A perspective on managing cities and citizens' well-being through smart sensing data

Urban development and growth have a significant impact on the environment, contributing to ongoing climate change and affecting the resilience of urban communities. However, cities also have the potential to become innovation centers and drive the urgent green transition. Smart cities, in particular, rely on digital services to enhance citizens’ quality of life while minimizing their environmental footprint. Therefore, public authorities and policymakers must leverage technological innovations and smart sensing to gather and process relevant data in real-time, supporting citizens’ well-being through dedicated services. This work aims to provide a perspective toward healthier and more resilient smart cities by integrating personal, contextual, and environmental data to enhance Early Warning Systems and resiliency planning. Existing studies on the usage of smart sensing technologies in healthcare and environmental assessment services are reviewed to present existing opportunities in both fields. A critical analysis of the background is provided, highlighting the potentials and challenges of the proposed smart city management protocol, leveraging data directly collected by citizens - viewed in this sense as data prosumers.