How does AR contribute to the development of smart cities?

Augmented Reality (AR) enhances smart city development by integrating digital information with physical environments, enabling better decision-making, infrastructure management, and citizen engagement. AR overlays real-time data, 3D models, or interactive interfaces onto real-world views, helping developers, planners, and residents interact with urban systems more effectively. This technology bridges the gap between data-driven insights and practical applications, making complex systems easier to visualize and manage.

One key application is urban planning and design. AR allows planners to visualize proposed infrastructure projects—like new buildings, roads, or parks—in the context of existing environments. For example, using AR-enabled devices, city officials can project a 3D model of a proposed transit hub onto a physical site, assessing how it interacts with surrounding traffic patterns or sunlight exposure. Developers can also use tools like Unity or ARKit to create simulations for public feedback, enabling citizens to “walk through” virtual representations of future developments. This reduces design errors and improves stakeholder alignment before construction begins.

AR also improves maintenance and operational efficiency. Utility workers, for instance, can use AR glasses to overlay underground pipe networks or electrical grids onto their field of view, minimizing excavation errors and speeding up repairs. In Barcelona, AR tools help technicians access real-time sensor data from IoT-enabled infrastructure, such as water pipes, by displaying leak locations or pressure levels directly on their devices. For public services, AR navigation apps like Google Live View provide context-aware directions, integrating transit schedules or safety alerts into real-world views. These applications rely on APIs that connect AR platforms with IoT sensors and city databases, emphasizing the need for standardized data formats and low-latency networks to ensure seamless integration. By making data actionable in real-world contexts, AR streamlines workflows and enhances resource allocation in smart cities.