly contribute to urban life efficiency, their continuous operation consumes electricity, while unused devices will eventually turn into electronic waste, potentially escalating carbon emission and polluting the environment. Apart from that, another challenge that arises is privacy and cybersecurity concern. Smart cities constantly collect data from devices and sensors that are installed around smart cities. For example, surveillance cameras that are installed around the cities are used to monitor the traffic and record incidents that occur in the cities, carrying millions of people’s personal data. This increases the vulnerability of people’s data getting leaked or even worse getting exploited by hackers. Furthermore, smart cities may look great for everyone on the outside, but to certain people, they face digital inequality. This is because certain people are not able to afford the modern lifestyle, cutting-edge devices and advanced technology. For example, people from the lower class of income may face difficulties coping with the evolving technology as digital literacy is very limited in rural areas. This results in an immensely huge digital gap among the society. In conclusion, there are several challenges faced by smart cities including environmental cost, data and privacy risks, and digital imbalance among society. Therefore, it is profoundly crucial that everyone plays a responsible role in maintaining smart city as a sustainable environment. -— ON KONG YEW(AI-Generated Video)(AI-Generated Video)
As smart cities develop and become more advanced technologically, concerns of sustainability, as well as environmental concerns arise. As much as a convenience it may be to bring upon the developments of smart systems, intelligent transport systems, and digitalization – for example, building skyscrapers and commercial centers, development of data centers, and road expansions – such advancements bring not only efficiency, but also serious environmental challenges. Without careful planning and consideration, a city can become technologically advanced while growing significantly more environmentally unsustainable. Smart cities impact all parts of climate change, pollution, waste, and biodiversity loss. Urban populations face risks of environmental degradation, air and water pollution, and infectious diseases. For instance, the air quality index (AQI) can be incredibly high in developed areas. Other than that, rapid urbanization, development and high vehicle-ownership contribute to critical levels of pollution; approximately 99% of the world breathes unclean air. As of current, urban areas are already responsible for more than 70% of greenhouse gas emissions and around 80% of energy consumption; by 2050, 80% of the population is expected to be living in cities – increasing by approximately 2.5 billion from now. Environment. 2026 The Hidden Cost of Smart Cities environment /ɪnˈvʌɪrə(n)m(ə)nt/ the surrounding conditions, objects, or forces in which a living organism, person, or object exists and operates. Sources from Cambridge Dictionary & UN 03 By Chang Zi Qi，Kyra
Meanwhile, fast-paced industrial and commercial establishments contribute to waste pollution. Constructions and demolition generate significant carbon emissions as well. Besides, smart cities rely heavily on technology, causing a rise in e-waste. Hazardous material in electronic scrap can cause contamination across soil and water, which affects the environment and food security. Without action, this number will rise to accommodate an increasingly urbanized global population. Modern consumption has also played a critical role in intensifying wastage, for instance, fast fashion and single- use products for convenience. Lifestyles and fast-changing trends today have started to revolve around a take-make-waste approach, tipping the balance away from a sustainable future. Not to mention, other factors such as transportation and urban development are contributing to such challenges that we face today. The Global Environment Outlook 6 Report (GEO-6) identified urbanization as one of the main drivers of environmental changes and has caused relevant impact on cities regarding climate change, biodiversity loss and pollution. Heavy reliance on daily appliances – such as excessive use of air conditioners – can also result in contributions to global warming and gas emissions. As smart cities develop, so will its population, causing a repetitive cycle of challenges. As far as development goes, and as many advantages urbanization brings, technology alone does not make a city sustainable. Ultimately, the success of a smart city is not its advancements, but its environmental conditions while improving people’s quality of life. Instead of only looking at expansions and developments, we as a society should instead focus on sustainability. After all, there is no point in such advancements if living itself becomes a challenge. — Chang Zi Qi, Kyra “What is the use of a house if you don't have a decent planet to put it on?” — Henry David Thoreau, philosopher and naturalist 04 — *AI-GENERATED VIDEO
