The first “smart city” solution in the UK can be said to have originated in London; gathering and analysing data to solve the Soho cholera crisis in 1854. The early history of smart initiative became the point of departure for paving innovative solutions. Today, London has a vision to be the smartest city by the end of 2020 with more than 20 ongoing projects that are facing current urban challenges such as data collaboration and congestion. The City Data Analytics Programme is organised by the Greater London Authority, establishing data collaborations in public services across the city. The Programme introduces resources such as data science experts, central project management facility, technical support, and legal support to speed up the process of projects. This helps to provide a more comprehensive view on frequently changing dataset – identifying patterns to predict the next trend in a fickle market.
Consumption-based emissions per capita have decreased by 21% from 2001 to 2016 with more emissions produced outside the home. The overall recycling rate in 2018/19 was 0.5% lower than that of in 2017/18, although the overall waste from households were lower by 1.8% in 2018/19. This data was possible to achieve through London’s data initiatives and participation of private/public sectors, which gave opportunities for project planning and investment – The Canary Wharf Group launched a test-bed project, Cognicity Challenge in Canary Wharf in 2014 to connect start-ups and tech industry that took part in improving the infrastructure system of the city. There are plenty of incentives to invest in London.