In recent years, the concept of “Smart City” has become visibly popular, setting the direction for the development of 21st century cities. However, is a completely uncritical approach to such a complex issue justified? Where do the competences of architects, urban planners, IT specialists and controlling governmental powers meet in such an “intelligent city”?

This article presents important issues of data acquisition, system monitoring as well as security and privacy issues both by presenting and analyzing examples of already existing solutions from all around the world, but also giving some attention to the slowly rising number of “Smart city” initiatives in Krakow.

Smart city – benefits and threats

In recent years, the concept of “Smart City” has become visibly popular, setting the direction for the development of 21st century cities. However, is a completely uncritical approach to such a complex issue justified? Where do the competences of architects, urban planners, IT specialists and controlling governmental powers meet in such an “intelligent city”?

This article presents important issues of data acquisition, system monitoring as well as security and privacy issues both by presenting and analyzing examples of already existing solutions from all around the world, but also giving some attention to the slowly rising number of “Smart city” initiatives in Krakow.

Keywords: Smart city, intelligent city, technology in the city, privacy, public space

Streszczenie

W ostatnich latach pojęcie „Smart City” stało się zauważalnie popularne, wyznaczając kierunek rozwoju miast XXI wieku. Czy jednak bezkrytyczne podejście do tak złożonego zagadnienia jest uzasadnione? Jak wygląda miejsce styku kompetencji architekta, urbanisty, informatyka oraz kontrolujących organów rządowych w „mieście inteligentnym”?

W artykule przedstawiono istotne zagadnienia dotyczące pozyskiwania danych, monitorowania systemu a także problemów bezpieczeństwa i prywatności. Zaprezentowano i przeanalizowano przykłady istniejących już na świecie rozwiązań, jak i zwrócono uwagę na istniejące w tym momencie w Krakowie zalążki technologii z pod znaku „Smart City”.