Issue. 1ABOUT USave you ever wondered what the city would be likeH if technology continues to develop? A smart city is an urban area that uses technology and data to improve urban life and development. Therefore, understanding the economic development of smart cities is crucial for building more efficient and sustainable cities in the future. As cities continue to develop, smart cities are playing a vital role in increasing economic productivity, creating work opportunities and enhancing urban safety.“Medium and small cities, those which nobody knows about, are going to grow faster in the future. Our century is about global cities.”T H E M A J O R O F I S T A N B U L Unbeknown to many, Singapore is a global benchmark for Smart Cities with their data platforms capable of boosting economic productivity. Singapore’s government allows businesses to verify customer identities making it efficient and convenient for the private sector. For instance, banking, insurance and fin tech can reduce operation time, as approvals may be instant. A leading logistics giant like Ninja Van will be able to access real-time traffic, parking availabilities, and electronic road pricing rates. Intelligent traffic management can avoid congestion and increase work productivity in a professional ecosystem. Furthermore, smart cities have integrated Internet of Things (IoT) and artificial intelligence (AI) with infrastructure, which create high-value job opportunities for citizens. Smart cities rely on large amount of Information Technology (IT) professionals especially data analytics professionals, software engineers, and cybersecurity experts to operate on real-time data collection and monitor the system status. Research on smart cities in China show that they promote technology development that stimulates employment growth and benefit the labour market. With developed infrastructure and systematic transportation system, smart cities have fostered an environment that encourages citizens to pursue their career and other various opportunities. 05 Unlocking Urban Value by LIM ZHEN YING Moreover, smart cities can improve urban safety with an advance security system. This system relies on predictive and real-time technology ecosystem that reduces crime, increases emergency responses and protects infrastructure in a secured environment. Predictive and AI analytics tools can track suspicious identities, instantly triggering warning systems to alert local authorities when there are potential risks. For instance, Safe City Monitoring System (SCMS) has been introduced in Shah Alam, Malaysia that allows criminals’ data to be shared among authorities to be aware of crimes. Therefore, it can prevent crimes and provide a safer environment for the locals. In a nutshell, smart cities represent the evolution of digital technology helping to solve modern challenges. Simultaneously, they have a profound role in driving economic growth by boosting work productivity, increasing job opportunities and creating a safe environment for citizens. A well-developed and sustainable smart city requires strict government policies, cutting-edge technology, and responsible use of technology. Therefore, it is immensely crucial that we develop smart cities, ensuring that data and innovation contributes as impactful tools to uplift human well-being, connectivity and equal opportunity for all. LIM ZHEN YING AI Generated Image AI - Generated Video
In addition, sustainable smart city utilises renewable energy. Although using non-renewable energy is extremely convenient and reliable, at the same time, it can be punishing as well as it can increase pollution. For instance, burning of fossil fuel can cause global warming and drilling can affect natural terrain of the environment. Therefore, government can integrate renewable energy into smart cities. For instance, installing solar panels on buildings, houses and public transport to generate energy. As a result, smart cities won’t be heavily dependent on non-renewable energy. In conclusion, a sustainable smart city is developed through better planning to avoid overconsumption of resources, usage of public transport to avoid pollution and traffic congestion, and usage of renewable energy to avoid being overly dependent on non-renewable energy. Furthermore, smart cities ensure that our cities not only are environmental friendly but also comfortable to live in. Besides government official, each individual also plays a crucial role in taking part toward a sustainable smart city. Aautomated systems may appear to represent the future, but can a city truly be considered smart if it isn’t sustainable? Although the rapid development of urban areas can improve the quality of life for the people living in the city, at the same time, if urban development is not planned properly, it can also damage the environment by increasing pollution, deforestation, consuming excessive amount of natural resources and many more. Therefore, sustainable urban development ensures that our needs are met without compromising the resources for the future generation by having better urban planning, integrating public transport and promoting more efficient way on resource consumption. A HAVEN FOR THE FUTURE GENERATION 06 city integrated with the latest high-end technology andFirst and foremost, a sustainable smart city require thorough urban planning. Having a thorough planning ensures that everything is calculated and resources are being used in the most efficient way, at the same time avoiding overconsumption of natural resources and unnecessary deforestation. For instance, Forest City in Johor had been abandoned due to the location issue and high prices. Therefore, the development of Forest City had caused unnecessary deforestation and waste of natural resources. In order to prevent making the same mistake, government could design residential areas near workplaces and other vital public facilities. For example, governments can develop residential areas around places provided with public transport. This shows that a sustainable smart city does not just require advance technology but also thorough planning.By Teh Ming Ge“ Production without conservation is just the prelude to destruction ”-Louis Bromfield Furthermore, sustainable smart cities are supported by integrating public transportations. Heavy reliance on private transportation can cause significant harm to the environment by releasing huge amount of carbon dioxide and traffic congestion, which increases fuel consumption and travelling time. Government can address these issues by developing public transport such as train or bus into cities and working with schools to emphasise the importance of using public transport. As a result, society would develop awareness and start using public transportation that are provided. Besides that, decreasing the use of private transport can also greatly reduce the risk of accidents as well.— Teh Ming Ge YOUR PARAGRAPH TEXT(Trinity College Dublin,2014)(AI-Generated Image)
