Well, not all of Spain, just the historic port of Santander. This metropolis is known for its grand hotels and high-end casinos. It is now gaining attention for some of the smart solution implemented by local authorities. Here parking is not a headache because an app tells you if parking slots are free and guides you to the closest one. Another app gives residents real time information about water and power consumption. A QR code on every shop provides information about the shop and links the customer to the website. Sensors dim street lights if there is no one walking or driving and sprinklers turn on only when the ground becomes dry. And then, there is yet another app which tells you when the bus will arrive. Now, this is a smart city and Boston, US and Aarhus in Denmark have shown interest in working with Santander. In comparison, Panaji’s plans to become smart seem a long way from home. What we are attempting to do is infrastructure upgrades, which would have been smart if implemented 10 years back.