HEALTHCARE IS NO LONGER THE SAME AS BEFOREased on the survey that was made by National Health and Morbidity First and foremost, inventors are able to invent useful devices like smartwatches to help track an individual’s health independently for basic acknowledgement. This is because smartwatches integrated a sensor system, which can detect an individual’s respiratory rate, heart rate and blood oxygen levels, enabling them to track their health. Moreover, some smartwatches are able to track hypertension and atrial fibrillation (Afib), a heart disorder and when it detects something unusual it will flag the watch. If that were to happen, it is advised to get the body check from medical professionals for an accurate health report (Health University of Utah, 2026). by NOVIA SENG LAI ZHEN YING B Survey (NHMS) 2025, under the Ministry of Health Malaysia, it stated that only 14.7% of senior citizens age healthily while the remaining citizens face at least two of these three chronic diseases, which are diabetes, hypertension and cholesterol (Ravi, 2026). Therefore, the modern consumption habit that can be contributed to reduce these diseases is health tracking. Since smart cities are very advanced due to the technology evolution, implementing and combining technologies will help us track our health efficiently. Thus, the benefits of health tracking as a modern consumption habit in smarts cities allow us to invent useful devices, usage of IoMT tools and detection of body wellness. 07 M ORBIDITY Next, the usage of Internet of Medical Things (IoMT) tools in the medical field. Most hospitals have started using IoMT tools and one of the popular ones is robotic surgery where they usually act as an assistant to the surgeons. The factor of why they choose this tool is because it can help perform simple and precise surgeries. For instance, epilepsy surgery, gallbladder removal, colectomy. Besides that, the robot that performs surgeries carries small instruments and a high-quality camera which it is usually controlled by surgeons (Cleveland Clinic, 2024). Hence, surgeons are able to carry out the surgery more cautiously and meticulously with advanced technology that the robotic surgery has. Furthermore, developers are able to integrate modern technology into healthcare so that they are able to develop application that enable detection of body wellness. For example, developers are able to create an application like Moodfit, where a person’s mental health can be tracked along with their current emotion (Tester, 2024). Therefore, people can prevent themselves from worsening their mental health condition as they can track their mental health state. Besides that, the app also provides ways to overcome their unstable emotions where it will cause them emotional distress that could also lead to depression. Thus, with the existence of related healthcare applications, it will help decrease the number of victims with mental health issues. In conclusion, health tracking in smart cities help residents to improve both their mental and physical health due to the modern technology. Therefore, it is crucial to embed technology with healthcare as it is sustainable and effective towards the people. NOVIA SENG LAI ZHEN YING YOUR PARAGRAPH TEXT(AI-Generated Video)( Future_28, 2024)(AI-Generated Video)(West Herts Teaching Hospital NHS Trust, 2022)
Additionally, with the surge in popularity of ride- hailing apps there has been a reduced reliance on public transport. However, the increase in ride-hailing apps has been shown to replace walking, cycling and public transport instead of private car rides which has led to an increase in traffic congestion and further encouraging inactivity with the users. This has been shown by smart cities in the USA such as San Francisco and New York. THE ON DEMAND METROPOLIS: LIVING IN AN ERA OF INSTANT EVERYTHING by SEBASTIAN TEO CHIA CHUN T HE 08 The shift in convenience consumption has altered how the populous of smart cities live. The instant accessibility of anything we desire from delivery services has unintentionally cultivated a sedentary lifestyle and spiked consumers’ expectations for instant gratification. For example, in Seoul, South Korea the constant reliance on delivery services led to a significant drop in visits to physical grocery stores which resulted in less social interaction in daily life. In conclusion, while convenience consumption habits in smart cities have proven quite effective in time efficiency, they have also unintentionally developed an unhealthier lifestyle for the populous of smart cities and we should utilize it to the best of our abilities while mitigating the downside. here is a subtle detail that very few ever acknowledge when stepping into a smart city. Quietly in the background, the city itself is indiscernibly assisting you. The many business surrounding you have started to revolve around instant consumer gratification. In many smart cities, Singapore being the leading example, a web of digital infrastructure connects every daily necessity. Activities such as daily transport, payments and sales have been converted into seamless, micro-convenience habits. The hours once set aside weekly for groceries have gone, basically extinct, now replaced with online grocery shopping. Long gone are the days of idling in queues; replaced by deliveries or instant pick-up. Many people have also stopped carrying physical cash as most places encourage contactless payment. Consumption is no longer a planned activity, but a process few notice running beside them. SEBASTIAN TEO CHIA CHUN(AI-Generated Picture)(AI-Generated Picture)(New study claim ride-sharing contributes to more traffic,2018)
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